The twelfth installment of our 25 Montreal Canadiens in 25 days series focuses on forward Dale Weise.
Every team needs an unsung hero, and Weise is exactly that to the Canadiens. He’s versatile, works hard, comes up big in the clutch and rarely gets the credit he deserves.
In fact, for a fair portion of the 2014-15 season, he was a veritable punching bag for fans who disagreed with him being used out of position as a top-line winger — and yet he was quite productive when called upon in that role.
‘Under-appreciated’ is a label Weise has become accustomed to wearing.
It started in New York, where — despite doubling his production in his second AHL season (2009-10) with the Hartford Wolf Pack (28 goals, 22 assists in 73 games) — the Rangers refused to call him up. It took until December of the following season for him to get his first taste of the NHL.
After being used sparingly by John Tortorella for 10 games, Weise was sent back to the farm, where he completed the year with a respectable 18 goals and 38 points in 47 games.
A trade to the Vancouver Canucks offered the former member of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos a new beginning. Weise fought valiantly to make his place permanent in the NHL, but in his third season with the Canucks his worth was once again undermined when Tortorella was named coach.
Weise and Tortorella proved to be a toxic mix, with the coach bent on relegating the player to merely playing a role as a fighter. So 44 games into the 2013-14 season, Vancouver’s loss became Montreal’s gain.
Weise provided heroics that spring for the Canadiens. He scored an overtime-winner as part of a first-round sweep over the Tampa Bay Lightning and added two crucial goals in the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins.
It’s been smooth sailing ever since, and now it appears Weise will garner the attention he deserves.
Who: Dale Weise | No. 22 | Third line (shoots right) | 6-foot-2 | 205 lbs | Age: 27
Acquired: Trade (2014) for defenceman Raphael Diaz
Contract status: 2 years, $1.025M AAV (expires 2016)
2014-15 Stats: 79 GP | 10 G | 19 A | 29 P | 12:10 TOI | 45.8 CF%
Career stats: 258 GP | 23 G | 36 A | 59 P | 9:21 TOI | 45.1 CF%
The book on 2014-15:
Weise managed to set career highs in games played (79), goals, assists, points, plus-minus (+21) and average time on ice even though he started the season as a healthy scratch.
Curiously, Canadiens coach Michel Therrien was intent on sending Weise a message that his playoff success the year prior and his new contract weren’t reasons to feel secure.
Therrien’s decision proved more confusing as Weise went from scratch to fourth line to first line in a matter of weeks.
But no matter what his role, Weise played it admirably. He didn’t complain when he was scratched, he played with reckless abandon from the fourth line and he performed confidently next to Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais.
No, Weise wasn’t a possession driver. In fact, much of the criticism regarding Therrien’s decision to promote him and keep him on the top line was aimed at that. But Weise provided energy, dogged puck pursuit, and a physical presence where it was badly needed.
When the playoffs rolled around, Weise’s knack for scoring big goals was put to the test and he passed with flying colours.
With the Canadiens leading the Senators 2-0 in Round 1, Weise scored the game-tying goal and overtime winner in Game 3.
The 2014-15 season was undeniably the best one of Weise’s career to date.
Off-season updates:
Weise spent his summer in Winnipeg, where his second child (Jordanna) was born on June 10. He also moved his family into a new home there.
https://twitter.com/CanadiensMTL/status/639603976820944896/photo/1
He began his summer training in early June and spent a fair portion of his time working out in the gym he built in the garage of his lake house in Manitoba.
2015-16 outlook:
The 2015-16 season presents enticing opportunities to Weise. A permanent role on the third line is within reach, especially given Montreal’s lack of depth at left wing. It would require moving from his natural position on the right, but that’s a challenge he can meet.
Weise could also prove indispensable in seizing some of the responsibility Brandon Prust had undertaken in his time with the Canadiens. Granted, he’s admittedly uncomfortable being expected to fight on a nightly basis, but he is one of the players that will have to pick up the slack in that department. Considering Weise’s strong sense of commitment to his teammates, it’s doubtful he’ll turn his back on that duty.
Weise won’t have to fight too often if he can produce at the same level as he did last season, and if he’s locked into a role next to Lars Eller and Zack Kassian, he’ll have ample opportunity to get his name onto the score sheet.
Right wing, left wing, third line, first line; Weise will continue to compete to the best of his ability, and that’s all the Canadiens are asking of him.
