#6 Shea Weber (Captain, Retired Jersey)
The first Predator to have his number retired.
Shea Weber's #6 hangs from the rafters of Bridgestone Arena — the first jersey the Nashville Predators ever retired. He debuted in 2005, got traded in 2016, and in between those two dates he was the whole identity of this club: captain, hard hitter, the defenseman whose slapshot could shatter a sheet of glass. Weber didn't inherit a winning culture; he built it, one brutal shift at a time, making Nashville a team that earned its respect through sheer grit and a refusal to back down. When the Predators took his number out of circulation in February 2022, they weren't checking a box on a list. They were acknowledging the guy who set the standard every Predtor after him gets measured against.
- Role
- Defenseman, Captain
- Affiliation
- Nashville Predators (2005–2016)
- First appears
- 2005–06 NHL season
- Status
- Retired jersey #6
- Key attribute
- Feared slapshot, physical play, leadership
Lore & Background
Weber's tenure was a highlight reel of unforgettable moments: his iconic slap shot that shattered a pane of glass during a playoff game, sending shards raining onto the ice; his Game 5 overtime winner against the Detroit Red Wings in 2012, a goal that sent Bridgestone Arena into a frenzy. Despite being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2016 for P.K. Subban, Weber's impact on the Predators never faded. The organization retired his number 6 in a ceremony on February 24, 2022, making him the first player in franchise history to receive that honor. His legacy as a leader and competitor remains a benchmark for all future Predators.
In Their Own Story
The arena is dark, save for a single spotlight on the ice. The crowd, a sea of gold, rises as one as the video board shows a montage of bone-crushing hits, slap shots that bend the net, and a young defenseman lifting the captain's 'C' above his head. Then, the spotlight shifts to the rafters, where a banner slowly descends: a blue number 6, with 'WEBER' stitched below. The roar is deafening—a sound that shakes the building. On the ice, Shea Weber, now in a suit, skates out to center, his eyes glistening. He raises his stick to the fans who chanted his name for a decade. In that moment, the Predators' past and future are one, bound by a number that will never be worn again.
Reader's Guide
The Shea Weber Era (2005–2016) defined the Nashville Predators' transformation from an expansion novelty to a legitimate playoff contender. Before Weber, the Predators had made the playoffs but never advanced past the first round. With Weber as the anchor on defense and later as captain, the team developed a reputation for toughness and resilience. His slapshot became a weapon that opposing teams feared, and his leadership helped cultivate a locker room culture of accountability. The era saw the Predators win their first playoff series in 2011, a watershed moment that proved the franchise could compete with the NHL's elite. Weber's presence also helped establish the team's identity as a hard-hitting, defensive-minded club that relied on goaltending and a strong blue line. His retirement of #6 was not just a tribute to a player, but a recognition of the era he symbolized—a time when the Predators shed their underdog status and became a team that demanded respect. For fans, Weber's number in the rafters is a constant reminder of the grit and pride that built the franchise.
Did You Know?
- Shea Weber was drafted 49th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, a pick that became one of the greatest in franchise history.
- Weber's number 6 was the first jersey retired by the Nashville Predators, in a ceremony on February 24, 2022.
- He served as captain of the Predators from 2010 until his trade in 2016, leading the team to multiple playoff appearances.
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