Here are the players that can replace Shea Weber
While captain Shea Weber could be out for the next season, or even a few more seasons, it is now crucial for Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin to fill that hole in his defensive brigade.
Here's a list of defensemen that Bergevin might be interested in:
It's pretty certain that the Columbus Blue Jackets will part with their star defenseman when he himself had said he wanted to test the free agent market next year.
If he were to join the Tricolore, at only 26 years old, he would certainly be the quarterback of this defense for several years if he signs a contract extension. Now the question is whether he really has the desire to play in Canada.
He wouldn't be the ideal replacement for Weber, considering the two have a much different profile. However, he would bring a lot of support on the power play and on transition plays, as he is an offensive defenseman.
Last season, Barrie led all defensemen in scoring with 48 points. He will be an uncompensated free agent as of July 28.
Hamilton has established himself as one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL since coming to Carolina. In the last two seasons with the Hurricanes, he has 82 points in 102 games.
He's not as big of a defenseman as Weber, however, but he's still very effective in all three zones of the ice.
Sure, Larsson's name isn't very appealing compared to the other three mentioned earlier, but he has the closest profile to the Habs' captain.
At 6'3" and 208 lbs, Larsson is able to play a good 20 minutes per game in all important situations, including the power play.
Last season, he finished fifth in checking. The Swede will be an uncompensated free agent on July 28.
It's been a few seasons that he's been at the center of rumors, but this year could be the year.
In the past, many teams have been wary of Ristolainen due to his questionable defensive play and advanced stats that leave us wanting more. However, he may be able to develop if he is in an environment outside of Buffalo.
It will be interesting to see what Bergevin does this offseason.
Credit: TVA Sports
