Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber could return from his lingering foot injury in the next two-to-three weeks, according to Montreal coach Claude Julien.
"I think he’s getting pretty close," Julien told reporters after practice Monday. “A couple of weeks, maybe three weeks. We’ll see how it progresses, but it has gotten better. At the same time, it’s too late now to precipitate his return. We want him at 100 percent.”
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Weber has been dealing with the injury for most of the 2017-18 season and missed seven games in November, before the team decided to shut him down indefinitely on Dec. 18.
The 32-year-old last saw game action in the NHL 100 Classic against the Ottawa Senators at Landsdowne Park on Dec. 16. He has played in just 26 games this season, registering six goals and ten assists. Despite attempting to play through the injury, Weber was still averaging a team-high 25:21 of ice time per game.
Julien's two-to-three week timeline for Weber's return could see him back in the lineup right around the NHL trade deadline (Feb. 26). Montreal (20-23-6) is rumored to be a seller at the deadline, since it currently sits 10 points adrift of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
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The team's play over the next few weeks, as well as the prognosis of Weber and fellow sidelined teammates Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw, could play a role in the decision making of general manager Marc Bergevin as the deadline approaches. The Canadiens have been actively shopping team captain Max Paciorrety over the past month and seem willing to listen to other offers if the playoffs remain out of reach.
Montreal returns from the All-Star break Tuesday night when they face the Blues in St. Louis.