It’s the middle of August, hockey news is scarce, and apparently former Philadelphia Flyers forward Dale Weise decided now was the time to stir the pot.
Weise—probably best remembered for being a puzzling signing during Ron Hextall’s not-so-fondly remembered tenure—took some surprising shots at Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek on the Slangin’ the Bizkit podcast this week.
“I went to Philly and…within weeks, I was like, ‘Man, no wonder this team hasn’t won,’” Weise said. “You could just feel the difference. Two guys leading the charge…there were, you know, Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, who were tremendous players…but not guys that were, in my opinion, really bringing the team together, really wanting to win.”
Yes, that’s Dale Weise—who managed 34 points in 152 games with the Flyers—questioning the leadership of the team’s two most productive and beloved players of the last two decades.
Giroux, now with Ottawa, left Philadelphia second in franchise history in points and was the face of the Flyers for a decade. Voracek, for his part, sits fifth all-time in assists and is still well-regarded amongst fans for his dry humor and signature bluntness (never forget young Travis Konecny’s face when Voracek gave his thoughts on the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Mike Sielski’s coverage of the Flyers.)
Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) on X
3 years ago today Jake Voracek dropped this beauty #weasel
Both Giroux and Voracek are still widely regarded as beloved and respected figures in Flyers history—not to mention core reasons why the Flyers remained competitive through years of half-measures and roster churn.
Weise’s tenure in Philly, on the other hand, was forgettable. Signed in 2016 to bring grit and depth scoring, he never found consistent footing before being traded back to Montreal in 2019.
The comments will surely spark controversy—especially in a city where fans have long defended the legacies of those crucial 2010s players. But the messenger here may be as notable as the message. A depth forward with a short, quiet stint in orange and black is now throwing haymakers at two players who carried the franchise for years.
Dog days of summer or not, those are fighting words in Philadelphia.