Mike Weber

Michael Weber (born December 16, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently playing with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played with the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals.

Weber with the Sabres in 2013.

He played hockey for the Pittsburgh Junior B Penguins as a youth. He was drafted in the second round, 57th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. After playing in the Ontario Hockey League with the Windsor Spitfires and Barrie Colts, he turned professional and joined the Sabres' American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans, for the 2007–08 AHL season. He was called up to the National Hockey League by the Sabres on two occasions early in the same season. He was recalled for a third time in March 2008 and scored his first NHL point on an assist in his hometown against the Pittsburgh Penguins. His first NHL goal was scored on December 28, 2010 against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers.

On July 5, 2011, Weber signed a multiyear contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Weber struggled during the 2011–12 season as he finished it with a minus-19 with the Sabres failing to make the playoffs. His play improved a lot for the shortended 2012–13 season after the acquisition of his longtime best friend Steve Ott. Weber established himself as a leader to the Sabres young defensive core, however the Sabres once again failed to make the playoffs for the second season in a row. Due to his improvement the Sabres re-signed Weber to a 3-year, $5 million contract extension.

On February 20, 2015, after being on the receiving end of a borderline hit by Tanner Glass of the New York Rangers, Weber lifted Glass by the scruff of the neck and over the ice to be delivered to the game's linesmen to serve his penalty. Weber left the game early, provoking a fight between Weber's teammate Tyson Strachan and Glass.

During the 2015–16 season, having spent all nine of his professional years with the Sabres, Weber was traded to the Washington Capitals for a third round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on February 23, 2016. Used sparingly as an depth defenseman, Weber was unable to help the Capitals progress deep into the playoffs, and became a free agent over the summer.

On August 25, 2016, unable to secure an NHL contract, Weber agreed to a Professional Try Out contract with the St. Louis Blues. He was released from his PTO on October 7. He went on to sign a two-way professional try-out contract with the Iowa Wild on October 20, 2016. In adding veteran leadership, Weber quickly established himself as team captain and on February 28, 2017, he was signed to a two-way contract with NHL affiliate, the Minnesota Wild, for the remainder of the season.

Weber in the 2010 AHL All-Star Game.

Weber was raised in suburban Pittsburgh and attended Seneca Valley High School in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and later attended St. Anne's High School in Tecumseh, Ontario while playing in the OHL.