The Bergevin and the Restless

In something of a surprise move, the Montreal Canadiens chose not to wait to announce their new captain. It is Shea Weber. The same Shea Weber who is expected to be out until December. Why is this development a surprise? I will count the ways and tell why it's not such a great idea to name a captain so soon after trading Max Pacioretty.

The timing of the news was obviously to cut any drama as to who would be fielding the first questions from a Montreal media notorious for being fickle. However, it also comes about two weeks after the Pacioretty trade. There was also thought that the Canadiens would name Brendan Gallagher as captain. While Weber is recovering, it is likely that Gallagher and Paul Byron will be serving as communicators to the referees during the games. That said, the Canadiens are tied to Weber until 2026, when his contract is up, so in some ways, it makes sense to try and make the most of his time in Montreal. Obvious issues such as health and whether his style of play can hold up are things to watch, but he has been captain before, as he was captain in Nashville prior to being traded for PK Subban in 2016. With the trade of Pacioretty a few weeks ago, one would have thought to wait until possibly the first month of the season to name a captain, as it would have given Gallagher and Weber, in however he can contribute while he's recovering, the opportunity to impress the Canadiens brass. Naming a captain this soon is far from the worst move Marc Bergevin has made, but it could have some ramifications, especially if Weber isn't close to the player he has been in his career.