After making the trade that shook the hockey world over the summer, the Montreal Canadiens are glad to have rock-solid defenseman Shea Weber and goaltender Carey Price as they try to get back to the playoffs.In June, the Canadiens traded flashy, risk-reward defenseman P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators straight up for Weber, a steady presence on the blue line who could fit better with coach Michel Therriens conservative style. Montreal is counting on Weber bringing his size, physicality, heavy shot and stability to bear in front of Price, arguably the best goalie in the world whos back after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury.General manager Marc Bergevin said having the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Weber around makes a difference on and off the ice.Hes a player that is very tough to play against -- hes responsible and makes the opposing forwards lives very difficult, Bergevin said. A team that brings in a player of Shea Webers caliber, with his leadership, his presence and the way he is a real pro, your young players are going to benefit from his presence.No one benefits more from Webers presence than Price, who won the Hart Trophy as MVP and Vezina Trophy as top goaltender in 2014-15 but injured his right knee Nov. 25 and hasnt played an NHL game since. While they were on the way to winning the World Cup of Hockey together for Canada, Price said of Weber: Hes a big body and definitely makes it easier on me to see the puck. Its always good to have a man mountain in front of you.Weber was a man mountain in Nashville for 11 seasons, serving as captain for the past six. If anyone knows how much Price will enjoy Weber playing in front of him its Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who thinks every GM would want someone like the 31-year-old defenseman on his team.Theres not a similar player in the league whos as physical, as good of a shot, a big guy who can skate, Rinne said. Im 100 percent sure that Careys going to like to play behind Weber. Hes a modern defenseman whos extremely tough in front of your net but also offensively he can do some damage.Weber and Subban are two drastically different players but had the same number of points last season. The key for Montreal is getting enough offense from captain Max Pacioretty, center Tomas Plekanec and others without sacrificing the solid play around Price that led to trips to the playoffs in 2013, 2014 and 2015.Here are some other things to watch with the Canadiens this season:PATCHING THINGS UP: If there was any kind of rift in the locker room between players last season when Subban was around or between Pacioretty and Therrien, now is the time to fix it. Pacioretty has the C, with Weber brought in as an alternate to help out, and this is his team to lead.Ive spoken to players on the team and were all on the same page, Pacioretty said. Were going to show this year that were all on the same page -- coaches, management, players.RADULOV FACTOR: The Canadiens took a risk in signing Alexander Radulov to a $5.75 million, one-year deal in the hopes the Russian winger can recapture past scoring prowess after the last four-plus seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League. This isnt like signing Alexander Semin for cheap a year ago, as Montreal needs Radulov to produce with that kind of salary-cap hit.SANDPAPER SHAW: At the draft Montreal traded center Lars Eller to Washington and acquired versatile agitating forward Andrew Shaw from Chicago. Shaw is a pest who can hit, defend and also put up points, but most importantly he plays with the kind of edge the Canadiens have lacked in recent years.THERRIENS WARM SEAT: Bergevin has doubled down on Therrien, even though his coaching style is old-school and counter to the NHLs trend of going smaller, faster and more offensive. Therrien can feel safe in his job unless the Canadiens miss the playoffs again.BLUE LINE BLUES: After Weber, Montreals blue line includes Jeff Petry, Nathan Beaulieu, Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov and a handful of unheralded defensemen. Petry has the potential to get even better after an injury ended last season, but Montreal also needs more from Beaulieu and Emelin.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . Cheap Custom Wizards Jersey . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Gilbert Arenas Jersey Large . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. http://www.customwizardsjersey.com/ . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Custom Wizards Jerseys . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Custom Wizards Jersey China . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Joey Logano leaned in toward Jimmie Johnson and offered a few words of comfort.At least we all sucked, Logano said.The four NASCAR Sprint Cup championship drivers all failed to get that one final boost they needed to better position themselves to win it all Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Logano, Carl Edwards, 2015 Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch and Johnson all will start outside the top five. Busch will start ninth, Edwards 10th, Logano 13th and Johnson 14th. Johnson would match Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty for the NASCAR record with his seventh career Cup championship.I dont think any of us want to start that far back, Edwards said.But they are bunched close enough that one TV camera can probably catch them all as they head into the first turn on the 1.5-mile track. Busch started third in the finale last season, won the race and his first career Cup title.The foursome likely wont lag behind the front of the field for long.This is a place you can pass, Logano said.The highest-finishing driver among the four is the 2016 champion. Under the revamped Chase format, the Homestead winner the last two years won the championship.Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski, eliminated from title contention in earlier rounds of NASCARs playoffs, played spoiler and swept the front row.I think weve been the two best cars all year, Keselowski said.Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Ryan Blaney all wiill start ahead of the championship drivers.ddddddddddddThe drivers out of the championship picture traditionally part to let the contenders race each other hard in the meat of the race.You get a little more respect from those guys, Busch said.Amid a heap of tributes, Tony Stewart starts 11th in the final race of his NASCAR career. Stewart is trying to race to his 50th career Cup victory and end a triumphant career in victory lane.There hasnt been any part of my career that I didnt enjoy, Stewart said. There are things about everything that Ive done that Ive liked more than others and disliked more than others. But as a whole, Ive enjoyed everything Ive done and the road that Ive taken to get here.Edwards and Busch are each vying to win a second straight championship for Joe Gibbs Racing. Johnson could bring a 12th title to Hendrick Motorsports. Logano wants to reward Roger Penskes 50th season in racing with another championship.Asked what keeps him going after all these years, Penske quipped, Trying to beat these guys.Harvick, the 2014 Homestead winner and Cup champion, won his second pole of the season. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver could also deliver a victory celebration for Stewart.Johnson was antsy to chase history.Qualifying isnt my strong suit, Im much better at racing, he said. So lets line them up and go racing. ' ' '