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When asked what about the Panthers makes him feel most comfortable, Weaver looks around an empty locker room. Well, empty except for the young kids running around playing a makeshift hockey game.

Weaver’s young son joins in the game along with the sons of teammates Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm. All three wear smaller versions of their dad’s sweaters as they knock a foam puck around the room. Weaver watches and smiles.

“I really like what Dale Tallon and Mike Santos have done with this organization, and I’m really happy to be a part of it,” said Weaver, who has played in 486 NHL games, including No. 147 with the Panthers on Sunday. “These are guys who are on your side and they want what is best for all of us. It’s a family and becoming one more so every day. These are guys you want to battle for every night.”

Weaver is one of the more underrated defensemen in the league — and he knows it. “My agent used to tell me I was most valuable to the team I was with,” Weaver said. “A general manager has to see me every day to know what I bring to the table.”

Former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau once said he had to move Alex Ovechkin away from Weaver because the Capitals star forward couldn’t get any separation when Weaver was on him.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/0...#storylink=cpy