Former Canadien Shea Weber apologizes for leaving Montreal so quietly

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“Truthfully, mentally I used to be not in an excellent spot realizing that I used to be carried out enjoying,” Corridor of Famer says. “I did not need to speak to anybody.”

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Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette

Revealed Jun 28, 2024 • 5 minute learn

Realizing his 16-year NHL profession was over due to quite a few accidents — together with his thumb, ankle, foot and knee — was laborious for former Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber, who missed the ultimate eight video games of the 2020-21 common season earlier than enjoying in all 22 playoff video games, posting 1-5-6 totals whereas averaging 25:13 of ice time. Picture by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

Shea Weber was a person of only a few phrases throughout his time with the Canadiens — particularly with the media.

The previous Canadiens captain additionally had no phrases for Montreal followers after it turned clear his enjoying profession was over due to accidents following the group’s 2021 Stanley Cup remaining loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Weber by no means confirmed up for the Canadiens’ residence opener the following season on the Bell Centre and by no means held a farewell information convention when he was traded — make that his contract was traded — to the Vegas Golden Knights a 12 months later.

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On Thursday, two days after it was introduced he can be inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame this 12 months, Weber apologized to Montreal followers throughout a Zoom convention with the media.

“Truthfully, mentally I used to be not in an excellent spot realizing that I used to be carried out enjoying,” Weber stated. “For a full 12 months, I attempted to return again, I attempted to name my agent and inform him I used to be going to return again and he was like: ‘There’s no probability except you don’t need to stroll.’ So mentally I used to be in a really robust spot.

“I didn’t need to speak to anybody, I didn’t need to speak to my household, I didn’t need to speak to anyone,” Weber added. “I simply needed to cover out. I needed to go within the bush, I needed to be on my own. So, I assume, I’m just a little bit sorry for that … not correctly saying goodbye. It wasn’t intentional. I simply was not prepared but. I used to be not in a great spot bodily or mentally. I’d come and see the blokes on the street and that type of gave me the enjoyment again like I used to be nonetheless there.”

Realizing his 16-year NHL profession was over due to quite a few accidents — together with his thumb, ankle, foot and knee — was laborious for Weber, who missed the ultimate eight video games of the 2020-21 common season earlier than enjoying in all 22 playoff video games, posting 1-5-6 totals whereas averaging 25:13 of ice time.

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“I’d somewhat simply take my machine, exit within the bush and simply be on my own,” stated Weber, who will flip 39 on Aug. 14. “I didn’t need to speak to anybody, I didn’t need to take care of anybody. It was laborious. You do one thing to your entire life, your aim is to make the NHL, your aim is to win the Stanley Cup and now, swiftly, it’s simply stopped, reduce off. And it’s like: Now what do you do? I used to be mentally … it was robust. It’s gotten higher because it’s gone on, getting extra concerned within the youngsters’ stuff and giving again that method and discovering extra stuff for myself to do. However I assume, in a method, I’ll simply apologize if that was the factor, however I used to be not excellent.”

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Weber stated he was taking an unhealthy stage of ache remedy as a way to preserve enjoying within the playoffs three years in the past.

“It wasn’t good, however it wasn’t simply within the playoffs,” he stated about enjoying via ache. “It was in all probability a 12 months and a half earlier than that. And I do know the schedules weren’t good due to the condensed schedules due to the COVID and every thing. I needed to present it another shot, however that entire 12 months I couldn’t get off the bed, I couldn’t stroll. It was so painful. Competing in an NHL stage in comparison with your on a regular basis life is simply … it’s one other stage. And then you definately get to the playoffs. I don’t need to get into how a lot remedy I used to be taking due to the ache.”

Two weeks after the Canadiens’ playoff run ended and the medicine and adrenaline had worn off, Weber stated he felt like he had been “run over by a bus a number of instances.”

“It was robust, however on the finish of the day that’s what it’s all about, too,” he added. “It’s what you play for and also you’re keen to present something to get there and, clearly, we simply got here up quick.”

Weber stated he’s nonetheless having issues along with his knee and ankle. He performed in a charity softball event final 12 months and stated he couldn’t stroll for 2 weeks after. He can nonetheless golf and was enjoying Tuesday when the Corridor of Fame referred to as him.

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Saturday will mark the eighth anniversary of Weber having his snug life in Nashville pulled out from beneath his ft when the Predators traded him to the Canadiens in change for P.Okay. Subban. Weber had spent 11 seasons with the Predators after they chose him within the second spherical (forty ninth total) of the 2003 NHL Draft. He was the group captain and had gained the Mark Messier Management Award per week earlier than the commerce.

“That day was a roller-coaster,” Weber stated in regards to the commerce. “You’re in two totally different mindsets. At the beginning of it, you’re drafted by a group, you’re their captain, you’ve been there for 11 years and also you’ve type of been shipped off. You may’t consider it … disbelief. However then on the opposite facet of that there’s pleasure. The place (Montreal), you recognize the historical past, you recognize the aura of the group.

“As soon as that shock type of settled, then there’s the thrill,” he added. “You begin speaking to guys on the group and then you definately get into town, you see town, you see how nice it’s. And then you definately adapt to it. The fervour is unbelievable there. The followers are so into it. I all the time inform guys which have by no means performed in a Canadian market, I’m like: ‘You guys need to play one 12 months in Montreal simply to see how a lot the followers care, how a lot they love you.’ It’s an unbelievable place to play.”

scowan@postmedia.com

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