The now 11-2-2 Boston Bruins coming to South Florida and pasting the struggling Panthers is not a surprise. Boston having just as many fans in the seats, and quite a bit louder, is embarrassingly not a surprise. Stephen Weiss getting benched in the third period after being given just two shifts is nothing short of shocking.
Yes he has been struggling, and as with every year the trade winds are swirling around him. But this time the rumors seem to have some serious weight associated with them.
The first things frustrated Panther fans will angrily say to other fans is "Weiss has a no-trade clause so he is not going anywhere." Really? Who says he is going to want to stay after getting benched and seeing the writing on the wall that his stay in the doghouse might be an extended visit?
"For the last year-and-a-half I've looked down -- if we are a man short or on the power play -- for that number,'' head coach Kevin Dineen said. "That made it much easier to have him sitting there not part of the equation with the quality of hockey he's playing right now.''
Wow. How far has Weiss' stock fallen in a month's time? If any GMs around the league have been noticing his 1 goal, 3 assists, and -11 rating through 13 games, it has been a disastrous fall from grace.
Weiss has openly said he will not negotiate his contract during the season. With how he is playing right now and possibly earning his way out of South Florida, he may be regretting not re-signing last summer. At this point the reported 4-year, $24 million contract he's seeking can be considered nothing but a pipe dream. Here is an interview I did with him back in December:
Back then it was let's just get a season started. Now it is when is Weiss going to start playing like the season HAS started.
Panthers color commentator Bill Lindsay mentioned that Stephen Weiss is their best player and he needs to start playing that way. With Jonathan Huberdeau, Brian Campbell, Drew Shore, and even Tomas Kopecky this season, I wouldn't say Weiss is the team's best player. But for this team to be successful he just has to play like Stephen Weiss. Do the little things. Play good two-way hockey. Chip in 25 or so points in this shortened season, and call it a wrap.
At this pace, and with the youth movement in full effect, it might be a perfect "change of scenery" situation for Weiss where he can restart his career. The problem is what could GM Dale Tallon get in return for the face of the franchise and, up until the last few weeks, one of the most popular players in franchise history?
Tallon has to be getting an itchy trigger finger regarding blowing some things up to get ready for next season if a few more losses are realized over the next week. There might be over half the season left, but it is panic time in South Florida.
Tough questions and decisions ahead...
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Dan Spiegel...
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