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Weber hopes to help Canadiens fans forget Subban by helping team win games

Aug 10, 2016 | 11:07 AM

TERREBONE, Que. — Shea Weber knows all about the outrage Canadiens fans expressed when he was traded by the Nashville Predators to Montreal for the popular P.K. Subban.

And the big defenceman knows his every move will be scrutinized and compared to the flashy Subban, at least in his first season in the Canadiens’ red, white and blue.

But the 11-year veteran made it clear Monday in his first meeting with the Montreal media since the June 29 trade that none of that will rattle him.

“I’m not really worried about that,” said Weber, who participated in coach Michel Therrien’s annual charity golf tournament. “I’m here to help this team win games.

“I think we’ve put together a really good team that can compete this year and I’m looking forward to fitting into this group. It’s an exciting time. I understand that P.K. is a very popular player here and the fans are really passionate, so hopefully I can come here and help this team win.”

Subban’s popularity went beyond his play on the ice. He was equally embraced for his bubbly personality, skillful use of social media and his philanthropy, including a pledge to raise $10 million for the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Subban was back in the spotlight only last week when he returned to host a charity gala at the Just For Laughs comedy festival.

The low-key Weber is a different person on and off the ice, and his standing as one of the NHL’s best and toughest defencemen to play against proved too much to resist for GM Marc Bergevin when Weber’s name came up in trade talks.

“We all know what P.K. brought to the team and the city, but we felt that with the experience that Shea Weber has, we’re a better team now,” said Therrien.

Subban is nearly four years younger than Weber, who turns 31 on Sunday. He is also faster and a better puck carrier. The six-foot-four Weber is bigger, more physical and scores more goals with one of the league’s hardest point shots on the power play.

When the trade was made, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews tweeted he was glad to see Weber out of the Western Conference. Forward Jason Pominville of the Minnesota Wild, one of a handful of players from other NHL clubs to take part in the golf tournament, felt the same.

And when asked who he felt won the trade, Pominville joked that: “I’m in the West, so for sure, I hope it’s the Canadiens who won it.”

Weber arrived this week and got to put on his No. 6 Canadiens jersey for the first time as he met some of his new teammates on a visit to the club’s training centre.

The Canadiens collapsed and missed the playoffs last season after star goalie Carey Price blew out a knee in late November. Management wanted more sandpaper and leadership for this season, so they traded for Weber and gritty winger Andrew Shaw and also signed skilled Russian winger Alexander Radulov, Weber’s former Nashville teammate.

“There were a few areas where we wanted to get better,” said Therrien. “A little more grit, more aggressiveness in the way we play.

“Shaw, as we all know, is well respected in the NHL because he’s like (Brendan) Gallagher — he goes hard to the net. He’s won two Stanley Cups. With these two, we feel we’re a bit different team than last year and we like the direction we’re going in.”

Captain Max Pacioretty’s first move after the trade was to phone Subban. The two have been together since they were drafted by Montreal in 2007. He saw Subban was OK with the move and also spoke to Weber. Now Pacioretty likes the deal and is confident Weber will handle all the scrutiny just fine.

“We can’t control what’s being said,” said Pacioretty. “We’re excited about the team we’re going to ice.

“We’re excited to have Shea in. We can’t get caught up in that. People will always have their opinions but we have to worry about the team we have and it’s up to everyone to contribute.”

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

©2016 The Canadian Press