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Shea Weber: 'I'm not P.K. Subban, I’m not going to try to be'

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 30: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators competes in the AMP Energy NHL Hardest Shot during 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. Weber won the compeition on this shot with a shot speed of 108.1 mph.(Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 30: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators competes in the AMP Energy NHL Hardest Shot during 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. Weber won the compeition on this shot with a shot speed of 108.1 mph.(Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Shea Weber hasn’t thought about P.K. Subban’s popularity with the Montreal Canadiens and what it will be like to try to replace a fan favorite in such a big and important hockey market.

The deal that sent Weber to the Habs from the Nashville Predators created shockwaves through Montreal and led to questions on whether this deal will harm the Canadiens’ competitiveness moving forward.

“Yeah, you know what? That thought hasn’t crossed my mind. I’m not P.K. Subban, I’m not going to try to be,” Weber said. “I’m going to bring my hard work and attitude and try to bring this team into some wins. The biggest thing I want to do is win and I know they have a good base, obviously one of the best goaltenders and some top end forwards and I’m just excited to be joining that group.”

The 30-year-old Weber is not the type of player who pays any attention to externals. He focuses on hockey and what he can do in a rink. He has a few ‘guilty pleasures’ like fantasy football, the Toronto Blue Jays and his dog.

He’s also a player that has never dealt with a market like Montreal that holds a high amount of media scrutiny for its players. Weber, who is from Sicamous, British Columbia has played for Canadian national teams and dealt with pressure in international tournaments but has been in the small-market Nashville Predators his entire NHL career.

“You deal with pressure everywhere you play. You’re in the playoffs, you have pressure, you’re in the Olympics you have pressure,” Weber said. “There’s pressure when you’re younger. It’s something you always deal with.”

In each of his full seasons Weber has scored in between 15-23 goals and in between 40 and 56 points. Last year he averaged 25:23 of average ice-time per-game and notched 51 points – the third-highest point total of his career.

But from an advanced stats perspective he’s below Subban. Last season he held a minus-3.67 5-on-5 score and venue adjusted CF%. The year before he was minus-5.82.

Some of that has to do with how the Predators have historically used him as a match-up defender – but he’s not seen as a speed player in the way today’s game has evolved.

Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin was asked why he believes his Canadiens are a better team with Weber than Subban, who had a minus-0.11 5-on-5 score and venue adjusted CF% Rel last year.

“I will not go into detail why we think we’re a better team, but we feel we are a better team and I will leave this discussion internally,” Bergevin said.

Weber will also be 31 at the start of next season and is four years Subban’s senior. Both Bergevin and Weber were asked about the player’s age and the issues it may bring.

“I think Shea Weber has a lot of good hockey (left),” Bergevin said. “He has been a stud defenseman for a while and I don’t see him stopping being that type of defenseman. He’s a big body that plays a smart game. He plays – he’s good defensively.”

Weber noted his conditioning as a major factor for pushing back the aging process.

“I’m hoping that shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve always been a guy that takes a lot of pride in my training and the work I do over the summer to be in good shape for the season so hopefully that won’t be an issue,” Weber said. “I’m going to work just as hard so I can be in good shape so I’m ready to go.”

Bergevin was also asked why he didn’t push for more from Nashville when he made the deal. Part of the initial reaction was that Bergevin didn’t ask for enough, which also could have led to the disappointment from the Montreal fanbase.

“He’s a stud and you don’t expect to get something else when you get Shea Weber,” Bergevin said.

As for winning over the fans in Montreal – that could take some time. In six years with the Habs, Subban left a lasting legacy with his charity work and his strong on ice play that included a Norris Trophy. He also never hid from any chance to help grow the game.

Weber is the type of defenseman who only lets his play do the talking – but will that be good enough?

“I understand P.K. is a very popular player and a very likable player. I get all that but our fans are passionate and that’s what makes Montreal a special place,” Bergevin said. “What you get in return is an elite defenseman and is a diamond in the rough and they’ll soon learn to appreciate Shea Weber. A different type of player, but a special type of player as well.”

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!