The last time Montreal Canadiens fans saw former captain Shea Weber on the ice, it was a bittersweet moment. The battle-worn leader helped drive the Habs all the way to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, pushing through multiple injuries to lead his team to glory.
His disappointment was palpable as the Habs came up a few games short of the ultimate prize.
Fast forward to Monday night, and the ex-NHL defenceman found himself in a new spotlight as he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In a fitting tribute, the 39-year-old was joined by several familiar faces from his illustrious career with the Nashville Predators, along with a handful of current and former Canadiens players who accompanied him in his final season.
As luck would have it, the Canadiens played an early afternoon game in Buffalo on Monday, allowing Cole Caufield, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, and current captain Nick Suzuki to make the trip up to Toronto for the ceremony.
Plusieurs joueurs et anciens du CH sont à Toronto pour l'intronisation au Temple de la renommée de Shea Weber.
Ici, Petry, Armia et Carey Price. Suzuki, Caufield et Evans sont aussi présents! pic.twitter.com/geN4rLsBVf
— RDS (@RDSca) November 12, 2024
Meanwhile, former Habs defencemen Jeff Petry and Ben Chiarot, both of whom currently play for the Red Wings, were able to cross the Detroit River in time for the big night.
Fellow BC native and legendary Canadiens goalie Carey Price and his family also attended.
Weber made sure to allot a good portion of his induction speech to his five seasons in Montreal, thanking ex-GM Marc Bergevin, team owner Geoff Molson, and the local fans who embraced him after he was acquired in a blockbuster trade for PK Subban.
“The fans welcomed me after the trade and made me feel as if I’d been there my whole career,” he said. “Merci beaucoup.”
« Merci beaucoup »
– Shea Weber, Ă tous les gens qui ont rendu son expĂ©rience mĂ©morable Ă MontrĂ©al pic.twitter.com/H2EbffwjML— RDS (@RDSca) November 12, 2024
Adding to the Montreal theme, Weber was handed his HHOF plaque by none other than legendary Canadiens blueliner Serge Savard.
Welcome to the Hockey Hall of Fame Shea Weber!
Shea receives his Honoured Member plaque from Serge Savard  #HHOF1986.#HHOF2024 | #HHOF | đž Dave Sandford/HHOF pic.twitter.com/ppWLwDc6OO
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) November 12, 2024
Once the star-studded evening wrapped, Price’s wife Angela made sure to tug on the heartstrings of Habs fans by posting a photo of members of Montreal’s Clarence Campbell Bowl-winning roster, including fellow retired players Paul Byron and Karl Alzner.
@byangelaprice/Instagram
Weber will return to the Bell Centre this Saturday when his likeness is unveiled in the Canadiensâ Ring of Honour during a pre-game ceremony.
- You might also like:
- Weber calls Canadiens trade one of "saddest days" of his career