It’s the start of the weekend of celebrations for the Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.
While waiting to make their official entrance at induction night Monday evening, members of the Class of 2024 received their Hall rings Friday. This year, seven new members will join the select club: Pavel Datsyuk, Shea Weber, Jeremy Roenick, Krissy Wendell, Natalie Darwitz, David Poile and Colin Campbell.
The former Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens defenseman will make his debut even though he is technically still under contract. Having not taken the ice since playing in the Stanley Cup Final with the Canadiens against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the summer of 2021 due to injuries, Weber has since seen his contract traded to the Golden Knights of Vegas and the Arizona Coyotes, now the Utah Hockey Club.
The 14-season pact will conclude its final year during the 2025-2026 campaign. It was enough for the 39-year-old athlete to be asked if he intended to imitate Gordie Howe as the only player to have played a match after entering the Temple. The question was obviously not serious and it was with a smile that the former captain of the Canadian played along.
“The return to play is coming,” he said.
However, he quickly added that there was “zero chance” that he would return to the game.
Weber also briefly looked back on his stints, both with the Predators and the Canadiens, during his career.
“It was different. In Nashville, I was obviously younger and I would say the market was different,” he mentioned with a chuckle in his voice. They were two great experiences. In Nashville, there was David (Poile) and Barry (Trotz) who helped me get on my way and we had a lot of veterans. »
“Then there is Montreal with its rich history and the many players who have been there before me. There is no feeling that comes close to it,” he continued.
Weber and the 2024 inductees will be able to share even more about their careers during a longer speech Monday evening as part of the induction ceremony.
