Locker Room Chatter: Shea Weber On His All-Star Weekend Experience
Thursday, 02.03.2011 / 5:48 PM
/ Features
By Jay Levin
- Nashville Predators
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Preds defenseman Shea Weber returned to Nashville for practice on Monday. He shared his thoughts on this year's All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, including Friday Night's Player Draft, Saturday's SuperSkills competiton, and Sunday's All-Star Game.
On which All-Star Experience was better, his All-Star Game debut in ’09 or this year…
I think it was better this time. I didn’t know what to expect two years ago, so I was kind of nervous. This time I got to relax a little bit more and just enjoy the whole atmosphere.
On Friday Night’s All-Star Draft…
I had no idea when I was going to go. I was expecting to be waiting a lot longer than that, but obviously it was pretty cool to be drafted.
On which SuperSkills events he most looked forward to watching from the ice…
I enjoyed just sitting there for the skills competition. Sitting there ice level watching the guys that are flying around the ice in the fastest skater, guys in the accuracy shooting – where guys go four-for-four – I mean it’s pretty special to see different guys around the league and how good they actually are.
On the Hardest Shot Competition vs. Zdeno Chara…
It was pretty much the same as two years ago. Same result. It's a little disappointing, but he’s a great competitor and he’s a big man. Obviously he’s got the hardest shot in the league; maybe the world.
On what it was like to be partnered with Nicklas Lidstrom during the game…
(Grinning – pointing to Suter in the next stall over) Can we wait until he goes away?
It was pretty cool. Obviously Lidstrom’s one of the best defensemen to ever play the game, so it was a special moment for me to play with him. It’s something I’ll never forget.
On being partnered with Scott Nidermayer for Team Canada in the ’10 Olympics and Nicklas Lidstrom at the ’11 All-Star Game…
Those are both special. I’m getting pretty fortunate to play with guys like that. They make the game so much easier on you. They are so smart and move the puck so well, so quickly, it’s really kind of hard to believe how easy they make the game to play. I’m pretty fortunate here, too. That guy (pointing to Suter) is pretty good. Sutes and I go well together. We compliment each others style (on the ice). Maybe next year I’ll be paired with him in the All-Star Game.
On which All-Star Experience was better, his All-Star Game debut in ’09 or this year…
I think it was better this time. I didn’t know what to expect two years ago, so I was kind of nervous. This time I got to relax a little bit more and just enjoy the whole atmosphere.
On Friday Night’s All-Star Draft…
I had no idea when I was going to go. I was expecting to be waiting a lot longer than that, but obviously it was pretty cool to be drafted.
On which SuperSkills events he most looked forward to watching from the ice…
I enjoyed just sitting there for the skills competition. Sitting there ice level watching the guys that are flying around the ice in the fastest skater, guys in the accuracy shooting – where guys go four-for-four – I mean it’s pretty special to see different guys around the league and how good they actually are.
On the Hardest Shot Competition vs. Zdeno Chara…
It was pretty much the same as two years ago. Same result. It's a little disappointing, but he’s a great competitor and he’s a big man. Obviously he’s got the hardest shot in the league; maybe the world.
On what it was like to be partnered with Nicklas Lidstrom during the game…
(Grinning – pointing to Suter in the next stall over) Can we wait until he goes away?
It was pretty cool. Obviously Lidstrom’s one of the best defensemen to ever play the game, so it was a special moment for me to play with him. It’s something I’ll never forget.
On being partnered with Scott Nidermayer for Team Canada in the ’10 Olympics and Nicklas Lidstrom at the ’11 All-Star Game…
Those are both special. I’m getting pretty fortunate to play with guys like that. They make the game so much easier on you. They are so smart and move the puck so well, so quickly, it’s really kind of hard to believe how easy they make the game to play. I’m pretty fortunate here, too. That guy (pointing to Suter) is pretty good. Sutes and I go well together. We compliment each others style (on the ice). Maybe next year I’ll be paired with him in the All-Star Game.
