Shea Weber couldn’t play hockey anymore even if he wanted to continue and it hurt him both mentally and physically. So his selection to the Hall of Fame is a balm.
The former Canadiens defenseman was speaking to the media Thursday during a video conference organized by the Hockey Hall of Fame when he shed new light on his left foot and ankle injury.
“There were days when I couldn’t get out of bed, when I couldn’t walk. I don’t want to talk about the amount of medication I took because it was adding up,” he admitted, adding that it was after the final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021 that everything was confirmed.
“To be honest, I knew about halfway through the season that this would be the end for me. When I met with the doctors at the end of the season, they confirmed how I was feeling. I think it was worse two weeks after the end of the series because the adrenaline had died down.”
Mentally tough
Weber, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, including five in Montreal, found the abrupt end to his career rather difficult.
“Mentally, it wasn’t going well and physically either. I knew I couldn’t play anymore and it frustrated me. My agent was calling me to find out what was going on, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone, family, friends, journalists or others. I’m sorry for that, it wasn’t intentional,” he said.
“I would have preferred to still be playing and being myself. But suddenly, all that has to stop. But hey, I’m more involved with the kids now and I can do things more for myself.”
It was by getting involved in his children’s sporting activities that he managed to get out of the dark hole he had fallen into.
A shock
Back to his Hall of Fame induction, Weber admits his legs were jolted when he heard the news while he was on the golf course.
“It’s still a shock. I still can’t believe it. When I got the call, I fell to my knees on the golf course. I was with my father-in-law and my two brothers-in-law. I wasn’t supposed to tell them at the time, but I think they understood what was happening.”
He then called his father and Weber, who is usually a man of little emotion, relented.
“I couldn’t even talk to him, I was sobbing. I called him back later in the evening and we were able to have a long discussion. With my mother no longer here, I told her how much they gave my brother and me.”
With Utah
It’s easy to forget, but Weber’s contract, which has two more seasons left, went from the Canadiens to the Vegas Golden Knights, who then traded it to the Arizona Coyotes. Each time, he’s been involved and he wouldn’t mind continuing to work in hockey.
“I helped Montreal a little bit with scouting and after the trade to Vegas, I helped there too. After three teams without playing, I put my bags down. But I’m going to go to Utah for development camp.
“I don’t know yet what awaits me. I’m going to meet everyone and see if it clicks or if there’s a position for me,” he said, adding that he didn’t see himself as a coach.
“I’m already coaching a lot of minor hockey at the moment, it’s an important part of my life and I love all the time I get to spend with my kids.”
Discussions with Price and Suzuki
Weber also talked about his former Canadiens teammate Carey Price, as well as forward Nick Suzuki. Regarding the former, he unsurprisingly believes he has a full place at the Hall.
As for the second, the ex-captain of Sainte-Flanelle took out the censer towards his successor. For him, the appointment of Suzuki as captain was obvious.
“We are still in touch; we spoke today! He is very busy in Italy [NDLR : Suzuki a assisté au mariage de Josh Anderson]. He’s a young leader, the quality of his play and his leadership speak for themselves, he said. From the start, he had all the assets to become captain. Despite his age, he develops quickly and adopts a professional demeanor. He is more confident and he is respectful, which does not prevent him from asking useful questions.
