-Vintage Canuck- Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Quote As the clock hit zero and the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrated their second consecutive Stanley Cup victory, the opposite emotions enveloped the Montreal Canadiens. Nowhere was that clearer than the face of Shea Weber. Cameras caught Weber watching tearfully, and several Canadiens made a point of skating over to personally console him. It certainly felt more emotional than normal, and now there is an explanation as to why. Over the years, Weber’s punishing style has taken pieces out of opponents, but also himself. He has enormous pain tolerance, and, as teammates have readily admitted, will play through things others simply can’t. Unfortunately, we could be reaching the end of that situation. According to multiple sources -- Weber, the Canadiens, the NHL and the NHLPA are doing their due diligence on the captain’s medical situation and future. He’s been plagued with a left foot/ankle problem that has threatened his career. Weber missed two weeks with an injury there in February 2020 (true to form, he returned much sooner than expected). In March 2018, he had surgery to repair tendons in the area. There’s been a worry for some time this problem would become too much to handle. He also played this post-season with an injured thumb that kept him out at the end of the regular season. He had surgery for a meniscal tear in his right knee in July 2018. Weber would be a huge loss on the ice and in the dressing room for Montreal. But, from a league standpoint, what would be at issue is his contract status. He has five seasons remaining, at an average annual value of $7,857,143. That deal, signed via offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, was heavily front-loaded. There is $12M of actual cash remaining. Nashville, which matched and was where Weber played the next four years, would have a “cap recapture” penalty of slightly more than $4.9M per season through 2025-26 if the defenceman retires. Weber’s medical history creates a very legitimate case for him to go on long-term injured reserve if he cannot play again. But the league must make that determination, and the process is underway. Weber, agent Kevin Epp, the Canadiens, the NHL and NHLPA declined to comment. Montreal probably wants clarity before the expansion draft (although they could simply leave him unprotected), but it’s uncertain if the process can be completed at that time. Weber, who will be 36 next month, played his 1,000th NHL game this past season and won Olympic gold with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. Opposing forwards would be the only people who’d miss him. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-shea-webers-career-threatened-lingering-foot-ankle-problems/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted July 15, 2021 Author Share Posted July 15, 2021 Because of this, it’s likely the Canadiens won’t protect Weber for the expansion draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Article (no paywall): Canadiens' Shea Weber's career threatened by lingering foot, ankle problems (sportsnet.ca) Didn't see this topic so decided to create it. Will be a sad day to see Weber hang up the skates. He's had a great career even if he hasn't won the cup. It's too bad if he ends up retiring due to injury. The cap recapture element if Weber retires is interesting. Nashville could be dinged pretty bad ($4.9M cap hit) if it happens. My guess is Weber will opt for LTIR but I wonder how exactly that will be determined and how much choice he has in that. I assume Weber is the one who chooses whether to retire or not...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 So he’s done then? Habs are definitely not making the playoffs next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Whoops, posted this too in another topic. Didn't see it posted yet. Please remove the other one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzipunch Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 “He’s been plagued with a left foot/ankle problem that has threatened his career. Weber missed two weeks with an injury there in February 2020 (true to form, he returned much sooner than expected). In March 2018, he had surgery to repair tendons in the area. There’s been a worry for some time this problem would become too much to handle.” https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-shea-webers-career-threatened-lingering-foot-ankle-problems/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 That's a 7.8 mill whack of cap that opens for them, one would s'pose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Just now, Alflives said: So he’s done then? Habs are definitely not making the playoffs next year. Sounds like there's a good chance that he'll at least miss next season. Losing Weber will definitely be huge for them. Even though he's not as productive as he once was, he's still a rock on D. Whatever the case is, even if they leave Weber exposed I doubt the Kraken select him. This will allow them to protect another D although I'm not sure what their protection situation is like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Bettman won't let Nashville suffer any recapture penalties, so this is a done deal for sure. Man this is sad tho, I was hoping he had more in him but he didn't look 100% in the playoffs this year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 1 minute ago, Jimmy McGill said: Bettman won't let Nashville suffer any recapture penalties, so this is a done deal for sure. Man this is sad tho, I was hoping he had more in him but he didn't look 100% in the playoffs this year. My guess is Weber will just be on LTIR for the rest of the contract. Can't see how the league would waive the recapture if Weber actually retired. In this regard, at least Luongo's cap recapture penalty is done after this year. Getting back to Weber, he definitely looks a lot slower than he used to. It's pretty amazing how much of an impact Weber still has despite these injuries, but it makes sense that he might wind things down now. Have to think about quality of life after playing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post aGENT Posted July 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2021 One of the best, most complete D to play the position. If this is it, he has all my respect. 8 3 7 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Coconuts Posted July 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2021 This really sucks, always been a fan. He's that big, rugged, prototypical #1D who can contribute at both ends at an elite level that fans dream of having. Players like him are unicorns. 7 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post qwijibo Posted July 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2021 Really crappy for Montreal. On the up side they’ll be able to protect Petry , Edmundson and Chairot in the ED now 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwijibo Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Seeing how his teammates went to him when they were eliminated it felt like they knew it might have been his last game 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post oldnews Posted July 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2021 That really sucks. It was obvious that he - and Petry - were limping - doing their absolute best to push for a Cup - but just weren't anywhere near 100% A healthy Weber is one of the most dominant defensemen in the NHL - hardly anyone on the planet you want on your team more than a healthy Weber. Still - was extremely impressed with what he did in the playoffs. Really could not load up that signature bomb from the point - gutting it out all over the ice - was still an absolute force at only a fraction of himself. 2 7 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post grumpyone Posted July 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2021 Montreal trades him to Tampa for Cernak...and he becomes next years LTIR playoff surprise 1 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Who do you take in their prime, Pronger or Weber? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post qwijibo Posted July 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2021 4 minutes ago, aGENT said: Who do you take in their prime, Pronger or Weber? On the basis of how big a douchebag Pronger was I’d pick Weber lol 1 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 How does Nashville get out of it? Or because it's Bettman they "weasel out of it?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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