It has been a tough season for Canadiens winger Dale Weise, but Monday night’s game against the Washington Capitals was a special milestone for him.
“It means a lot to me,” Weise said after Monday’s morning skate in Brossard before playing in his 500th NHL regular-season game. “The way the year started for me I probably didn’t expect this to happen. So it’s a lot of games, a lot of hard work, a lot of help. A lot of people helped me get there, so it’s a proud moment for me.”
Weise leaned on his parents, his wife and other family members for support this season after he was cut by the Canadiens at training camp and then played 27 games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, posting 3-4-7 totals. Monday’s game was his 10th with the Canadiens since getting called up and Weise scored his first goal in a 4-2 loss to the Capitals.
“No surprise this has been my favourite place playing here,” said the 31-year-old, who has also played with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. “I’ve had a lot of good memories. As a kid growing up to say I played my 500th NHL game in a Montreal Canadiens uniform, you’ve got to pinch yourself a little bit.”
Weise has found a regular spot on the fourth line with Nate Thompson and Nick Cousins and had two assists in a 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in their last game before the bye week.
“He’s unbelievable,” teammate Max Domi said about Weise. “I think you can make an argument for him being one of the most valuable players in the last how many games he’s been up here. It’s not what you guys see on the ice. I mean that’s obviously a given, he’s been playing unbelievable. The last game he played he was probably the best player on the ice. Works hard every shift, in a great mood every single day, hardest worker in practice. He’s just so positive to be around. For a group like us, that guy is so, so valuable. It’s unfortunate he wasn’t up with us the whole year, but that’s not our job. I’m happy he’s here now and he’s a big, big part of this team and I hope he will be for a long time.”
Weise is in the final season of a four-year, US$9.4 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. After all he’s been through this season, does the thought enter his mind that every game could be his last in the NHL?
“It’s probably not what I think about,” Weise said. “I’ve always believed, even when I was in the American league this year, that I’m an NHL player and I can help teams. The way I’ve played I feel like I’m getting better every game, getting more comfortable. I really like the guys that I’m playing with. For me, as opposed to thinking: Is this my last game in the NHL? I think I’m just showing other teams and other people — and this team — that I’m an NHL player and I can help teams.”
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