It’s simple to overlook Shea Weber nonetheless technically “performs” within the NHL as a member of the Utah Hockey Membership. In any case, he hasn’t truly performed for the reason that Montreal Canadiens misplaced the 2021 Stanley Cup Last, all however formally retired at this stage of the sport as a result of harm, as he formally will get inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame this Monday.
Weber’s Lasting Canadiens Legacy
In sharp distinction, it’s in all probability arduous to overlook his days with the Nashville Predators, the staff that drafted him in 2003, with whom he performed actually a decade. Each actually and figuratively, you’ve bought his 5 seasons with the Canadiens someplace within the center.
Clearly Habs followers may have a neater time remembering his tenure, which began with a bang, with the P.Ok. Subban commerce. Granted, Weber’s Canadiens tenure technically ended with a whimper, as basic supervisor Kent Hughes traded the injured participant’s contract for Evgeny Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights (who finally dealt it to the Arizona Coyotes, now Utah).
Now, Dadonov didn’t discover any semblance of success in Montreal, failing to final even a single season. Mixed with the very fact Weber was for all intents and functions already out of the league at that juncture, it’s simpler to give attention to the controversy surrounding his arrival… or the collective elation felt all through town of Montreal because the Habs, captained by Weber, made their Cinderella run to the Last. For apparent causes, individuals have a tendency to decide on the latter.
Weber vs. Subban As soon as Once more
In at the very least that a method, Weber loved considerably extra success with the Canadiens than with the Predators. Previous to the massive commerce, the Preds had by no means made it out of the second spherical. Certain, their first season with Subban they beat the Canadiens to the punch by reaching a Last of their very own, additional inflicting doubt to seep in. Possibly, simply perhaps the Canadiens bought the shorter finish of the stick.
By the purpose at which each gamers left the sport, Weber in 2021 and Subban a 12 months later, the hole between the impacts every had made for the reason that deal went down had closed significantly, successfully making the notorious one-for-one swap in 2016 a wash. There’s no taking away the very fact Subban helped the Predators take their franchise to the following degree (or earn a James Norris Memorial Trophy nomination in 2018), neither is there the very fact Weber helped the Canadiens return to glory by his management and hard-nosed protection in 2021.
Associated: Canadiens Followers Get Closure as Ex-Hab Subban Retires
Neither staff could have gained all of it ultimately. Nevertheless, every could have gained the commerce, with recency bias taking part in an simple function in lots of Canadiens followers seeing issues having turned out of their favour. Weber’s Corridor of Fame induction will additional play into that notion.
Weber a Becoming Corridor of Famer
On the very least, Weber undeniably loved larger longevity in his profession. He reached 1,000 video games performed whereas with the Canadiens (even when he performed “simply” 275 contests with the staff), even when ultimately it’s sarcastically, tragically continual accidents that pressured him out of the sport sooner than anticipated.
What’s additionally ironic/tragic? Many in Montreal envisioned Weber making a hero’s return the following playoffs, within the course of channelling Nikita Kucherov, who had missed all the 2020-21 season solely to return for the 2021 postseason to assist wreck the Canadiens’ possibilities at a championship.
It’s partially Weber’s incapability to return in any respect that resulted within the Canadiens lacking the playoffs altogether and ending in final place the following common season. His absence not directly prompted possession to go in a special managerial route and rebuild the staff successfully from the bottom up.
In the meantime, nothing in any respect must be thought of ironic in regards to the principle that, even within the midst of this rebuild, had been Weber wholesome sufficient to play and the Canadiens nonetheless owned his contract, he’d be welcomed again with open arms. As their inexperienced protection struggles to earn a degree of consistency Weber had made certainly one of his emblems, they want all the assistance they will get.
It’s a testomony to Weber’s legacy that, even in “retirement,” he has a terrific deal to supply the following era. Possibly that’s no shock, contemplating the place to the place he’s being inducted. it one other approach although, it’s yet another signal he’s the place he belongs. As if there was ever any doubt.
