Peter Mueller > Wojtek Wolski

by Mike Chen on Mar 17, 2010 11:36 AM CDT in Special features Comment 16 comments

(For those of you that blocked high school math from your brain, the headline reads "Peter Mueller is greater than Wojtek Wolski.)

Sometimes, you really just need a change of scenery. Sometimes, a different voice barking orders makes all the difference.

How else can you explain the surge of Peter Mueller? Many people thought that the Colorado Avalanche were giving up more raw talent when they sent Wojtek Wolski for Mueller and Kevin Porter, but Mueller has been a revelation. It's only been about two weeks, but those two weeks have been the best stretch of Mueller's career, putting up points at a pace that would blow away his strong rookie season with 11 points in just seven games.

Many people forget that Mueller's rookie campaign included 22 goals and 32 assists on a pretty bad Phoenix Coyotes team. Back then, it was assumed that Mueller would be one of the young guns targeted for prime time when Vancouver 2010 came along. Of course, Mueller wasn't even a consideration for the Olympic squad, as his play had tailed off so much.

Sophomore slumps? Going 22 goals in 81 games to 13 goals in 72 games isn't great, but not terribly unexpected for a second-year player. However, his third year -- and first under new coach Dave Tippett -- blew those numbers away, but not in a good way. On pace for just seven goals, Mueller sat in the press box and watched his minutes -- and role -- diminish. It's not that he didn't get his chances, as the former eighth-overall pick got pretty good ice time under Tippett at the beginning of the year. For whatever reason (and really, it's not like Tippett's been known for working with young guys), they just didn't work with each other and Mueller slowly disappeared from relevance.

These days, Mueller's back to a significant role, but perhaps what's more important is the fact that he has a "player's coach" behind the bench. He's getting anywhere between 15 and 19 minutes a night depending on the ebb and flow of things, and he's a fixture on the Colorado power play.

Call it chemistry or beginner's luck or anything else; Mueller wanted a chance and he's held up his end of the bargain. As for Wolski? I predicted that he'd start off well before tailing off under Tippett's thumb. While Wolski hasn't played bad (four points in six games), he hasn't been a factor in a number of Coyotes wins after a strong start, though he is still putting shots on net and getting pretty good ice time.

The jury remains out on this one, as there's no reason why both guys can have strong seasons next year. For now, though, Mueller's been a force that Avs fans see as a key cog towards a strong finish.

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Too early to call...

I think when the trade was made, we in Phoenix were happy to get Wolski and he delivered in a big way in his first game (against Colorado no less). While his scoring has dropped a bit, he is still creating great opportunities and really showing a lot so far (had 2 great breakaway opportunities in the game against Atlanta on Sunday and a sick feed to Matthew Lombardi yesterday).

So while he isn’t scoring at the pace of Mueller, it’s hard to be upset with the trade because Mueller clearly didn’t want to be here anymore. I’m more bummed that the Coyotes had to give up Porter in the deal…this could end up being a pretty one-sided deal when all is said and done, particularly if the Coyotes end up paying a lot of money to keep Wolski and his play slips. The good news is that Tippett really won’t stand for a lack of effort and we haven’t seen that from Wolski at all.

Support Coyotes Hockey - Five For Howling
(Oh, and go Philly teams as well!)

by Jordan Ellel on Mar 17, 2010 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

I hope that you don’t see that lack of effort from Wolski, just as I hope we don’t see it from Mueller. Both teams have experienced that side of the respective players. As you said, it’s too early to call. In the meantime, Mueller has been more than we’d hoped for if for nothing else than what he’s brought to the power play. It’s at an insane 9 for 22 for 40.91% since he’s joined the team. That’s a small sample size, of course, but I’ll take it! If it continues at even half that rate, I’ll be extremely happy.

The 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: People can stop waiting for these kids to hit the wall. They won’t.

by NurseBeachie on Mar 17, 2010 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

(For those of you that blocked high school math from your brain, the headline reads "Peter Mueller is greater than Wojtek Wolski.)

‘What the hell does that mean again? It’s Wolski that’s bigger because he’s an alligator and he’s eating Mueller, right? Wait, maybe it’s a crocodile. Or maybe it’s Mueller that’s better because he’s a rhino and he’s ramming Wolski. Where’s my encyclopedia…’

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Mar 17, 2010 7:27 PM CDT reply actions

I gotta disagree , Mikey.

Seeing as I’m living in Phoenix now, I’ve seen the effects of Wolski, firsthand. The Coyotes, even under Tippett, have been the epitome of ‘dump,chase,pray’. With Wolski, the Coyotes have acquired a player that demands more space, thus creating more space for everyone else on the ice. Wolski’s fantastic stickhandling skills have turned the ‘blind-leading-the-blind’ style Coyotes offense and given it a complete overhaul with his ability to dangle a few extra seconds, or shake an extra defender. As it stands now, with the addition of Stempniak as well, the Coyotes’ offense has transformed from anemic into a virtual bear trap on ice. If you know how to get around it, you might have a chance. But they have one big bear trap.

As for Mueller. He dogged it in Phoenix. I have no respect for a player who purposefully plays like horse dung as a means to get traded. It wouldn’t be the first time, sure. But a young kid already playing the diva card? Whatever happened to ‘earning it’? Mueller’s off to a great startr, for sure. But good luck once he gets a thorn up his ass, Colorado. It’s only a matter of time.

I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.

by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Mar 18, 2010 11:42 AM CDT reply actions

You realize that you’re talking about Wojtek Wolski, right? The same guy that has been the poster-child for inconsistency his entire career. He was in three coach’s doghouses in three consecutive years. And two of those guys were noted “players’ coaches”! He has sure-fire talent, but has NEVER had the will to put it all together. What happens the first time he gets plunked on a shortened bench due to a gaff? I’ll tell you what happens, he will disappear for about a month. Ohh, he’ll still be on the ice every night, but he’ll disappear. He’ll end up a healthy scratch, come back the next game like gangbusters, give you enough of a tease to turn your balls blue and then regress right back to what he’s always been: inconsistent. But you’ll have the added bonus of paying him about $4 million a season to do it. He even got a shot at his supposed natural position (center) last year and didn’t do anything with it. If he was the gamechanger that you propose he is (long-term, I mean) then Colorado wouldn’t have drafted a Top 2 center in Duchene. They’d have gotten Kane to prop up their woefully shallow LW corps.

Seriously, Wolski is a great talent with huge potential. Unfortunately, we in Colorado have been saying that for 4 years.

The Avalanche, clearly, are down with No PP.

by Mike @ MHH on Mar 18, 2010 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Whether or not Wolski puts points on the board

The intangibles and the space he creates for those around him are a lot better than anything the Coyotes have had in the past three years.

I’m not saying he’s the end-all, be-all, by any means. But the skill set Wolski brings is something no Coyote has demonstrated, and fits the puzzle, with benefits. He wasn’t Phoenix’s only trade pickup, but he’s the subject of this conversation.

Mueller has stepped his game up, and seems he wants to play. He’s a big body, with a big shot. With size like that, you’d think he would be a dominating physical force. All bitterness aside, Mueller has two options: flourish to his potential, or let his head keep inflating inside that tiny helmet of his.

I played pickup with the kid. He’s quite full of himself. I take that with a grain of salt, him being 21 and all, but if it qucks like a duck, and smells like a duck…

I’m ecstatic with the trade, and hope Colorado benefits as well. All I know is that in the last few games, the Coyotes don’t look like the San Antonio Spurs of hockey anymore. They look like they have an actual offense, and coupled with their defense which has quietly moonwalked to the top of the standings all year, they’re terrifyingly fun to watch.

I just hope all these ‘experts’ count the Yotes out in the Playoffs like they have all year. Maybe because it sounds weird to say, as no one has said it in years, but I’ll drop it here first. *AHEM…. PHOENIX..IS A DANGEROUS TEAM.

I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.

by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Mar 18, 2010 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I can guarantee you this: Mueller will get bitch-slapped in that locker room if he pulls that “full of himself” crap in Colorado. There are too many young guys with talent there, more talent than he has. Maybe that was the problem in Phoenix. He was a young, up-and-coming star with what he figured was a Hall-of-Famer career ahead of him and maybe he thought he was better than the rest of the team because of it. I don’t know the make up of Coyotes team so I don’t know how many other equally talented young players you guys have over there, but I know the young talent the Avs have and Mueller won’t stand out in that area. There are as young or younger, as good or better players so he can’t have that attitude. He’ll have to fight for his spot on the top lines. If he does get an attitude, he will get scratched. If he cries about it, hello Lake Erie.

As for WW, no matter how you look at it, Wolski will want way more money than he’s worth come summer and I know the Avs didn’t want to pay that. I also know he did not fit in personally with the guys. Regardless of what happens with Mueller, it was the right decision. I am glad he’s worked out for you guys and I hope that he continues to “create room” on the ice…I would hate for you to start calling it like we saw it….“Wolski-ing around”

The 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: People can stop waiting for these kids to hit the wall. They won’t.

by NurseBeachie on Mar 18, 2010 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

He doesn't "demand" space

He needs it or he’ll turn the puck over immediately.

Jibbles is an older man so you can trust what he says.

by Bob in Boulder on Mar 18, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Considering 80% of the Yotes flip the puck as soon as it's near them

Yes, he demands space. As in ‘Oh shit, this kid might actually have the balls to try something". Whether it works or not, that’s obviously debatable. Only time will tell.

I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.

by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Mar 18, 2010 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions

But good luck once he gets a thorn up his ass, Colorado. It’s only a matter of time.

And I’m telling you right now that is gonna happen next year when Yip and Jones are healthy. They can all skate on the second line but they can’t all fit on the second line. Someone’s gonna end up on the 3rd line with less minutes.
If it’s Mueller on the 3rd, that’s when the crying begins.

by From the Point on Mar 18, 2010 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

And if that happens I foresee the scenario that Beachie mentioned above: he will sit. If he continues to pout, he will be getting to know the Cleveland nightlife sooner rather than later. In the end, if all the Avs got out of the trade was an AHLer (petulant Mueller), a decent bottom 6 guy (Porter) and moved an inflated contract before it becomes a burden down the road when they have to pay Stewie, Duchene, Yip, O’Reilly, Galiardi, etc. then it’s still a good trade.

The Avalanche, clearly, are down with No PP.

by Mike @ MHH on Mar 18, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, if ya hadn't heard.

Mueller’s watched plenty of games from the press box this season, hence me saying ’it’s only a matter of time’.

Not trying to knock Colorado, just my experience.

I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.

by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Mar 18, 2010 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Yup, we’ve heard. Over and over. As I’m sure you’ve heard the same about Wolski. Time will tell about both.

The 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: People can stop waiting for these kids to hit the wall. They won’t.

by NurseBeachie on Mar 18, 2010 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree that the last thing that Avs need is an inflated contract with WW’s name on it. That said I don’t really call picking up a disgruntled AHLer and a bottom six guy a “good trade”.
But if it the desert dogs were the only ones willing to dance with the Avs then it’s as good a trade as they could get.

by From the Point on Mar 19, 2010 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

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