Utah: Shea Weber is the only signed defenseman to have played more than one game in the NHL

We suspected he was suffering… but we had no idea these would be the last games of his career.

The only reason Weber hasn’t announced his retirement is to collect the last million dollars of his contract. After all, he didn’t steal them, and that’s his right.

But the fact remains that he is currently merely a “contract” in the NHL world.

Right now, Weber is on the Utah roster, where he will obviously never play… but what’s problematic is that Weber is currently the only defenseman under contract in the organization who has played more than one game in the NHL has played.

Patrik Koch, signed late yesterday, has just one NHL game under his belt. Maveric Lamoureux, Maksymilian Szuber and Montana Onyebuchi are also under contract, but have never played a match in the Bettman circuit.

The only defenseman currently signed in Utah is Shea Weber.

– Travis Yost (@travisyost) June 20, 2024

Bill Armstrong will have to work hard this summer to get along with the defenders. Obviously, he won’t have too much trouble dealing with Sean Durzi, JJ Moser and Juuso Välimäki, who are restricted free agents. The the same goes for Michael Kesselring, Vladislav Kolyachonok and Victor Söderström, who also have some NHL experience.

That said, Josh Brown and Travis Dermott, who each played about 50 games for the Coyotes last year, are free as a bird.

They could return, but that is much less certain.

We’ll see how Armstrong manages his defensive brigade for next year, but what is clear is that the team’s six regular defensemen in 2024-2025 are likely not yet under contract with the organization.

Unless one of the youngsters forces the team’s hand, Koch surprises… or Weber miraculously regains his health, which won’t happen.

In overtime

– Cayden Lindstrom isn’t afraid of the pressure in Montreal.

“It’s a good franchise, a good hockey market. Their fans are clearly crazy. It would be a really fun place to play…I can handle it (the spotlight). I really like the bright lights, I like the loud crowd. I think it motivates me more than anything.”

– Cayden Lindstrom on the Habs pic.twitter.com/j6UaiQD1uW

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 20, 2024

– Great to read.

Updated with a great response from Jonathan Toews.
I really enjoyed working on this piece@reporterchris

Connor McDavid’s Stanley Cup surge blows away other NHL stars: ‘Somehow he’s found another level’ https://t.co/kfQakSnU2Z

– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 21, 2024

– Consider that he would be one of four options considered by the Habs for the fifth spot.

Can Zeev Buium be the best defenseman in this draft class??@CraigJButton joins @TonyMarinaro to discuss why he thinks that is the case

Full pod
View: https://t.co/i2jVC1HORA
Listen: https://t.co/mLXZkRWL20#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/woK3Uvw3A3

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) June 20, 2024

– Excuse me?

Career Playoff Points:

58 – Evan Bouchard
57 – Drew Doughty

Doughty is ten years older with two Stanley Cups. pic.twitter.com/eNO2uFUFhT

– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) June 21, 2024

– A name to keep an eye on.

Nothing to do between winger Viktor Arvidsson and Los Angeles. He will see free agency on July 1.

– Travis Yost (@travisyost) June 20, 2024

– Maxime Crépeau was spectacular in the defeat.

Final score:

2-0

Deserved victory.

Based on this performance, the Canadians may still have hope of advancing from the group@RDSca #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/aRZkzf13Wn

– Olivier Brett (@Olivier_Brett) June 21, 2024

– Convincing win for the Alouettes.

This is how you throw a football party

This is how you throw a banner party #Alouettes @Depotium pic.twitter.com/o3WpaUeyni

– Montreal Alouettes (@MTLAlouettes) June 21, 2024