Two days after trading away Shea Weber, the Nashville Predators have added another Weber to their organization’s blue line.
Yannick Weber to Nashville.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) July 1, 2016
The terms of Weber’s deal with the Preds have not yet been reported.
The 27-year-old Weber is coming off a disappointing 2015-16 season with the Vancouver Canucks. He totaled seven assists and a minus-17 rating in 45 games, and spent a lot of nights sitting in the press box. It was a let-down year after 2014-15 saw Weber lead all Canucks blueliners’ with 11 goals, a total which was a career-high for the Swiss defender. Weber also set career highs in assists (10), points (21) and powerplay goals (5) in 65 games that season.
It was clear months ago that the Canucks were ready to let Weber walk away in free agency this summer, and he’ll look to earn a role as a depth defenseman on the Predators blue line. With newly acquired PK Subban as well as Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis rounding out a remarkably deep top-four, the Preds depth thins out a little past these players on defense. At his best, Weber can effectively see offensive potential on the ice, and can quarterback a powerplay with his heavy shot from the point.
In parts of eight NHL seasons, Weber has totaled 22 goals, 70 points and a minus-34 rating in 274 games, spent with the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks. He was a 73rd overall draft pick to the Canadiens in 2007.
