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It was a seismic-shockwave sort of trade. One that threatened to break the internet, or at least the portion of it addicted to hockey.

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On June 29, 2016, the Montreal Canadiens acquired Weber from the Nashville Predators in exchange for fellow defenseman P.K. Subban. Rarely do two such dominating players, each in the prime of his career, swap jerseys.

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In Weber, the Canadiens acquired a player at the top of his game, an Olympic gold medalist, a World Junior gold medalist, the captain of the Predators and one of hockey's finest all-around defensemen, capable of playing upwards of 30 minutes a night.

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Born in the British Columbia resort town of Sicamous, a 16-year-old Weber joined Kelowna for the final five games of the Western Hockey League schedule after finishing his junior hockey season. Over three full seasons in Kelowna, he grew in size and playing stature, scoring 91 points and helping the team to the Memorial Cup in the 2003-04 season.

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His size, toughness and the heaviness of his shot were all highly regarded, yet he was only selected in the second round (No. 49) by the Predators in the 2003 NHL Draft. That pick would serve them well for a decade.

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After playing 46 games for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League during the 2005-06 season, Weber joined the Predators and stayed, making his NHL debut Jan. 6, 2006. Through his Nashville years, he'd grown from a raw-boned kid with oodles of potential into one of the game's most respected defensemen, a 6-foot-4, 236-pound dynamo that opponents learned to keep well clear of.

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In July 2010, Weber was named Predators captain. Two years later, with Weber a restricted free agent, the Philadelphia Flyers signed him to a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet that the Predators matched.

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With the long-term contract in place, it seemed Weber would be with the Predators for many years to come, which is what made the events of June 29, 2016, so surprising.

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Weber was named the 30th captain of the Canadiens prior to the 2018-19 season, his third with Montreal, and was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the seventh time in 2020.

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Weber had 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 78 games in 2016-17, his first season in Montreal. He also had a goal and two assists in six playoff games. A torn tendon in his left foot limited Weber to 26 games the next season. He finally returned to the Canadiens lineup Nov. 27, 2018, and finished with 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 58 games.

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NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

 

• WHL West Second All-Star Team (2004)

• WHL West First All-Star Team (2005)

• Canadian Major Junior Second All-Star Team (2005)

• Olympic All-Star Team (2010)

• NHL First All-Star Team (2011, 2012)

• NHL Second All-Star Team (2014, 2015)

• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020)

• Traded to Montreal by Nashville for P.K. Subban, June 29, 2016.