Shea Weber wins hardest shot contest

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber is now the king of the NHL's big shooters.

Weber fired a puck 108.5 mph to win the hardest shot competition at the NHL All-Star Skills competition, ending Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara's run of five consecutive titles. Weber's first shot was disqualified because he missed the net, but his second blast was just short of Chara's NHL record of 108.8 mph.

"It's not right - guys have to get hit with that thing," Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien said, clearly in awe. "It's amazing. He works on that thing, and when your sticks are working, that's what you get."

Weber's said his previous hardest shot was in the range of 106 mph. He had no idea how hard he could shoot because there hasn't been an All-Star Game since 2012, and he doesn't practice a slap shot with a big skating start.

"Given one more chance, I'm sure he could have broken the record," Chicago's Jonathan Toews said. "I don't think there's anyone who shoots the puck as hard as him."

Asked to describe Weber's velocity, Toews said: "I've never drive that fast. It's scary fast. He is the type of player who can beat goalies from far out with no screen, no nothing, and that's something because usually in this league if the goalie see the puck they will stop it."

Chara has missed a significant amount of this season because of a knee injury and wasn't chosen to play in the All-Star Game.

The second hardest shot on Saturday was Washington forward Alex Ovechkin's shot of 101.4 mph.

It was pointed out to Weber that he might have beaten Chara, even if he had been there.

"We will never know," Weber said. "...until next time."

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