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 with the media Thursday as part of 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 it was going to be over for me. When I met the doctors at the end of the season, they confirmed how I was feeling. I think it was worse two weeks after the playoffs because the adrenaline had worn off.”
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 was difficult. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I wanted to hide and not interact and I’m sorry for that. I saw the guys on the road and it felt good, but otherwise I just wanted to be alone. You’ve been doing something your whole life and it suddenly stops and you wonder what you’re doing now.”
It was by getting involved in his children’s sporting activities that he managed to get out of the black hole he had sunk 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 have trouble believing 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 that night and we had a long talk. With my mother who is no longer here, I told her how much they had given my brother and [à] moi.»
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 already coach a lot of minor hockey right now, it’s an important part of my life and I love all the time I spend with my kids.”
