With Raleigh Native Weiss, Carolina Can Play Keep Away From Colorado
By Chris Baker
Raleigh native Tyler Weiss is now free from his contract with the Colorado Avalanche. What the Carolina Hurricanes could do with him is open to complete interpretation. Signing him, however, would keep Weiss away from a potential Stanley Cup Finals opponent, bring him home to Raleigh, and be a huge thumb in the eye of those still arguing that hockey doesn’t belong here.
With five years of college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha under his belt, Weiss has a solid pedigree of hockey experience. Starting with the Junior Canes in 2012-13, where he had 1 goal in just 2 games, all the way through his time with the UN-O Mavericks, where he was teammates with Canes Prospect Jacob Kucharski at goal, Weiss has been a contributor.
Every team Weiss has played for has benefited with points. If he plays 5 games for you, you’ll get points from him:
Pro Hockey Selects U15 (2014-15)– 8 games, 6 pts
USA U16 (2015-16)– 6 games-5 pt
U.S. National U18 Team (2017-18)–
58 games, 31 pts
USNTDP Juniors (2017-18)- 22 games, 11 pts.
Are you getting the picture??
With the Mavericks, Tyler Weiss has been productive and then some.
Over five years, he has amassed 31 goals and 85 assists (that’s right 85). Over 159 games that represents points in 73% of his college games.
Impressive? You might say so.
The Avalanche can re-sign him to an entry-level contract and place them with their AHL team the Colorado Eagles and have him at their disposal over in Loveland. That might well be an advantage the Avalanche have over the Hurricanes. Lacking a fixed idea for their AHL prospects, Carolina might have to farm out their players and split pairings up permanently. Colorado can assure Weiss playing time with teammates he will likely play within the NHL, where the Canes cannot.
Still, Carolina would be wise to steal Tyler Weiss from Colorado.
What would be better than having a Raleigh native, playing on a Raleigh team? He has played in the Junior Canes system, and he certainly knows the way to PNC. Plus he would already have experience playing with Kucharski at his back.
Other teams can recruit hometown players, why can’t the Hurricanes?
It would be a move with baked-in headlines.
RALEIGH NATIVE RETURNS FOR CANES
RALEIGH NATIVE WINS GAME SEVEN OF ECF IN OVERTIME
RALEIGH NATIVE SCORES HAT TRICK TO WIN GAME 4 OF STANLEY CUP SWEEP
Do you get the picture?
After the success of the Hurricanes this year on the ice, their ability to pack the house at PNC on a regular basis, and of course the Stadium Series game in February, getting a hometown kid from the Avalanche would be sprinkles added to the icing on the cake. Southern hockey detractors are already feeling the salt in their eyes.
What the Hurricane would do with another left winger is anyone’s idea. Where they send him in the AHL is also open for further debate. But why can’t the Hurricanes sign Tyler Weiss cheaply, just to keep him from the Avalanche and bring him home?