Canucks send center Wellwood to AHL affiliate in Manitoba

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Canucks sent center Kyle Wellwood to Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Saturday after he cleared waivers.

The 25-year-old forward had 31 goals and 108 points in 190 career NHL games, including 42 points in 48 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs two seasons ago.

But Wellwood struggled with his health and fitness last season and was placed on waivers, where the Canucks claimed him last summer and re-signed him to a one-year contract worth $997,500.

He was called out by Canucks coach Alain Vigneault for poor conditioning in training camp, but lost 8 pounds and passed a second fitness test during the preseason while getting five points in six exhibition games. He only appeared in one regular-season game, finishing with no points in Vancouver's 5-1 loss to Washington on Monday.