The Rangers could open the regular season Saturday with as many as eight draft picks on the opening roster, along with two more who were undrafted signees that made their NHL debuts with the team. It’s quite a difference from the teams we saw in the late 90s, when the team was dominated by spare parts and free agents.

One player who is hoping to join that group soon is 2008 4th round pick Dale Weise, and he is the subject of this Rangers Countdown.

Player Profile
Passed over by all 30 NHL teams in his first couple of years of draft eligibility, Weise earned a fourth round pick from the Rangers as a 19 year old following a 50 point season in just 53 games with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League.

As an older pick, Weise was able to go directly to the AHL the next season, and put up modest numbers of 11 goals and 12 assists in 74 games in his first pro year. Heading into his second year as a pro, the 6-2 206lb wing substantially improved his offensive numbers, while also adding some toughness to his game. It was enough to get him a call-up to the Rangers as the season wound down.

Weise never did get a chance to play in the NHL last year, but it’s clear that Totorella already likes what he sees from the now 22 year old Winnipeg native. After being a relatively late cut in camp, he was one of two players, along with Mats Zuccarello, that got relief duty when Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan were given the final game off.

A north-south kind of player who brings a bit of everything, Weise may or may not have what it takes to be an NHL regular. In the preseason he showed his willingness to work hard and even drop the gloves if necessary, but a couple of assists and some limited offense was the most we got to see from him.

With P.A. Parenteau and Corey Locke gone from the Wolf Pack this season, Weise has an opportunity to become the go-to guy for Hartford. If he can continue to put up good offensive numbers, and add perhaps ramp up the physical side, he may find he gets a call-up again during the year.

2009-10 Statistics
Team: Hartford Wolf Pack
Stats: 28 goals, 22 assists and 114 penalty minutes in 73 games

Prediction
Team: Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Stats: 22 goals, 24 assists and 102 penalty minutes in 74 games

Team: New York Rangers (NHL)
Stats: 0 goals, 0 assists and 2 penalty minutes in 3 games

Trivia
Weise’s favorite hockey player is Keith Tkachuk