Stephen Weiss didn't play Tuesday night after he left the team Monday for Toronto to attend funeral services for his grandmother.

Weiss told coach Kevin Dineen about the passing of his grandmother after Sunday's match with Boston and was granted permission to head home. "The hockey season is condensed this year, but it doesn't stop life," Dineen said. "These things are always hard to deal with, family loss. We always want a player to be with family if possible."

Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen benched Stephen Weiss for all but two shifts in the team's 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Weiss has had an awful season so far, managing just four points and 19 SOG with a putrid -11 rating in 14 games played. It's hard to deny the trade rumors at this point, although his value might be at an all-time low.

Florida Panthers' coach Kevin Dineen inplied that Stephen Weiss has been playing hurt this season.

With only one goal and four points in 10 games, Weiss has struggled thus far in this shortened 48-game season."The physical side of it is something you're always trying to stay on top of and stay aware. He's got a big heart and he's going to come out and play every night. That's a factor. Stephen is a guy I rely on and we rely on a lot in so many different situations and over the course of my tenure here and his career I think it's an area he's embraced as the go-to-guy. For the first couple of weeks here it hasn't gone as planned, but with a guy like Stephen I know that worm's going to turn here,'' said coach Dineen.