Canadiens lock up Weber to 3 year deal

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Canadiens lock up Weber to 3 year deal

Rick Stephens

August 15, 2008

An excerpt from Canadiens.com:

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Friday the signing of defenseman Yannick Weber to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Weber, who hails from Morges, Switzerland, completed his second season with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in 2007-08. Last season, the 19-year-old was the Rangers’ top defenseman with 55 points (20 goals and 35 assists) in 59 games, posting a plus-7 rating along with 79 penalty minutes. Throughout his junior career in the OHL, Weber recorded 96 points (33 goals, 63 assists), served 121 penalty minutes and posted a plus-12 rating in 110 games.

Last season, Weber was instrumental in helping the Rangers win the OHL championship, recording 17 points (four goals and 13 assists) in as many playoff games before leading his team to the Memorial Cup Final.

Habster:

As I’ve predicted in a previous article (Look For Canadiens To Sign Yannick Weber After Memorial Cup), the Canadiens have locked up Yannick Weber for three years and he will start his pro career with either the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones(ECHL).

I would be a bit surprised if Weber didn’t make the Bulldogs roster as they desperately need another powerplay quarterback (besides Mathieu Carle) at the point and Weber fits the bill with his blooming shot/great passing.

There will be two spots on the blueline up for grabs with the Hamilton Bulldogs if they decide to carry seven defensemen on their roster. Bob Gainey has already signed AHL veteran defensemen Alex Henry, Chad Anderson and Shawn Belle while Bulldogs sophomores Mathieu Carle and Pavel Valentenko will most likely be returning to the AHL for more seasoning. If all five players start the season in Hamilton, then that will leave one or two spots on the blueline for Yannick Weber to fight for…….it should be fun to watch Yannick Weber and Max Pacioretty develop their games at the AHL level.