Stephen Weiss

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Stephen Weiss
Born (1983-04-03) April 3, 1983
Toronto, ON, CAN
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2001
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2001present

Stephen Weiss (born April 3, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Weiss plays the centre position for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Weiss formerly played for the Florida Panthers, who drafted him fourth overall in the 2001 NHL Draft. Weiss holds Panthers franchise records for assists and games played.

Playing career

Plymouth Whalers

Weiss played his junior career with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League and recorded statistics that impressed scouts and made him one of the highest selections in the North American Central Scouting Report. In his rookie season, Weiss recorded 66 points and followed it up with a spot on the OHL First All-Rookie Team.[1] Weiss continued to post eye popping numbers in his sophomore season by recording 87 points and earning a top five position among North American skaters.[2]

As a result of his junior accolades, Weiss was drafted 4th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.[3] Weiss returned to the Whalers in 2001–02 and although his point totals decreased from the previous year, he posted a respectable 70 points.[4]

Florida Panthers

Weiss went on to make his NHL debut during the final weeks of the 2001–02 NHL season, recording a goal and an assist during his seven game stint.[5] On April 16, 2002, Weiss signed a three year entry level contract with the Panthers.[6]

In his first full NHL season, Weiss recorded six goals and 15 assists in 77 games, missing 5 of them with a broken toe.[7] Weiss also played in the NHL YoungStars Game in front of his home crowd at the Office Depot Center, in what would be the highlight of his season as he recorded a goal and an assist in the game as the Eastern Conference went on to win the game 8–3.[citation needed] Weiss's second full season did not go as well as he struggled to adjust to Mike Keenan's coaching style and was assigned to the Panthers AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage for a ten game stint. Weiss returned to the Panthers lineup in November, where he remained for the remainder of the season. He missed a good portion of the 2003–04 season due to a sprained knee, followed by a broken leg which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Weiss recorded 10 goals and 19 assists in 50 games that season.

Weiss as a member of the Panthers.

As the 2004–05 NHL season was wiped out due to a labor dispute, the Panthers assigned Weiss to their farm team in San Antonio, where he recorded 15 goals and 23 assists with the Rampage before he was loaned to the Chicago Wolves for the remainder of the season.[8]

Weiss would go on to taste his first post-season at the professional level as he recorded two goals and seven assists as the Wolves made their way to the 2005 Calder Cup Finals, where they eventually lost to the Philadelphia Phantoms in seven games.[9]

When the NHL returned for the 2005–06 NHL season, Weiss re-signed with the Panthers as a restricted free agent. He then endured one of his most frustrating campaigns, missing the majority of the season due to a serious wrist injury.[10] Weiss recorded 29 points in 41 games with the team. The following season, Weiss returned to the Panthers lineup, but missed significant time due to knee and shoulder injuries. He signed a six-year contract extension with the Panthers during the off-season. Weiss, looking to improve on his showing, followed up his efforts by recording 13 goals and 29 assists in 74 games, despite missing time due to a the flu and shoulder injuries.

The 2008–09 season was seen as a coming out party of sorts for Weiss, as he flourished under Peter DeBoer, his former coach in junior. In that year, he played a career-high 78 games and recorded a career-high 47 assists. Weiss was also able to stay healthy, despite missing four games with a groin injury. The following season, Weiss continued his pace by recording a career high 28 goals along with 32 assists in a career high 80 games. In 2010-11, Weiss saw his production dip to 49 points and became a target of trade rumors throughout the course of the year.

On February 23, 2012, Weiss set a franchise record by playing in his 614th game in a Panthers jersey. He was honored in a ceremony on February 26, 2012, before a home game against the Montreal Canadiens; he scored two goals that night, including the game winner.

After 637 career games without a playoff appearance, Weiss made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Weiss recorded three goals and two assists in the Panthers seven game series loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Detroit Red Wings

On July 5, 2013, Weiss signed a five-year, $24.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[11] With jersey number 9 retired by Detroit in honor of Gordie Howe, Weiss, who had worn the number during his years in Florida, will switch to wearing number 90. [12]

International play

Stephen Weiss
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Competitor for  Canada
World Junior Championships
Silver 2002 Pardubice

At the 2002 IIHF World U20 Championships, he was selected to Team Canada. Weiss recorded a goal and three assists and earned a silver medal as Canada would go on to lose to Russia in the gold medal game.

Career statistics

With the Panthers in 2005.
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–00 Plymouth Whalers OHL 64 24 42 66 35 23 8 18 26 18
2000–01 Plymouth Whalers OHL 62 40 47 87 45 18 7 16 23 10
2001–02 Florida Panthers NHL 7 1 1 2 0
2001–02 Plymouth Whalers OHL 46 25 45 70 69 6 2 7 9 13
2002–03 Florida Panthers NHL 77 6 15 21 17
2003–04 San Antonio Rampage AHL 10 6 3 9 14
2003–04 Florida Panthers NHL 50 12 17 29 10
2004–05 San Antonio Rampage AHL 62 15 23 38 38
2004–05 Chicago Wolves AHL 18 7 9 16 12 18 2 7 9 17
2005–06 Florida Panthers NHL 41 9 12 21 22
2006–07 Florida Panthers NHL 74 20 28 48 28
2007–08 Florida Panthers NHL 74 13 29 42 40
2008–09 Florida Panthers NHL 78 14 47 61 22
2009–10 Florida Panthers NHL 80 28 32 60 40
2010–11 Florida Panthers NHL 76 21 28 49 49
2011–12 Florida Panthers NHL 80 20 37 57 60 7 3 2 5 6
2012–13 Florida Panthers NHL 17 1 3 4 25
NHL totals 654 145 249 394 313 7 3 2 5 6

References

  1. "Red Line Report spotlight: Stephen Weiss". USA Today. November 30, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2010. 
  2. "Panthers 2001 draft evaluation". Hockeysfuture.com. June 8, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2010. 
  3. "2001 NHL Draft Results – Round 1". mynhldraft.com. June 28, 2001. Retrieved November 6, 2010. 
  4. "Q&A with Panthers C Stephen Weiss". CNN Sports Illustrated. September 10, 2002. Retrieved November 6, 2010. 
  5. "Stephen Weiss". mahalo.com. September 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010. 
  6. "Panthers sign 2001 first round pick Stephen Weiss". freewebs.com. April 18, 2002. Retrieved November 6, 2010. 
  7. "Stephen Weiss Profile". sbnation.com. November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010. 
  8. "Wolves strengthen lineup". The Sun–Naperville (IL). March 9, 2005. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  9. "Alumni Spotlight: Stephen Weiss". chicagowolves.com. July 6, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  10. "Spotlight on Mark Messier". usa today. January 12, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  11. Alfie, Weiss excited for opportunity
  12. Confirmed : Weiss to wear number 90

External links

Preceded by
Denis Shvidki
Florida Panthers first round draft pick
2001
Succeeded by
Jay Bouwmeester
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