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The ONLY Suter/Shea Weber Scenario which Benefits Nashville is: |
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Ok. Here is how this is all playing out.
The Predators will match any offer sheet given to Weber, so Weber will not sign an offer sheet until he is confident in what is going on in Nashville. And the only guarantee of this is Suter returning. As a fan of this franchise and a huge fan of all they have done in Nashville it really sucks to have to say it's either both Weber and Suter, or it's neither.
If Suter goes I fully believe Weber will have to sign a one year deal and become a UFA next year. He may also give Nashville a shot then to match, but I can honestly say the Preds shouldn't match whatever gigantic deal Weber gets next year. It will dwarf these Suter deals.
The Preds HAVE to really consider moving Weber now. They simply have little choice.
The Preds may have a chance to match a Suter deal, but if it is over 100M and 26M in the next calendar year...should they? Of course not. No way in hell should they.
The Predators haven't been as successful as they have been...a perennial playoff team in a tough West, on a steady upswing...because they give single players 100M..not to speak of giving 2 players 200M.
I know Suter wants to stay. I know Weber wants to stay. Both feel like they are part of something since the beginning in Nashville. something amazing. And they have been. And all the credit to them. They are great soldiers, teammates and even better people. However, when push comes to shove I am really curious if either player would even feel right being this kind of financial albatross to the Predators.
The Preds are about to lose Suter for nothing. Ok, not really NOTHING. Let me rephrase: With the money the Preds are about to save on Suter they will be able to improve their team with players. So it can be said the Preds are about to lose Suter for the equivalent of let's say 7M (the number they would have been comfortable spending). But what UFA's in this market would you really want to spend 7M on?
It gets worse...If the Preds wait out Weber they will likely lose him for nothing as well...UNLESS...they change their perspective and do things the way this franchise can do things. Unless they do what they do best. Be creative and trust Poile to work his magic.
Here is what I, admittedly as a fan of this franchise, believe they should do.
1. Let Suter Go. it's simply insane money at this point and we know Poile has a great track record with defensemen.
2. Open the trade market on Shea Weber. Come one come all! You think the Nash and Bobby Ryan trade markets are hot? Can you fathom what Nashville would get for Weber, maybe the best D in the game? They will get a huge amount of talent and picks in return and the money saved on Suter and Weber can pay for the players they get in the trade and then some.
They should ask for 2 Top 6 forwards, a top 4 d-man, and two first round picks for Weber. I believe they would get that. I really do.
Let's speculate:
Let's say the Flyers offered up Voracek, Read, Cobourn and two #1s. Maybe Poile counters wanting Couturier instead of Matt Read? Would the Flyers with all their depth turn away from the leagues top D-man? I doubt it.
Now the Preds are paying say 9M for the ex-Flyers players but they have two top 6 forwards a d-man and two picks for 9M instead of 1 Shea Weber...and for a team with trouble scoring..more importantly..they have hope.
And we don't have to use the Flyers in this scenario...The Bruins or Sabres could also put together a huge package for Weber. The Red Wings or Hawks. I believe Poile just needs to open this up to everyone regardless of conference or rival.
AND remember, they still have the money saved on Suter to make something else happen.. Another UFA, RFA, trade, or perhaps even go after Rick Nash.
No matter how you slice it, it is quite possible the Preds could end up a better team before the 2012-13 season by cutting ties with Weber and Suter in the next 24 hours.
Yes, the Preds would get weaker defensively...no doubt. However, remember this is a team with a goalie who has a better record when the Preds give up over 35 shots. And they have him signed. Suter and Weber may be All-Stars, but Rinne is the team MVP.
The alternative to NOT letting Suter go and NOT trading Weber is far more dismal.
With both guys back, a combined $200M locked up in two players who could always get hurt and then you have no help up front...and no room to go after help. No scoring.
If the Preds sign Weber to a one year deal they're truly not doing their job. If Weber wants to be a Predator for life he will sign an offer sheet and the Preds say they will match. All of that sounds good, but it is way too risky. And again..is it really the formula for success in Nashville?
I know it's hard right now, but Preds fans need not hang their heads here. Looking at teams like the Kings and Coyotes you can clearly see the formula for winning is not always about over spending on big names...And Weber is truly MONEY in the bank. He is your retirement money come through. There are far worse things than having a chip to cash in named Shea Weber.
What do you all think?
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