When Shea Weber was acquired for P.K. Subban last year, the general understanding was that while Weber was not as individually gifted as a playmaker relative to the departing Subban, he provided a more stable and consistent game that would augment and elevate the play of his peers. Weber also offered security not only for Carey Price, but for his more offensively-orientated compatriots on the Habs blue line.
In exchange, the Canadiens were to find a partner for Weber that would account for Weber’s weaknesses, and the resulting pairing would be greater than the sum of its parts.