Shea Weber’s great career of 16 seasons in the NHL allowed hundreds of players to rub shoulders with a proud and respected athlete, who would eventually see his name inducted into the Hall of Fame.
For some, Weber was only a teammate for one match. Others, luckier, had the chance to have Weber as teammates for several years, both in the NHL and on the international scene.
This is the case of former Montreal Canadiens star goaltender Carey Price, who addressed Weber in a letter published on the NHL’s official website on the eve of Weber’s induction scheduled for Monday.
” Presence. For me, that word describes Shea Weber perfectly,” Price said. No matter where you meet him, whether on the ice or off, you can’t help but notice his presence. ‘Webs’ is a man of good physical stature, obviously, but that’s not all that defines his presence. It’s the way he behaves. »
“’Webs’ is the very definition of a captain and he receives the respect of everyone who comes in contact with him. This was never more apparent than at the Sochi Olympics, sitting in the Team Canada locker room that included six NHL captains, including himself with Nashville; his silent presence was felt by all. »
Under the colors of Canada, the two natives of British Columbia had the chance to defend their country during the Sochi Olympic Games as well as during the Hockey World Cup in 2016 – two competitions where they tasted the gold.
In the NHL, their paths crossed in 2016 when Weber was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. This union ended when the Habs lost in the Stanley Cup final in 2021, a playoff run that led both veterans to retirement.
“I had the chance to play against ‘Webs’ during his years in Nashville, and with him for five years in Montreal. As an opponent, I certainly had to respect his throwing from my right side and as a teammate, I had the greatest respect for him because he was the backbone of our team,” admitted Price in his letter.
On a hockey level, it is true that Weber has always been recognized for his punishing physical play, his defensive reliability and the power of his slap shot. But beyond his skills on the ice, Weber was also an athlete who led by example.
If Weber was captain of the Predators for six years and captain of the Canadiens for four more seasons, it is no coincidence.
“He had the kind of work ethic that was contagious. It was always easier to come back to work on tough days when we had a player leading with that kind of mentality,” Price recalled.
“’Webs’ greatest quality was his ability to understand when a teammate needed a pat on the back or a kick in the behind. Understanding the action that needed to be taken was his specialty. »
After his selection in the second round of the 2003 draft, Weber only established the greatness of the athlete he was, as evidenced by his 1,038 games in the NHL – which allowed him to obtain 589 points.
“He played over 1,000 games with Nashville and Montreal, but he never complained, no one passed him and he was always prepared. He led by example…he put the team first and he never wanted to be in the spotlight. He’s a little shy anyway,” Price said with a touch of humor.
“It is quite an honor to write these words for a friend and a man I admire. On his Hall of Fame induction, I speak for all his former teammates when I say: Congratulations ‘Webs’, you deserve it. »
