LAVAL, Quebec -- Shea Weber wants to help the Montreal Canadiens as soon as possible, but he won't rush back from offseason knee surgery.
The 33-year-old defenseman initially thought he would be able to return for the start of the season, but when doctors were conducting an arthroscopy on his right knee on June 19, they discovered a more comprehensive procedure to repair a meniscal tear was required and told him he would need 5-6 months to recover.
"I hope to return earlier, but if it's another four months, it's another four months," Weber said at the Canadiens' annual golf tournament at Laval-sur-le-Lac golf club Monday. "I've got to do what's right for myself long term. For me to come back too soon and get hurt again, that doesn't help anybody."
Weber was speaking publicly for the first time since the procedure. He said he initially was disappointed by the diagnosis but now is determined to return and help the Canadiens.
"I thought I'd be ready for training camp and suddenly you get told you'll be out 5-6 months," Weber said. "It's a hard emotion to describe. There was a lot going through my head. When you think you are going to be out short term and you wake up to find out it's long term, it was tough at first trying to wrap my head around everything and be more positive about getting back to health."
Weber was limited to 26 games (six goals, 10 assists, 16 points) last season because of a foot injury. He has 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists) in 104 games with the Canadiens since he was acquired in a trade from the Nashville Predators for defenseman P.K. Subban on June 29, 2016.
Montreal finished 29-40-13 and in 14th place in the Eastern Conference last season to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
"But I'm as eager to get back as I've ever been now and plan on being around the team as much as I can, even though I'm still going to be out a few months," he said. " I'm just going to try to be there and try to help out as much as I can. I want to be around as much as possible without hampering my recovery. When you're injured and you're not around the team, you kind of feel disconnected."
Weber, who loves outdoor activities during the offseason, said the most difficult aspect of his rehab has been being cooped up.
"Especially the initial time, six weeks on crutches, that was the case," he said. "Literally doing nothing. In the summer, I'm usually training and enjoying the weather, spending as much time outside as possible. This year I was inside. That's the way it goes though."
Goalie Carey Price helped Weber deal with the setback. The two British Columbia natives work out together in their home province during the offseason.
"It's obviously tough to get news like that," Price said. "I just told him, 'You've got to do what you've got to do.' It's a challenging thing for him to go through but I'm sure he'll be ready to go when the time comes."
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