Unsuspecting. In shock. Honored. Former Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber was going through all variations of emotions when he was told he would be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“I got the call in the middle of a golf game. I dropped down on a knee & couldn’t believe it, I still can’t believe it,” Weber said.
The 38-year-old was grateful he had his own run at the Stanley Cup back in 2021 & expressed how fortunate he was to play on international teams. Weber won two gold medals at the Olympics (Vancouver & Sochi) while playing at his best.
“It wasn’t something that I thought about or believed but it caught me off guard,” Weber said of being named to the HHOF.
He called his dad from the gold course after getting the news & could hardly spit the news out.
“I was crying & couldn’t talk. My dad is a stoic guy and he asked what my problem was. I finally spit it out and he was like ‘Oh my goodness.’ I called him later that night & we had a good long discussion,” Weber said. “For me especially him & my mom––who’s not around anymore––I talked about just how much they gave me & my brother in life.”
The feeling was so different from winning any award that he’d ever competed for. As the days go on Weber says it’ll continue to set in.
Roots Run Deep in Nashville
Weber grew into the person he is today after starting his career in Nashville with the Predators. He spent time with the Milwaukee Admirals for a few seasons alongside Pekka Rinne before playing a huge part up in Music City.
“I was fortunate to be drafted to a place where we had coach Barry Trotz & great older guys that paved the way for us showing the young guys how it was done,” Weber said. “I spent about 11 years there so I have deep connections to that city & to that franchise. They gave me so much & it took off from there.
Weber is the second longest-tenured captain in Predators history at six years. He helped set the tone for what the organization is like in the locker room today with Roman Josi leading the team now.
He saw how much Josi had grown when visiting for captain’s night back in February. The two still talk on the phone, & continue to witness the kind of leader he is now.
Weber is also part of the same HHOF class as former general manager David Poile. The two were in Nashville until Poile traded him for P.K. Subban on June 29, 2016.
“It means a lot, they drafted me in Nashville. I spent 11 years with them & he’s done so much for the game,” Weber said. “He’s been a builder & that’s why he’s going in. He’s a deserving man, it means a lot to be with a guy I had for a long time & gave me a chance to play.”
What’s Next?
Weber has thought about life after hockey. He said the first full year away was the hardest while still being around teammates & staff members.
“Mentally it was the biggest challenge, I felt like I could still play but my body just wouldn’t let me. It wasn’t possible to go,” Weber said.
When he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Montreal Canadiens in 2022 he helped with their development & defensemen.
He took off last season because he felt like a suitcase being moved across three teams.
“I’m going to try & get back into it & be with Utah. I’m going to go down there for development camp & see if there’s a spot or fit for me to stay in the game,” Weber said.
Due to his lasting injuries, Weber confirmed that those are still a hindrance to his life.
“It’s all dependant on what I do. I still workout but I really have to tone stuff down & leave my knee & ankle alone cause even the slightest thing will bug me,” Weber said.
“We did the charity ball tournament last year. You play slow pitch & that isn’t anything but then I couldn’t walk for two weeks. It’s a very tough situation, especially in the winter with a lot of pain. We’ll manage it & hopefully make it last longer than it could.”
Weber says the ankle injury is more of a balance thing since a tendon isn’t operating like it normally would.
Departing Montreal
Weber never got to choose when he would play his final game as captain of the Montreal Canadiens. After being in Nashville and then suffering an injury in his fourth year of being a Canadian all felt but over for him at the time.
“Mentally I was not in a good spot. Knowing I was done playing, for the full year I tried to come back,” Weber said. “I called my agent & told him I was trying to come back & he said ‘No chance unless you want to walk again.'”
Weber said he didn’t want to address anybody, not even family about not being able to play hockey. He just wanted to be by himself.
“I guess I’m a little sorry for that––not properly saying goodbye ––It wasn’t intentional. I was not very good & not in a good spot physically or mentally,” Weber said. “I’d go on the road & see the guys. It gave me the joy like I was still there.”
Weber constantly kept retreating since there wasn’t an option for him other than to stay away from the ice as a player. The weight of not being able to play suffocated him from living out his passion.
In his unofficial retirement Weber’s goal is to get back to something else he loves in his free time. That’s a challenge for him at times when exerting himself with coaching his kids.
“I hope so. I love baseball, the kids are in it & I hope it’s something I can do,” Weber said.
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