The Montreal Canadiens are unlikely to protect Shea Weber in the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft later this month as the veteran defenceman could miss all of next season with knee, ankle and thumb injuries, according to multiple sources. 

Team have two options to protect players as they can protect eight skaters and one goalie or seven forwards, three defenceman and one goalie. 

The Habs captain scored six goals and added 13 assists over 48 games during the regular season and added one goal and six assists over 22 playoff games as the Canadiens made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. 

The 35-year-old has spent the past five seasons in Montreal after being acquired from the Nashville Predators as part of the PK Subban blockbuster trade. 

Over 1,038 career games with the Preds and Habs, Weber has tallied 224 goals and 365 assists.