The Canadiens are finally in their final week of their season. But that doesn’t mean we’re short on stories regarding everyone’s favorite annual drama series.
With all eyes currently on Carey Price, with rumors swirling that he might be facing retirement, there’s another player on the Canadiens that has gotten his share of negative reviews this year, and we’re talking about Shea Weber.
Mountain Man has made himself quite scarce throughout the season. With his career all but done due to a series of injuries, Weber hasn’t committed to any of the Canadiens’ highlight moments this season. He hasn’t partook in the team photo, he wasn’t part of the home opener, he wasn’t there when the team honored Guy Lafleur…he’s just not there despite still being the team captain.
For the moment.
Shortly after Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes were hired, the new administration has committed to naming a new captain for next season, effectively making Weber’s tenure in Montreal all but over. Furthermore, it’s no longer a secret that Weber’s contract has been shopped at the trade deadline, with the Arizona Coyotes still the front runners to obtain #6’s contract, despite already picking up another “dead” contract in Bryan Little from the Winnipeg Jets.
Ask his teammates about Shea Weber. This is why I’d wait to hear his side of ANY story before going off half-cocked. pic.twitter.com/KlvniHuBad
— Ted Bird (@manofbird) April 27, 2022
Weber is scheduled to address the media at the Canadiens’ end of season scrum on Saturday. Some answers will finally be answered, but don’t expect an “official” retirement announcement. He’ll likely say he won’t play but due to his contract still being valid and the massive penalty Nashville will receive, his contract will still be in play and he’ll only sign his retirement papers once it all expires.
Making Weber public enemy number one is not and should not be the answer. He has had a successful NHL career and has been one of the most respected players and captains during both his tenures in Montreal and Nashville. Not to mention, he has been one of the key factors in the Canadiens’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2021.
Canadiens fans, however, were up in arms when Weber attended Pekka Rinne’s jersey retirement ceremony in Nashville, but didn’t attend anything in Montreal.
Nice ovation for Shea Weber, who is back in Nashville for Pekka Rinne’s number retirement pic.twitter.com/3js2eRwvbA
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 25, 2022
Fact is, he showed up, waved to the crowd, hugged his old friend, then went home. He didn’t meet with the media nor did he make any official statement to anyone regarding his career.
Shea Weber joins a long list of players that were forced to sit out the rest of their contracts. We can think of Marian Hossa who’s contract recently finally came to an end, Brent Seabrook, Bryan Little and Ryan Kesler are still being paid. Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop has joined this group as he has unofficially retired and will be sitting out the final year of his contract next season.
It’s a situation where fans think they are owed an explanation despite not knowing any of the actual facts and just being thirsty for dramatic rumors. Also for the record, according to Luc Gelinas of RDS, Weber did offer the Lafleur family condolences for their loss.
Le capitaine du #CH n’était pas présent dimanche pour l’hommage à Guy Lafleur. Toutefois, il faut mentionner que vendredi matin, il s’est empressé de communiquer avec la famille Lafleur pour offrir ses sympathies. #RDS
— Luc Gelinas (@LucGelinasRDS) April 26, 2022
The fact is Shea Weber doesn’t owe anyone anything. He’s no longer part of the team and that’s a fact fans need to accept. It’s time to move on once and for all.
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