IslesInfo:
2005-06 Update: Through
the first month of the NHL season, Weinhandl has had
trouble finding ice time. Coach Steve Stirling seems to
have lost a bit of faith in the young Swede which has
led to a dismal start of scoreless in eleven games
played during the month of October. Whenever he has seen
the ice, it has mostly been on the fourth line.
December Update: Coach
Steve Stirling has said that Weinhandl, in order to be
effective, needs to be a top 6 forward, but in order for
him to be a top 6 forward he has to show something with
the limited ice time that he receives, and he hasn't
done that yet. His confidence seems to be low as he
doesn't seem to handle the puck the way he once did,
often loses it to the opposition and can't seem to get
his shot off at the opposing net. Weinhandl recorded
only 4 points in 14 games during the month of November.
Four points is all he has in 25 games on the season.
2004-05 Update: Weinhandl
went back to play for MoDo in the Swedish Elite League
during the NHL lockout. He finished tied for first in
the league with 26 goals and 46 points.
2003-04 Update: Weinhandl
missed the Islanders 2003 playoffs with an ankle injury
that extended into the start of the 2003-04 season. As
part of his rehabilitation, Mattias began the year once
again in Bridgeport. He was recalled back to the
Islanders on December 1, 2003. Weinhandl would go on to
record four multiple point games on the season. He
played in his 100th NHL game on March 31, 2004 vs.
Montreal.
2002-03 Update: Mattias
Weinhandl joins the Islanders organization for his first
season in North America. Began the season with Bidgeport
but was called up to the Islanders for his first NHL
game on November 4, 2002 against the Calgary Flames. In
that game he recorded his first NHL point, an assist.
Weinhandl would go on to notch his first career NHL goal
on November 27, 2002 vs. Ottawa. More highlights:
recorded three assists in the third period on November
23rd at the Rangers. Most of his success came playing
wing with Alexei Yashin. After missing eight games from
late November to mid December, Weinhandl returned and
was invited to the NHL's Young All-Stars Game during
All-Star Weekend. He tallied a goal and an assist in the
game. He would go on to have two more three point nights
with the Islanders. He scored a goal and 2 assists
January 3rd, 2003 vs. Boston and notched 2 goals and an
assist on March 14, 2003 at Ottawa. Three of his 6 goals
in 2002-03 came against the Ottawa Senators.
Weinhandl Can Handle NHL
By Isles Info, May 2002
In
the 1999 Draft the Islanders managed to snag a sleeper when they
selected Radek Martinek in the 8th round after observing him play
for the Czech team in the 2001 World Championships. In 2002, history
may repeat itself with a gem on Team Sweden.
Mattias Weinhandl (pronounced
vayn-han-del), was
drafted in the third round by the Islanders in 1999. A couple of years ago
it seemed as if this highly touted prospect would never make it to the NHL
after a freak injury during the 1999 Four Nation Tournament. He almost
lost his eye after a careless stick swinging incident by a Czech player
named Michal Travnichek. Travnichek was suspended from international play
for a year and oddly enough today plays in the Toronto Maple
Leafs farm system. Today, Weinhandl has only 10% vision in that eye,
but it hasn't slowed him down. As a junior player he played on a famed
Swedish line called "Line 19" along with current Vancouver
Canuck's Daniel and Henrik Sedin, which referred to their ages. He is currently viewed to be among the
next wave of Swedish stars as he has become one of the top players in the
Swedish Elite League. Mattias is among the leading scorers in the
2002 World Championships with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in 6
games played. He is playing on a line with Detroit Red Wing propect Henrik
Zetterberg and together they are driving the Swedes kid line. Hopefully
Weinhandl will get signed to a contract by the Islanders this summer.
Perhaps he is ready to make the jump, or at least play in Bridgeport next
season. Who knows, he could compete for right wing duty on one of the
Islanders top two lines in 2002-03.
Weinhandl Update(June 3rd): Well after a terrific
WC-tournament it doesn't come as surprise that the NY Islanders are
anxious to sign MoDo's starplayer, Mattias Weinhandl. The 21-year old
winger talked with the Swedish Newspaper aftonbladet about his thoughts and the current situation.
NY Islanders general manager, Mike Milbury, was over in Sweden during the
World Championships and he was very impressed with what Weinhandl
accomplished. Rumors are saying that the Islanders draftee will be offered
a two-year contract worth about 2 million $.
Here are some of Weinhandl thoughts, translated:
- If everything goes well it's a dream come true
On Milbury...
- Milbury was really nice. We came along fine and it felt alright
On why he didn't accept the deal he got last season...
- I wanted to play yet another year in the elite league. But now I
feel more mature and if the contract is acceptable, I'm moving over.
On Milbury's thoughts about using him on the 2nd-line...
- That would be something. But I'm not jumping to conclusions. A lot
can happen along the road, but when I've joined the team it will be up to
me. And if I won't play enough convincing, I'll just have to take a year
with the farm-team.
 Update:
July 3rd
The Islanders sign Mattias Weinhandl to a three year contract. Milbury
believes he could be as good as the Isles second line right wing in
2002-03, perhaps even the winger the Islanders are looking to play on the
first line with Alexei Yashin. He will certainly get an opportunity.
Articles of Interest
Weinhandling
at the World Championships
- IHWC.net/Apr 28, 2002
|
