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DETROIT -- Stephen Weiss missed most of the previous two seasons first because of surgery on his wrist while with the Panthers and then sports hernia surgery in his first year with the Red Wings.
Weiss, Florida's all-time leader in games played and assists, missed this year's start with some fans wondering if Weiss would ever be healthy and put up numbers commiserate with the five-year, $24.5-million contract signed in 2013.
Well, now Weiss is healthy -- and productive. In his first 10 games he's played this year, Weiss was averaging a point a game with four goals.
"The league is hard enough when you're healthy,'' Weiss said before leaving Friday's game with an undisclosed upper body injury after being run into the boards by Sean Bergenheim in the second.
"When you're not, it's tough to compete, so I feel good again. Any time you can contribute offensively it's a bonus.''
Weiss, who played his former team for the fourth time Friday, said he had no ill-will to the Panthers or general manager Dale Tallon for how his free agency was handled in 2013.
The Panthers, who were quietly for sale that summer, didn't offer Weiss a contract and let him walk away to the Red Wings. Tallon wasn't able to match Detroit's offer even if he wanted to as the team wasn't about to spend any money.
The team was sold to Vinny Viola in September, months after Weiss left for Detroit.
"Dale Tallon is one of my favorite guys in hockey but his hands were tied,'' Weiss said. "It would've been nice to get a call from ownership to talk about things, but I understand the business side of it. I have no hard feelings whatever.''
Posted with Blogsy
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