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Weal produced a reasonable 15 points in 49 contests during the 2019-20 season, with five of his points coming on the power play. The 28-year-old is a bit of a man-advantage specialist at this stage in his career, as he rarely sees more than third-line minutes at even strength. It's unclear what kind of role awaits Weal in 2020-21, as the Canadiens' forward group is deeper than in recent years, which could make it difficult for him to crack the lineup. Fantasy managers won't want to draft him, but he could get hot during the season, making him a decent short-term addition or DFS pick.
Weal was an under-the-radar acquisition for the Canadiens' playoff push and contributed more than anyone expected while with Montreal, the third team he played for in 2018-19. After garnering 11 points in 47 games split between Philadelphia and Arizona, the British Columbia native scored four goals and tallied six assists in 16 games in le bleu blanc et rouge. That included ample time on the man advantage, where he chipped in a goal and added two assists. Montreal's power play was a mess all season, so coach Claude Julien was often shuffling his units out of desperation while trying to find a solution. That may not be the case to start this campaign, so Weal could end up being the odd-man-out on that front. The Canadiens signed the 27-year-old to a two-year deal in April, so there appears to be a spot for him in 2019-20, but he may be relegated to a bottom-six role while seeing limited time on the man advantage, capping his fantasy potential.
The departure of Valtteri Filppula means Weal will officially move to his natural position at center, but he likely won't be a top-six forward. Nolan Patrick appears ready for the second-line center position, which makes Weal's role on the third unit. Last season, the 26-year-old scored eight goals and 21 points. During his first significant action in the NHL during 2016-17, Weal posted eight goals and 12 points in 23 games, so just eight goals in 69 contests last season was very disappointing. Perhaps his comfort at center will help Weal find a better scoring touch, but even still, owners should target him only in the deepest leagues.
Ever productive in the AHL, it took Weal a while to find his way into a steady gig at hockey's highest level, but he enjoyed a solid run down the stretch last season, putting up eight goals and 12 points with 49 shots over 23 games -- nice stats for just 14:19 of average ice time. Weal may be a tad undersized, but he’s a dynamic offensive talent who’s versatile enough to play center or wing. It’s at left wing where he has the most potential to win a major role, as Weal appears destined for a top-six assignment this season, maybe even on the first line alongside Claude Giroux. It won't cost much for fantasy owners to acquire him on draft day, but you know better now, so don't sleep on Weal’s talent.
Weal's second season in the AHL was a nice step up from his previous effort, as he scored 23 goals and added 47 assists in 76 games for Manchester. He'll look to continue his development in the AHL again this season, and a strong start could land him in L.A. if injuries open up a spot.
Weal didn't get as much ice time at Manchester (AHL) as he had in the WHL, but it was still an encouraging debut season in the AHL for the dimunitive Weal. His lack of size (generously listed as 5-10 by all accounts) is going to be a bigger factor in the AHL than it was in the WHL, but he's shown he can still compete against older and larger opponents. He'll head back to the AHL with an eye on playing his way into more ice time.
Weal was once again his team's dominant offensive force, racking up 41 goals and 116 points for Regina in the WHL. No other teammate had more than 55 points and Weal's 116 points were good for fifth overall in the league. He'll need to add some bulk to his frame if he wants to produce in the upper ranks of the minors, though. Look for him to start this season in the AHL.
Weal enjoyed another fine season in the WHL. He may not have posted as many points (96) as the previous year (102) but he didn't have Jordan Eberle on his team this year so it may have been a more impressive effort. He led his team in goals (43) and assists (53) with no other teammate scoring more than 18 goals or having more than 52 points. He'll need to add some bulk to his frame (5'8", 158 pounds) if he wants to produce in the professional ranks however. He's expected to start the season again in juniors after a brief cup of coffee in the AHL at the end of last season.
Weal was the Kings' 3rd round selection in the 2010 draft after a big year in the WHL (35 G, 67 A in 72 games) for Regina. In fact, he was the first 17-year old to surpass the 100-point mark in the WHL in over a decade. He's listed as a generous 5'10" and that may be fudging things a bit. He's an intriguing prospect and one to keep an eye on in the coming years.
