Montreal Canadiens: A Look At Former Habs Playing In The KHL

Canadiens KHLers: Jordan Weal

Good ole’ Jordan Weal, the definition of a NHLer who when you put him on the ice, nothing happens, and that’s a good thing. That being said, it’s not like Weal was a player without offensive ability, far from it. He could just never make good on his NHL opportunities for long enough when given them.

A third-round pick of the LA Kings in 2010, Weal was a dominant offensive player for the WHL’s Regina Pats, and quickly emerged as a star with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, leading them to a Calder Cup title in the 2014-15 season, earning Playoff MVP honors. After not being able to find much of a role with the Kings, Weal was dealt to the Flyers for Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn, and this would start the pattern of Weal’s NHL career.

He’d play decently for a short stint at the end of one season, and then do next to nothing in a full-time role the next season. After Philly gave him a brief chance in their bottom six, Weal was shipped to Arizona where he struggled further, before landing in Montreal in exchange for long-time AHL forward Michael Chaput. Once again, Weal played great and was a big help for the Habs in their late-season push for the playoffs in 2018-19, posting 4-6-10 totals over 16 games.

Then, he and fellow AHLer Charles Hudon were little to no use for the Habs bottom-six in 2019-20, and after a stint as a leader in Laval in 2020-21, Weal headed for the KHL, where he’s since found niche as a talented, playmaking two-way centre. Playing on a line with established KHL stars in Nikita Gusev and Eric O’Dell, Weal is on a torrid pace to start 2023-24 and should challenge for the KHL scoring title.