Penguins/NHL
Penguins Trade Talk: Dale Weise
Via mynhltraderumors.com, Ray Ferarro on TSN last night listed the “Best Fits” for players on TSNs Trade Bait board.
Loui Eriksson – Anaheim
Andrew Ladd – Florida
Mikkel Boedker – Chicago
Jonathan Drouin – Vancouver
Dan Hamhuis – Tampa Bay
Kris Russell – Dallas
Roman Polak – San Jose
Dale Weise – Pittsburgh
Jiri Hudler – New Jersey
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Weise, 27, has scored a career high 14 goals (11 even strength goals) and has 24 points in 55 games this season. Weise is an excellent forechecker who is a classic crash-and-bang winger who is coveted around the league because of his ability to add secondary scoring to go with the other intangibles, including high character.
Weise has indeed come up during the Penguins organizational meetings, and was recommended by the Penguins pro scouting staff, according to a source, and a few reasons some around the league see Pittsburgh as a fit:
1. The low cap hit of $1,025,000.
2. Penguins are actively evaluating the market for bottom-6 help.
3. Weise is a Mike Sullivan type player who likes to play below the hash marks.
However, here’s a couple red flags on any pursuit of Weise.
While Weise might look like a Sullivan type player on tape, the two don’t have a good r[hide]elationship, per an NHL source, who said Weise despises Mike Sullivan from their time together in New York and Vancouver.
Sullivan was an assistant coach with the Rangers for three seasons when Weise was in the organization and then coached Weise in Vancouver during the 2013-2014 season.
When John Tortorella was suspended in January 2014, Sullivan took over as interim coach and on Jan 28 vs Edmonton, Sullivan made Weise a healthy scratch without ever informing the player and the next day Weise went public with his displeasure about being scratched.
Weise would be traded less than a week later. A league source said Weise agent quietly demanded a trade.
Another red flag on pursuing Weise.
Craig Custance of ESPN reported today, the Canadiens are seeking a second and third round pick for Weise.
[“According to one source, the Canadiens want a second-and third-round pick for Weise, which is a lot to give up for a player who has averaged just over 10 minutes of ice time per game in his career with the Rangers, Canucks, and Canadiens. Sellers are pointing to the return the Maple Leafs got last year for depth forward Daniel Winnik, a trade that cost the Penguins a 2016 second-round pick, 2015 fourth-round pick and Zach Sill. It’s a trade Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has since said probably wasn’t one of his wisest moves.”]
That asking price goes in line with what the Sabres are seeking for Jamie McGinn.
The Penguins should only be giving up second round picks to skilled wingers who can be difference makers in the top-6. Can’t make another Winnik mistake.[/hide]
