At a certain point even if Weise got points playing with Pacioretty his average TOI is significantly less and half his games with were Manny whereas Eller has more TOI and all his games had at least one decent winger by his side.
Weise has spent only 33.69% of his season next to Malholtra at ES.
He has spent another 32.4% in a top 6 role with the following combos:
15.32% with Pacioretty and DD
7.81% with Plekanec and DD
4.97.16% with Plekanec and Sekac
4.42% with Pacioretty and Plekanec
And he he has spent another 16.13% on the 3rd line with:
8.27% with Eller and Bourque.
3.75 with Eller and Sekac.
2.38 with Plekanec and Prust.
1,73 With Eller and Prust.
Just to put that into perspective, Sekac, OTHO, has spent only 19.65% (or around 20% if you count all the instances less than 1% which I have not included because they are so marginal) in a top 6 role with the following combos:
4.91% with Weise and Plekanec.
4.66% with Andrighetto and Plekanec
4.21% with Galchenyuk and Plekanec
3.96% with Prust and Plakenec
1.91% with Pacioretty and DD
In other words, Weise has spent as much time with Pacioretty and Sekac has been given top 6 opportunities.
Also, Eller has spent almost as much time with the blackhole Bourque (25.33% of his season) and Weise has spent with the blackhole Malholtra.
Weise has definitely seized the opportunity, but I don't know if it's sustainable. Ideally, I'd like to see a true top 6 winger alongside Pacioretty and Plekanec. Maybe PAP can slide in there when he comes back (if he fails there, then it should be the end of him). Weise's success there begs the question of how well Sekac would do playing big minutes next to Pacioretty. It's great that Weise gets to be on a 30-35 point pace while playing next to Patches, but perhaps someone else like Sekac would produce even more in that role. For me it's about opportunity cost. I just hope Weise isn't a long-term fixture in the top 6.
