It was over 5 years ago when the Montreal Canadiens traded for a hulking defenseman who would immediately join the organization and capture the hearts of the Canadiens faithful.
There was a great deal of pressure coming for the NHL All-Star and two time Olympic gold medalist, as he was traded for fan favorite P.K Subban. For me personally, Shea Weber quickly became my favorite player on the team as I felt as though he represented everything a hockey player should be, and he is just damn exciting to watch.
Despite the many detractors who claimed that Weber was too old, and he was set to rapidly decline, the man often referred to as “The Man Mountain” gave it his all each and every single game he played for the Montreal Canadiens. However, with that level of dedication and sacrifice, comes a price, and Shea Weber knew the risks, and accepted them anyway to give his team the best chance they had to win.
Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Montreal Canadiens came 3 wins shy of winning the Stanley Cup this past post season in a miracle run that will not soon be forgotten. It was this run, and so many others in the past that have finally caught up to the captain of the Canadiens. With lingering issues to his foot and ankle, not to mention injuries to his knee and thumb, it remains a possibility that #6 has played his last NHL game.
Should that be the case, it would be a tremendous loss for the Canadiens and the NHL as not only would the league be robbed of an elite talent from a play style that is seemingly on its way out of the league, but also the entire league would be without a well respected and outstanding person in Shea Weber. I guarantee that if a poll were taken throughout the league, there would be an extraordinary number of players that respect Weber through what he brings on the ice, but also the impact he has in a locker room. That is not exactly a personality that can easily be replaced. In this spirit, should this be the end of a tremendous career, I would like to reflect on my personal favorite moments of Shea Weber as a Montreal Canadien.