Stephen Weiss' NHL career started in South Florida almost a year before he ever hit the ice wearing a Panthers sweater.
It's more than fitting that Weiss is still around.
Weiss, taken by the Panthers with the fourth overall pick at the 2001 draft held in Sunrise, will play in his 613th game on Sunday against the Ducks.
When he plays Thursday against the Wild, he'll be atop the Panthers record book.
Sunday's game will put Weiss in a tie with Radek Dvorak for most games played with the franchise. He'll break that Thursday.
Although Dvorak set the Panthers record in two stints with the Cats, Weiss has never played for a team other than the Panthers. It pains him to talk about the franchise's NHL record postseason drought, and no one wants to see that come to an end more than Weiss.
If Jeff Conine was Mr. Marlin, does that make Weiss 'Mr. Panther?' King Cat? Niner? Actually, Conine has that one too.
Ive got a pun for you.
Weiss' #9 lives are up.
Trade his sucky ass.
Posted by: DV | February 18, 2012 at 11:18 PM
Hindsight's 20/20. However, here are some notables from that 2001 draft:
1. Kovalchuk (ATL)
2. Spezza (OTT)
4. Weiss (FLA)
6. Koivu (MIN)
13. Hemsky (EDM)
20. Goc (SJ)
23. Gleason (OTT)
32. Roy (BUF)
49. Cammaleri (LA)
55. Pominville (BUF)
71. Plekanec (MTL)
73. Anderson (CHI)
95. Sharp (PHI)
151. Bieksa (VAN)
175. Clowe (SJ)
Posted by: DV | February 18, 2012 at 11:35 PM
He won't be a Mr. Panther until he wins a cup with the Panthers. Weiss is a good player (e.g., plays well defensively, wins faceoffs, etc.), and I'm glad he's on the team, but I think he really should be playing on a 2nd line.
Posted by: EJ | February 19, 2012 at 01:13 PM
DV-STFU!!!
AS FOR WEISS, ONE WORD- CAPTAIN!!
Posted by: CATFAN927 | February 20, 2012 at 09:08 AM
@catfan927 four words, not one. Anyway, have you been watching the last few games? What makes Weiss a first liner as opposed to say, Bergenheim or Matthias? Bergenheim's playing great. Biggest noticable difference: effort, hard-skating and a want for the puck.
Weiss is skating in sand, plays lazy defense (uses his stick instead of the body), and isnt producing anything offensively -- unless you count turnovers.
If anything, take the "A" off of Weiss' sweater. Guys like Campbell, Bergenheim, Matthias, Theodore, etc., want to win. Weiss sucks.
Posted by: DV | February 20, 2012 at 02:42 PM