Predators Sign Former Canuck Yannick Weber

Looks like there will be a Weber on the Nashville Predators blueline this season, after all, just not the one everyone expected. The Predators announced today that they have signed now-former Canucks defenseman Yannick Weber. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

Weber joined the Canucks in the summer of 2013 after playing parts of three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, who drafted him back in 2007. The Swiss blueliner had appeared to find a role for himself as a power-play specialist back in the 2014-15 season. He scored 11 goals – including six on the power play – and 21 points that year. His right-hand shot and low, hard one-timer from the point seemed to fit well with the Sedins and gave the power play a look it hadn’t seen since Sami Salo’s departure. Although the pair struggled in the playoffs against Calgary, he formed a decent second tandem with Dan Hamhuis.

After that career year, Jim Benning decided to forego a qualifying offer for Weber as he wanted to avoid a possible arbitration scenario, thereby letting Weber become an unrestricted free agent. Although he tested the market briefly, Weber signed a one year, $1.5 million deal with the club to build on his 2015 success.

Last season, however, was a struggle for Weber as he he fell out of favour with the Canucks coaching staff and was often a healthy scratch. He failed to score a goal in 45 games and was ultimately deemed expendable. All told, finished his Canuck career with 17 goals and 38 points in 159 games.

And, unfortunately for hockey fans everywhere with a sense of dark humour, Weber will not be wearing the customary number 6 he wore as a member of the Canucks.