Dale WeiseBruce Bennett
Dale Weise will practise with his new teammates Wednesday, and be in the opening night lineup Thursday when the Vancouver Canucks begin the 2011-12 NHL season against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Weise, who was claimed off waivers from the New York Rangers Tuesday, is a player who has peaked the interest of Canucks management since last year, when Vancouver attempted to acquire him via trade. The 23-year-old from Winnipeg will skate the right wing Thursday, on a fourth line with centre Maxim Lapierre and left wing Aaron Volpatti.
The Canucks put winger Victor Oreskovich on waivers in order to make room for Weise, who has played 10 NHL games, all with the Rangers last season.
Head coach Alain Vigneault said that Canucks scouts believed Weise would be an upgraded over Oreskovich, who was previously scheduled to be on the fourth line. He said Weise was busier and more physical than Oreskovich, who struggled to find consistency at the NHL level, and didn't use his 6-foot-3, 215-lb. frame enough.
Weise, 23, is also two years younger than Oreskovich, and injects some youth into an aging roster. Centre Cody Hodgson, defenceman Chris Tanev and Weise are the only three players to make the opening-night roster who are younger than 25.