Weal: Back with some buddies

NEW YORK – After being acquired from the Coyotes on Monday, Jordan Weal made it to Detroit just in time to watch the Canadiens topple the Red Wings on Tuesday night.

The 26-year-old centerman didn’t feel like a stranger upon his arrival in the Motor City, though.

There were a few familiar faces Weal was able to connect with right off the bat, including Nicolas Deslauriers, a former teammate with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs when the pair was still in the Los Angeles Kings’ organization.

The North Vancouver, BC native has fond memories of playing with Deslauriers and was pleased to be reunited with him in Montreal.

“I played with him his first-ever game as a forward. In exhibition, in Saco, ME. I remember it pretty well. He had four goals that game and the rest is history,” said Weal. “He’s an awesome guy. He’s one of the best guys I’ve played with in my career, so energetic and such a great guy on and off the ice. It was really good to see him.” 

Weal also enjoyed meeting up with fellow BC native Brendan Gallagher again. They have history, too.

“Since we were probably 10 years old we’ve been playing against each other and with each other,” said Weal, who is happy to be a teammate of Gallagher’s again instead of an opponent. “He got under the skin of a lot of guys back in the day. He’s good at it. He’s one of the best guys at it. He just goes to the net so hard and finds ways to score. It’s pretty awesome to be on the same side as him now.”

Video: Jordan Weal on joining the Canadiens

Having spent the last few years with the Philadelphia Flyers, Weal would also be familiar with both Dale Weise and Christian Folin as well, of course.

That will certainly make the transition to his new club easier in the days and weeks to come.

“It’s nice to come in and have that familiarity with a couple of the guys,” mentioned Weal. “Hopefully I can come in, work hard, find my place and help the team win.”

Weal, who registered four goals and 11 points in 47 games so far this season between Philadelphia and Arizona, is prepared to play any role head coach Claude Julien assigns him. He is already eager to contribute in any way possible.

“I’ll play anywhere the coach wants. I feel like this year especially I’ve been playing a lot of different roles on the teams I’ve been on, whether that’s playing a second-line role and being expected to go out there and produce, or playing fourth-line minutes and being those guys that log up those important minutes and play solid defensively,” explained the four-year NHL veteran. “I’m just going to take it day by day. Wherever they see me fitting in, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to do that job to the best that I can. It’s a great group here and we have some big games coming up.”

It remains to be seen when Weal will make his Habs debut, but the opportunity to one day sport the local colors at the Bell Centre is already on his mind.

“It’s exciting. I played away at the Bell Centre. Whenever you go there, you know you’re there because the fans are always there, packed house and ready to rumble,” said Weal. “I’m excited to get back there and be on the other side of it.”