Canadiens Defenseman Shea Weber Reportedly Out for Season With Career Now in Question
By Mark Powell
As much as Shea Weber wishes to avoid surgery on a mysterious "lower-body injury," as the NHL likes to call such things, the veteran defenseman might not have any other choice.
Weber, 34, has been oft-injured for Montreal in each of the last three seasons in what's been a dramatic fall from grace on the ice. He hasn't played more than 58 games since the 2016-17 season.
Now, Weber will reportedly miss the rest of the season with a similar foot injury to the one he suffered in 2018 -- and the prognosis could perhaps be even worse, notes insider Nick Kypreos.
Sources say Shea Weber injury has his season likely over and his future in question. Told injury is related to foot that was surgically repaired in 2018. While waiting for swelling to alleviate and further confirmation, surgery seemed unavoidable going into this week. @nhl #weber
— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) February 12, 2020
On the back nine of his career, it's fair to question if Weber has the endurance to continue coming back from such discouraging injuries. Weber's skating ability and speed on the ice had been an issue this season, and his preferred style of play has suffered as a result. He's no longer the dependable top-pairing defenseman Montreal acquired from Nashville in 2016 for PK Subban.
Latest on #Habs Shea Weber, according to Nick Kypreos #HabsIO https://t.co/UuYZRFn1ik
— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) February 12, 2020
The Habs, despite a recent 7-3 stretch, remain eight points out of the second Wild Card spot in the East behind Philadelphia. Surely, losing Weber won't help matters.