Stephen Weiss Leaves Panthers

    Longtime Florida Panthers center Stephen Weiss has signed a five-year contract worth $24.5 million with the Detroit Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent. Weiss leaves the Cats with the franchise record for most games played with 654 and 249 assists. He is fourth all-time with 145 goals and second behind Scott Mellanby with 396 points.
    Weiss was selected by the Panthers as the fourth overall pick of the 2001 NHL Draft, which by the way was held in Sunrise. With the exception of the 2004-05 NHL lockout, he played every season with the club from 2001-02 until 2012-13.
    He helped Florida get into the NHL playoffs in 2011-12 for the first time in 12 years as they won their first division title in franchise history when they took the Southeast Division. He had 20 goals, 37 assists and 57 points in 80 games that season. He recorded three goals and two assists as the Panthers lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
    This past season was not good for Weiss as he only had one goal and four points in 17 games played. He had wrist surgery which ended his season and finished off his long reign with the team.