Left or right, Wheeler will wing it

Because of the impending departure of Phil Kessel, the Bruins need a skilled replacement at right wing. Wheeler will be one of the candidates to fill the hole left by his close friend and fellow ex-Minnesota Golden Gopher.

“We were kind of lucky,’’ said coach Claude Julien. “He had never played left until last year. When you’re given an opportunity to stay with the team and you’re asked, there are no ifs, ands, or buts. He did a pretty good job, actually. But the thing is that we know he can play the right side as well. When you have guys that are versatile like that and you can put them on both wings, that helps a lot.’’

Yesterday, in the first full day of training camp, Wheeler skated as a right wing alongside Brad Marchand and Drew Larman. While he scored 21 goals as a left wing in his rookie season, Wheeler is a natural right wing who feels a touch more comfortable in his own zone on the right side.

“There’s a little bit more of a comfort level on the right side just from playing on your forehand a bit more,’’ Wheeler said. “I’m definitely accustomed to playing left wing, but if need be, [switching] is something you’ve got to do. It’s not a problem.’’

During last year’s training camp, the rangy Wheeler proved to be an upgrade at left wing over Peter Schaefer. So instead of starting the year in Providence, where both management and the coaching staff expected him to be, Wheeler started the year in Boston and prompted Schaefer to be assigned to the minors. Wheeler adjusted to digging pucks off the wall in the defensive zone off his backhand. In the offensive zone, the righthanded Wheeler could open up for snappers and one-timers.

For a while, the unit of Wheeler, David Krejci, and Michael Ryder was the Bruins’ most dangerous offensive line. On special teams, Krejci and Wheeler teamed and seemed to create at least one shorthanded scoring chance per game.

But Wheeler faded in the second half and finished out 2008-09 as a healthy scratch, pulled out of uniform against Carolina and replaced by Byron Bitz. Wheeler’s wheels had run out of gas.

With that in mind, Wheeler committed to a strength and conditioning program in which he strapped 15 pounds onto his 6-foot-5-inch frame. While the added weight won’t make him a hit-happy brute like Milan Lucic (Wheeler’s game is more about speed and skill), he believes the extra beef will keep him from hitting the wall for a second straight season.

“I think it’s a part of my game that I specifically needed to improve on,’’ Wheeler said of physical play. “I think that’s maybe why I wasn’t quite so successful in the playoffs. You look at Looch. He creates so much space with his body. I don’t think I’m that kind of player to run into anyone that moves. But to separate guys from the puck, you have to when you’re a guy my size.

“It’s something where it helps everything else fall into place. You’re going to be in the right spot a lot more. You’re going to create a lot more turnovers for yourself and for your linemates. A lot of good comes from playing the game that way, especially on the forecheck. That’s an area where I’ve focused a lot on this offseason.’’

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.