Eric Engels of Sportsnet: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber is returning to the lineup sooner than expected – possibly by next week according to a source.
With signs pointing to Noah Juulsen not being out long-term, the Canadiens will have an abundance of defensemen.
One option to move out a defenseman would be to put Karl Alzner on waivers and send him to the AHL if he goes unclaimed – no team would claim him a year into his five-year, $23.1 million deal. Alzner has been scratched for 16 of their 22 games.