One-way street

Today’s Toronto Star reported the Leafs have signed career AHL veteran Erik Westrum.

It’s strange that TSN’s scouting report identifies him as a defensive forward, when he finished second in AHL scoring last season with 34 goals and 98 points in 71 games for the Houston Aeros. Westrum turns 27 this summer, so it’s unlikely he’s poised for an NHL breakthrough. But he’s a body that can be inserted onto the AHL Marlies lineup card, which as part of the Leafs’ minor-league organization, hockeysfuture.com describes as a “mile wide, and an inch deep.”

Puzzling about the deal is the fact that Westrum’s contract is one-way in the first year -- meaning he'll make $450,000 whether he plays in the minors or the big club -- and two-way in the second year, with an NHL salary of $475,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the minors.

Why is a career bush-leaguer like Westrum landing a one-way deal with the Leafs as a free agent (and John Pohl as well for that matter, a 27-year-old offensive dynamo with all of 3 NHL goals to his credit - why does John Ferguson so often choose to pay money when he doesn’t have to?) when Kyle Wellwood spent his entire rookie season playing for the big club, scoring 11 goals and 45 points, and is offered a two-way contract?

Maybe it isn’t just Pat Quinn who had a problem Wellwood and his tomfoolery.

Where’s the love?