Going to have a more complete story on Stephen Weiss and the ongoing trade rumors (I for one don't think he's going anywhere) in a little bit, but for now, read over these quotes from him.
I've talked to Weiss quite a bit over the years and have never seen him more reflective than he was today. He truly is stressed out about hearing these rumors. That, and playing hurt, aren't helping his game.
As you may have read in the previous post, coach Pete DeBoer said Weiss had a number of scoring chances last night but couldn't put much on his shot. The scouts I've been talking to at the games have noticed it too.
Anyway, more in a bit.
On his injuries:
I'm doing alright. I'm hurting a bit but it's nothing crazy. It's nothing more than what everyone else is going through right now. This is the point of the season where you have things like this. You do your best and there's not much you can do. I wish it was the opposite, but what can you do? Just keep going.
It's been a weird year. Little naggy things have popped up, things that won't keep you out of the lineup but they're enough to affect you, hinder you a little bit.
The worst thing about being banged up at this time of year is you want to be going up, playing your best. You want to feel good. I'm not getting the results right now, but again, what are you going to do? You just have to keep playing and hope it turns around.
I've been through it a few times this year. Right now, though, you want to be going on all cylinders. That's not the case right now but it could change at any moment.
Has it been a frustrating season?
When things are going good, the game is real easy. When it's not, things can pile up on you quickly. The game becomes real hard. You add a few things and it becomes even harder. That's the name of the game. It's not always easy, especially at this point in the year when things tighten up. You have to produce and find ways to contribute no matter what you're going through.
The trade rumors:
I try to not listen to it, but to be honest, it's weighing on my mind. The unknown, not knowing what's going on. I've never been in this position before. It's a first, a new thing for me.
I've talked to some guys who have been through it, and they say that you can't think about it and keep playing. I know that already. But, certainly, it is a little bit different and it's been bugging me a little.
Have you been asked to waive no-movement clause?
I haven't been asked anything, not yet. We have 10 days or so to get to that point and we'll see what happens. But I've certainly been getting a lot of phone calls from people asking me what's going on – and that's a little bit different for me. We'll see what happens. I have no idea what's happening. I haven't heard anything nor talked to anyone of any significance who would know what's going on.
How much do you think about 'this could be my last day here? My last game here?'
I think every time I've come to the rink over the past week it's popped into my head that this could be my last day here. Is this the day I'm going to get called in? For the most part, I try not to think about it and go about my business, do what I do. But, yeah, I always wondered how tough this would be to go through, and it's not easy.
You feel a little bit helpless, you don't know what's going on with your own life.
Some say you might just need a change of scenery.
It is and it isn't. I just want to win. But I love it here and I don't want to go anywhere. I'll stay here until my career is over if they'll let me. But it's not up to me.
If management feels like they want to make a move and want to move on, I'll have to consider it.
I'm not going in and ask for anything to be done. I'm going to stay here and play and play hard for the guys who are here.
If the time comes and they call me in and tell me they want to make a change, well, I'll have to sit down and decide what I want to do.
The good thing is I have the option and can pick and choose where I want to go. That's the only positive thing.
Just talking about it makes me tired. I don't like talking about this, don't like thinking about it.
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