Apparently Alain Vigneault didn’t buy all of the positive spin that the Canucks have put on the Kyle Wellwood signing earlier this summer.

Vigneault did not mince words in Whistler yesterday when critiquing Wellwood’s lack of conditioning.

While the bench boss concedes that Wellwood has made strides since the team originally tested him in July, he also made it very clear that Wellwood’s fitness is not up to NHL standards.

Vigneault also suggested that if it doesn’t improve enough over the next couple of weeks, Wellwood will be looking for work elsewhere. Skill has never been the issue for the former Maple Leaf, but his reputation for being as lazy as he is talented may result in a very short stint on the west coast of Canada.

Wellwood has his first real chance to impress Vigneualt tonight, as he is part of the Canucks contingent that will travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers in the first pre-season game for either team. Those not making the trip will await whatever squad the Oilers send for tomorrow night’s rematch.

• It’s taken nearly a month, but the B.C. Lions are starting to get their mojo back.

It was just over four weeks ago that the Leos found themselves on the wrong side of a game-deciding goal-line stand in Montreal.

Saturday night in Saskatchewan, it was the Leos refusing to concede the game-winning points on third and goal from the one-yard line, making the victory as symbolic as it was impressive.

It was certainly not the most aesthetically pleasing win of the seven B.C. has registered this season, but perhaps that’s the point.

The Lions are once again finding ways to win on nights when they’re not at their best. When the second half of the season began, first place in the West seemed unattainable.

But all of a sudden, the Lions are the hottest team in the CFL and are just one game out of top spot in the division.

However, the big concern in B.C. is the status of quarterback Buck Pierce, who was forced to leave Saturday’s game after being knocked out cold courtesy a Maurice Lloyd tackle.

Pierce has introduced consistency to the Lions offense and its no coincidence that three straight wins have followed.

It’s certainly not dire straights if Jarious Jackson is forced back into the job he’s held for most of the season, but Pierce has proven to be the better option when healthy this season.