Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber has been shut down and sent back to Montreal in order to rest an ailing foot injury, according to TSN's John Bartlett.

Weber has missed seven games this season due to the ailment.

While the duration of his absence is unknown, head coach Claude Julien told reporters that the team is going to "shut him down for a bit," according to Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar.

Weber has been dealing with the injury for most of the season, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Weber missed Montreal's game against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 9, but then returned for the club's next four games. He then sat out six straight contests before rejoining the lineup for the Canadiens' most recent six games.

The Habs are 4-2-1 without their top defenseman in the lineup so far this season, but this news is certainly a big blow to a team trying to scratch and claw their way into a playoff spot.

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