We knew that Shea Weber played in the playoffs last year despite several injuries, but we didn’t know how inconvenienced he was.
Teammates revealed the extent of their captain’s misfortunes in the TVA Sports podcast “Dans l’œil du chat”, hosted by Félix Séguin, devoted to the unexpected playoff run of the Canadiens last summer. Listen to both episodes here:
According to Paul Byron, Weber should not even have played a single match, he was so “magane”.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how he managed to play. He broke his thumb blocking a shot late in the season. We thought his season was over, but he wanted to play. In addition, he was injured in the knee, hip and ankle. He played with a broken ankle for so long, it did a lot of damage,” revealed the Franco-Ontarian striker.
Despite everything, Weber never complained regarding his fate.
“You never knew if he was in pain. He showed up every day, he did his job to the best of his ability and he never complained. He is the ultimate warrior. He showed a lot of courage.”
Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault were also greatly impressed by the strength of character demonstrated by the veteran defender.
“We know what Shea has had to go through all year and since the start of his career. We heard he shouldn’t even have made the playoffs, but he was sure he wasn’t going to miss a single game, Gallagher said. He always pushes his body to the limit. He’s a real warrior.”
“All his life, he sacrificed his body,” said Danault. He always gave himself body and soul. He was on a playoff mission. He was a big part of our success. It’s sad for Weber that he’s retiring like this.”
All behind Weber
Officially, however, Weber has yet to indicate his intention to hang up his skates for good. However, he hasn’t played at all since the elimination once morest the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup final last July.
As his career is presumably over, it was his last chance to lift the famous trophy. It is for this reason that players are so disappointed to have failed in the task.
“Everyone wanted to win for him and for Carey Price. We wanted to give everything for them, maintained Byron. You never know when you’re going to experience that once more. Careers pass so quickly. It seems like yesterday was my first game in the NHL, but it’s been over 10 years. You never know how many years are left in your career.
“I felt terrible for him and for Price,” Gallagher said. We wanted to win for them. They did so much for us, we wish we might have done more for them.”
Danault emphasizes, however, that it is not a question of effort.
“We gave everything we had, that’s for sure.”
