Montreal Canadiens forwards Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann have been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Philip Danault and a 2018 second round pick. The Canadiens retain 30% of Weise’s contract.
Canadiens acquire Phillip Danault + 2nd round pick in 2018 from the CHI, in return for D.Weise and T.Fleischmann. https://t.co/dHZ5RmVkP2
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 27, 2016
Dale Weise Traded
Weise, 27, was originally acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenceman Raphael Diaz, an unpopular trade at the time as Weise has not proved much in his stints with Vancouver and the New York Rangers. Weise showed himself as a valuable bottom six forward in the 2013-14 NHL playoffs with seven points in 16 games including a game winner against the rival Boston Bruins. With more ice time earned from his hardnosed play, Weise scored 29 points in 79 games in the following season.
Weise continued his increased production, scoring 14 goals, 12 assists and 26 points in 56 games. Unfortunately, Weise dealt with injuries this season derailing a hot start as the Canadiens season went down into a tailspin.
Weise was making $1.025 million with the Canadiens from a contract signed in the summer of 2014. Speculation was that Weise would be looking for more than $3 million per season on his next contract.
Tomas Fleischmann Traded
Fleischmann had found himdself a new home with the Canadiens after sitting through the entire 2016 offseason with no contract offers. GM Marc Bergevin gave him a PTO (Professional Try Out) prior to the start of training camps and later signed him to a one year, 750 thousand dollar contract after giving a good impression.
He has scored 9 goals and 19 points through 55 games this season, which is a bit less productive than the numbers he had with the Florida Panthers last year. He had 7 goals and 21 points in 52 games before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he scored 1 goal and 6 points in 14 games. He also suited up for 6 postseason games for the Ducks, recording only one assist, however he was in and out of the line-up during the team’s deep playoffs run.
The 63rd overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings has been a productive player for the majority of his career, topping 30 or more points 5 times in 8 full seasons, including a career high 27 goals and 61 points in 2011-12 with the Panthers. But his blood clot related injuries has put a huge damper on his career and he has found his numbers declining. He missed some time during the 2009-10 season due a battle with deep vein thrombosis in his left leg, but returned to score 51 points in 69 games while playing with the Washington Capitals. The next season, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche 23 games into the season. He had a fantastic start with the Avs, scoring 21 points in 22 games, before being diagnosed with pulmonary emboli and was shut down for the remainder of the season.
After being released by the Avalanche, he was signed by the Panthers to a 4 year, 18 million dollar contract. He scored his career high 27 goals and 61 points, but his offensive production has declined harshly since and was consequently traded to the Ducks in the final year of his contract.
Phillip Danault
Danault, 23, was the Blackhawks first round pick, 26th overall in the 2011 NHL draft. He has scored one goal and five points, mainly playing on the Blackhawks fourth line this season. A versatile two-way forward, Danault should be able to get more minutes and more of an opportunity to show what he can do with the Habs over the remainder of the season.
He scored 38 points in 70 games with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs last year.
Danault is on the final year of his entry level contract with a cap hit of $863,333 per year. He will be a restricted free agent this summer.
In related roster news the Canadiens recalled Michael McCarron and Morgan Ellis.
Canadiens recalled forward Michael McCarron and defenseman Morgan Ellis from the AHL St. John’s IceCaps tonight.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 27, 2016
We will have more details on this trade as it develops. Follow @LastWordonPuck and Lastwordonsports.com for all of your NHL trade deadline news and analysis.
Main Photo Caption: TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 23: Dale Weise #22 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on January 23,2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
