MONTREAL—Shea Weber seemed to take offence at the notion that things have gone just about as well as could be expected in his move to the Montreal Canadiens.

The former captain of the Nashville Predators — traded in the off-season for the eminently popular P.K. Subban — was leading the Canadiens in scoring heading into Saturday’s game, and the Habs were at the top of the standings.

So what was wrong?

“We lost a game,” said Weber. “So that’s not as good as it could be.”

Even then, the Habs lost the game in the best way possible, in overtime, getting a point. And Weber has looked very good in a Montreal uniform.

“It’s the start of a bigger picture here,” said Weber. “We have to stay focused and continue to work to be a better team.”

Weber is a man of few words on game day, but he’s one of big action during the game and respected around the league. Leafs coach Mike Babcock called him a “Man Mountain” during the World Cup of Hockey when the two were together on Team Canada. And Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews tweeted his relief that Weber had been traded out of the Western Conference.

“And Toews never tweets,” said Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher, “so that tells you all you need to know.”

Last year’s injury to Carey Price exposed Montreal’s weakness on defence. Getting Weber has solidified the blue line in the early going.

“He’s pretty much everything to our group,” said Gallagher. “He’s helped in the offensive zone, he’s helped in the defensive zone. He’s making other players better on our team.

“Everything he does is a big encouragement to our group and has helped us be where we are right now.”

Fans and teammates haven’t forgotten Subban, but Weber is a very different player: very physical and not prone to high-risk, high-reward plays.

“When that trade happened, there was so much being said, but I had a pretty good idea of what he brings,” said Gallagher. “Up and down the ice, he’s a complete player. He’s dominant everywhere on the ice.”

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Weber is the kind of player you’d rather play with than against.

“You see guys put the puck in his corner, then immediately skate the other direction,” said Montreal captain Max Pacioretty. “That presence has really helped us out a lot. Can’t say enough good things about a guy like that.”