"It'll be good, we're looking forward to it," Weber said Thursday. "We're ready to get the season started. New team, obviously, [we're] just trying to accomplish the same things and try to win tonight."
Weber anchors a Canadiens defense with a mix of veterans, including Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin, and younger players, including Mikhail Sergachev, the ninth pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, who make his NHL debut Thursday.
Weber will partner with Nathan Beaulieu on Montreal's first defense pair.
"He's a real pro … He's a big man, means business," Beaulieu, 23, said of Weber. "It's pretty special. Obviously I knew when the trade was made, someone would have to fill the void to play with him, and I wanted to be that guy. You just learn how much character [he has] and how much of a leader he is on and off the ice."
The Sabres open the season without several key players, most notably center Jack Eichel, who sustained a high ankle sprain during the closing moments of practice Wednesday. TSN reported Eichel could miss 4-6 weeks.
"Jack Eichel does have a moderate high ankle sprain," Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. "It's certainly more weeks than days at this point."
Buffalo also will be without right wing Kyle Okposo (bruised knee) and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (bruised tailbone).
Goalies Robin Lehner and Al Montoya will start. Carey Price, Montreal's No. 1 goaltender, is out with the flu and did not make the trip to Buffalo. The Canadiens have not ruled out Price being ready for their game at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
