Shea Weber has already retired, just not officially, says Jonathan Drouin
Montreal Canadiens Captain Shea Weber is already out of the game, according to one of his teammates, even if he hasn't announced it yet.
Forward Jonathan Drouin said at a press briefing Tuesday that Weber, a top defenceman, is already working behind the scenes and has decided to hang up his skates for good.
In the summer, the Habs announced that Weber wouldn't play this season due to an injury.
Earlier on Tuesday, the team's official Twitter account posted a video of him wearing a suit and visiting teammates around the time of their morning skate, and ahead of their match with the Seattle Kraken that night.
"Papa!" said the caption on the video. Weber, 36, has played with the Habs for five years and has represented Canada in two Olympic games and other international forums.
In the press conference, Drouin said that Weber is now working "in the background" and helping the managers.
"He does scouting, he helps Marc (Bergevin)," Drouin said.
"He retired, basically... everyone knows that now. He's not coming back for us, he's moving on, and hockey, that's over."
When pressed on whether Weber had announced his retirement to teammates, Drouin said no, but added that "he did not tell us directly like that, but I think that we now know it, sort of. This is the reality."
Drouin's remarks took the team's staff by surprise. Spokesperson Paul Wilson told media that Weber is on the team's long-term injured list and that he has not retired.
Earlier this month, chief executive Marc Bergevin said Weber didn't undergo surgeries to treat his many injuries over the summer but added that he was still unable to return to training.
Weber has a long-term foot and ankle issue.
Bergevin said at the time that the #6 player will not be back in action this season. He also said there was little hope of seeing him in uniform again one day.
However, Bergevin said, his group is missing Weber's presence.
--With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.