YOUR AD HERE »

Avalanche: Wolski utilizes added growth

Adrian Dater
The Denver Post

When Wojtek Wolski says he’s still growing as a player, he’s being literal.

“It was interesting, finding out in our (physical) testing before the season, I actually got taller. Now I’m 6-3 and a quarter, up from 6-3 even,” Wolski, 23, said. “I’m still kind of growing into my body.”

And, Wolski believes his horizons have expanded during the past year. Despite being the best shootout scorer in the NHL, it was a bad time for Wolski in 2008-09. Despite playing more, his scoring numbers regressed from the year before. He had 42 points, down from 48, and he finished a minus-13, down from a plus-10.



Rather than shrug it off, Wolski sat down and considered seriously the question of how he could improve. One way, Wolski

NHL

Support Local Journalism



* View slide show of Avs forward Wojtek Wolski.

concluded, was to work out harder than he ever had and to start eating better. Another was to embrace the idea of going back to left wing and using his improved physique to be tougher in front of the net.

So far, so good. Wolski has three goals and an assist through the first two games, both Avs victories, as a left wing on the first line with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk.

“I think people assumed I might not like going back to wing (from center), but it’s a great opportunity to be able to play with those two guys,” Wolski said. “It was a disappointing season last year, and it really kind of shook me up. It made me go back to basics and start over. I just want to get to the point where I’m consistently competing every game and not getting complacent.”

For more of this Denver Post story: http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_13494265


Support Local Journalism