Josh Cooper

jcooper2@tennessean.com

There's a sense of ease with Predators captain Shea Weber these days.

"He looks good. He seems calm and confident," forward Paul Gaustad said as the players held an informal skate at Centennial Sportsplex on Monday. "Webs is one of the top players in the league. Every day he comes and battles and works harder than anyone else."

Maybe it's his comfort level going into his fifth season as Predators captain. Maybe it's the confidence that comes with being an NHL veteran at the age of 29. But there has been one subtle difference this year.

Weber's internal clock decided it was time to be in Nashville earlier than usual, at the beginning of August. So the big defenseman left his lake house in Kelowna, British Columbia, and ventured back to Music City, where he has been training with teammates and taking part in other ventures around town.

"It's tough leaving the lake, and the weather we had up there in the summer is good. But it's time to get back here and back to work," Weber said. "I've been playing golf, and been training and skating with these guys getting ready for the season."

Weber tries to stay low-key off the ice, but this summer he has been a little more visible. He took part in the Best Buddies of Tennessee 5K in late August, and shot a video of himself with his two dogs doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

"This is a great place to come back to. I love coming back and playing here, so I'm very fortunate to be in the city," Weber said. "I've been busy, but it has been good though. Lots of things to do and stay busy in the community."

On the ice, Weber's early presence can only be helpful to the Predators as they prepare to embark on the first season in team history without Barry Trotz as head coach. Peter Laviolette was hired to replace him.

Training with the rest of the team is always a good bonding tool for any player — even one like Weber, who was a Norris Trophy finalist last season with a career-high 56 points. He also tied a career-high in goals with 23.

"He seems calm," Gaustad said. "He seems focused and hungry and not complacent too. I don't think I've seen anybody as competitive as Shea."

Reach Josh Cooper at 615-726-8917 and on Twitter @joshuacooper.

PREDATORS TRAINING CAMP

When: First practice at 8:45 a.m., Sept. 19

Where: Centennial Sportsplex