Winnipeg’s Weise eager to prove worth after two disappointing years as Flyer

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This article was published 22/08/2018 (2924 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dale Weise admits his time with the Philadelphia Flyers has not gone according to plan.

Not so long ago, his stint in the City of Brotherly Love began with so much promise. Coming off a strong 2015-16 NHL campaign (a career-high 14 goals and 13 assists in 71 games) split between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks, Weise attracted the attention of Flyers GM Ron Hextall, who signed the fellow Manitoban to a four-year $9.4-million contract with the Flyers on July 1, 2016.

But the 30-year-old Winnipegger hasn’t achieved much success over the past two seasons, particularly in 2017-18 when he dressed for only 46 games — his fewest in a non-lockout year since his rookie season as a 22-year old with the New York Rangers.

Weise finished the disappointing season with just four goals, four assists and a minus-seven rating.

He was also used sparingly during the playoffs, suiting up for the final two games of Philadelphia’s first-round series with Pittsburgh (the Penguins won the best-of-seven 4-2). During those post-season appearances Weise was held scoreless and had a minus-3 rating getting an average of less than eight minutes of ice time per game from head coach Dave Hakstol.

On Wednesday, a rather upbeat Weise talked openly about his struggles with the Flyers and his high hopes for the upcoming campaign.

“It hasn’t gone well, that’s no surprise,” he said after an on-ice workout at the Iceplex with several pros and prospects with local roots. “The first two years haven’t gone well there for me for a lot of reasons, but I’m not the type of guy to really dwell on the past. I know what I can do — obviously my work in Montreal showed what I can do before.

“(The Flyers) had faith and gave me the four years. I see a lot of better things coming for me. I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work this summer, a lot of hard reps in August, more skating than I’ve ever done and more touches and stuff like that. I see one of my best years coming up.”

Weise watched many games from the press box last season. For a veteran player who collected seven points in 16 playoff games for the Canadiens in 2014, being on the outside looking in was tough to handle.

“I know how good of a player I am and know what I can do and how much I can help our team,” said Weise, entering his ninth NHL season after being selected by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Draft.

“When you don’t get the opportunities and you’re coming in and out of the lineup, it’s extremely hard to show what you can do. You play such a limited role, you’re out for two weeks, you come back and you kind of lose those game reps. Mentally trying to stay sharp and mentally trying to stay confident is the hardest part.”

Weise said each fall he sets statistical goals for himself, but after two trying seasons he’s tossed “that out the window,” instead, focusing on regaining Hakstol’s trust.

“They know what type of player I am and what I can do. I think it just comes down to coming in and getting off to a good start, playing well in exhibition games, maybe pot a couple goals early, and just try to win the coach’s belief in you,” said Weise.

“I don’t think in two years that (Hakstol) has a lot of belief in me as a player, obviously from seeing me only play about 45-50 games last year. I guess (I’m) just trying to change his mind and opinion on me.”

With the pre-season less than a month away Weise said he feels great, ready to show people the last two years were “just a blip.”

“I think I’m a better player now than I was (with Montreal). I’m in better shape, I train smarter now, I take care of myself better,” he said.

“From my best year three years ago, I wouldn’t give you an exponential number of how (much) better I am, but I’m a better skater, better conditioned, my skills are better and I have a lot of different aspects in my game that are better. I think it all comes down to opportunity. When you get a good opportunity to play the minutes and situations that I was in Montreal, I think I’m going to be successful.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31