Shea Weber was on a golf course when he learned he was becoming a hockey immortal.
“I got down on one knee and I couldn’t believe it… I still can’t believe it!” the former defenseman said during a video conference Thursday afternoon. “It’s crazy to see the names of those who have arrived in the Hall of Fame before me, of those who will go in with me… It’s a huge honor.”
Weber, after 1,038 games in the NHL, including five seasons with the Canadiens, was thus admitted to his first year of eligibility, having had to give up his career at the end of the Stanley Cup final 2021, lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This was also the subject of discussion with him: the captain had been one of the best for the Canadiens during these memorable series, but had to stop afterwards, too hastily for his liking, because the pain had become too great.
Three years later, the health problems are not yet behind him; last year, he took part in a softball tournament, and by his own admission, it was rather difficult. “I had trouble walking for two weeks…”
I’ll be honest, it was very difficult having to stop playing hockey. Especially the first year. It was a big challenge, from a psychological point of view, because I thought I would be able to continue, but my body no longer allowed me to… It probably started a year and a half before that. I remember that season [2020-2021], I wasn’t even able to get out of bed. I couldn’t walk because it hurt so much…
Shea Weber
“During the playoffs, well, I don’t want to go into detail about how much pain medication I had to take, but it’s a vicious cycle. We have pain in one place, we take something for that, and then it’s the shoulder, the groin. It didn’t stop, and in the end, two weeks after the finale, it was even worse, because the effect of the drugs wore off, and the adrenaline from the series disappeared… I felt like for being run over by a bus several times. But at the end of the day, that’s why we do this. »
After the disappointment of that final against Tampa in 2021, Weber briefly considered a return. “But the medication I was taking for pain, the amount, it wasn’t very good for my health, and it wouldn’t have been good for my health in the long term. »
Once the shock of retirement was over, he gave the Canadian a helping hand in the scouting department, and today, he admits that a return to the world of hockey interests him.
On this subject, he must also go to Utah shortly, to the club’s development camp, to discuss a possible job there with Bill Armstrong, the CEO of the new team.
“We’ll see if there’s a position that would suit me to allow me to stay involved in hockey… I don’t know in what capacity, but I’ve already spoken to Bill, and I’m going to go there and see if ‘there’s something for me. But it wouldn’t be behind the bench, because I’m already behind the bench in minor hockey with my children and that’s enough for me! »
Moreover, Shea Weber has very good memories of Montreal, even if the failure of 2021 remains difficult to forget.
The passion there is incredible… I always tell players who have never played in Canada: “You have to play a season in Montreal, just to see how much the fans care about their team, how much they love the players.” It’s an incredible place to play hockey.
Shea Weber
To this day, he keeps himself informed of the daily life of his former club, among others by the one who succeeded him as team captain, Nick Suzuki. “He is so professional, he is young, and he will continue to grow in this role,” said Weber.
Whoever wore number 6 also expects another member of the 2021 team to soon join him among hockey immortals next season: Carey Price.
“There is no doubt in my mind he is going to be admitted!” “, he said of his good friend.