Shea Weber couldn’t play hockey anymore even if he wanted to, and it hurt him both mentally and physically. His induction into the Hall of Fame is therefore a relief.

The former Canadiens defenseman spoke to the media on Thursday during 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 up, when I couldn’t walk. I don’t want to talk about the amount of medication I was taking because it was piling up,” he admitted, adding that everything changed after the final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.

“To be honest, about halfway through the season I knew this was going to be the end for me. When I met with the doctors at the end of the season, they confirmed how I was doing. I think two weeks after the show ended, it was even worse because the adrenaline had worn off.”

Mentally tough

Weber, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, including five in Montreal, found the abrupt end of 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 about that. I saw the guys on the street and it made me feel good, but other than that, 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.”

Through his children’s sporting activities, he managed to get out of the black hole in which he had sunk.

A shock

Returning to his induction into the Hall of Fame, Weber admits that his legs were sawed off when he heard the news on the golf course.

“It’s still a shock. I still find it hard to believe. 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 shouldn’t have told them at the time, but I think they understood what was going on.”

Then he called his father and Weber, generally a man of few emotions, flinched.

“I couldn’t even talk to him, I was sobbing. I called him back later that evening and we were able to have a long conversation. Since my mother was no longer here, I told her how much they had given my brother [à] Me.”

With Utah

We tend to forget, but Weber’s contract, which has two seasons left, went from the Canadian to the Vegas Golden Knights, who then traded him to the Arizona Coyotes. Each time, he was committed and wouldn’t mind continuing to work in hockey.

“I helped Montreal a little with scouting and after the move to Vegas I helped there too. After not playing for three teams, I put my bags down. But I’m going to Utah for development camp.

“I don’t know what to expect yet. I’ll meet everyone and see if it clicks or if there’s a position for me,” he said, adding that he doesn’t see himself as a coach.

“At the moment I am already training a lot of smaller hockey, it is an important part of my life and I love the time I can spend with my children.”