Wish we had Weber already.....woulda been great for Doans tour


"Over theres the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Pats, Genos, Shea Weber locker......."
- aosplayo

Does anybody know how the "Gratton option" kicks in? Who initiates it Homer or Poile? If Nashville really doesn't have the money and Homer smells the bluff then why trade? Or is it just a question of helping a member of the GM brotherhood save face by trading players that will immediately help.

Exactly. So this situation with Weber has nothing to do with a lockout, or Nashville being a stable franchise. Their GM has royally (frank)ed up the way he has handled both players, and he's looking at a distinct possibility of only getting draft picks in return.

There is nothing in any new CBA, or labor negotiations that protect a team from bad management.
- PLindbergh31

Yes, it has everything to do with a lock out. And there is a lot new in the negotiations to protect a team such as Nashville. Maybe we need to review what the issues are.

Your making an assumption that Poile has been incompetent here. He has superiors and people that he answers to. He doesn't have carte blanche and a blank check book. There is no doubt that Nashville wants to match and keep Weber. Whether they decide it makes sense to is another issue. Making a reasonable deal is best for everyone. And to not consider all sides, is narrow minded.
- MJL

Didn't the Rangers sign Sakic to an RFA offer sheet way back, (mid 90's?) & Colorado took all 7 days to match anyway.

Your making an assumption that Poile has been incompetent here. He has superiors and people that he answers to. He doesn't have carte blanche and a blank check book. There is no doubt that Nashville wants to match and keep Weber. Whether they decide it makes sense to is another issue. Making a reasonable deal is best for everyone. And to not consider all sides, is narrow minded.
- MJL

I understand that Poile doesn't write the checks, but Preds ownership knew they were reaching a crossroads with Suter and Weber, to lose both guys and receive nothing but draft picks is bad management. Whether it's on Poile or team ownership is irrelevant.

Does anybody know how the "Gratton option" kicks in? Who initiates it Homer or Poile? If Nashville really doesn't have the money and Homer smells the bluff then why trade? Or is it just a question of helping a member of the GM brotherhood save face by trading players that will immediately help.
- 2731color

OR
maybe homer actually WANTS his picks back.

maybe. It's unfortunate jake wasn't signed before the other guys. really messed up his market value vs what his real value probably is.
If they could deal Lilja, you COULD shift that money that way, but it's only anoth .5M

Again, I never thought it was/is likely, but it is a remote possibility
- nails

It can be done with some other moves. But also keep in mind that you really need to keep some space around to cover for short term injuries also.

Does anybody know how the "Gratton option" kicks in? Who initiates it Homer or Poile? If Nashville really doesn't have the money and Homer smells the bluff then why trade? Or is it just a question of helping a member of the GM brotherhood save face by trading players that will immediately help.
- 2731color

It may be the later, as Clarke knew Tampa couldn't match & offered Renberg

I understand that Poile doesn't write the checks, but Preds ownership knew they were reaching a crossroads with Suter and Weber, to lose both guys and receive nothing but draft picks is bad management. Whether it's on Poile or team ownership is irrelevant.
- PLindbergh31

It is bad management. And it's relevant to who it is, when your singling out Poile as incompetent in your replies.

It can be done with some other moves. But also keep in mind that you really need to keep some space around to cover for short term injuries also.
- MJL

absolutely.
you almost have to hope if their is an injury, it is the LTIR variety.
you would have to rely on rinaldo and gervais to carry you through the season.
it would be risky and gutsy.
both of which homer is good at and seems to like.

Having new teams is exciting when it happens, but the reality is the league should have probably contracted a while back.
- puckhead17

Agreed. I truly believe that is what the NHL proposal is all about. As much as I love the Weber signing for the Flyers, it really is bad for the league. Limits on contract length, elimination of signing bonuses, and equal payment of salary are really musts in my mind.

In another thread, someone reported that a couple of players in an interview agreed with some of the owner's proposals. The point was that they not only play for money, they play for a chance at the cup. Parity really gives them a chance at some point in their careers to play meaningful hockey. Also, these specific provisions don't necessarily mean a reduction in total player salaries across the league...they likely represent a shiift from large market teams to small market teams.

Look at Fehr's comments yesterday. He was really only picking apart the decrease in the revenue split and the adjustments to the cap floor/mid point. Didn't even comment on some of the other things. That is where the players will likely fight.

I understand that Poile doesn't write the checks, but Preds ownership knew they were reaching a crossroads with Suter and Weber, to lose both guys and receive nothing but draft picks is bad management. Whether it's on Poile or team ownership is irrelevant.
- PLindbergh31

Where Poile messed up is where he didn't unload them sooner like a year out ahead of time, his problem is he listens to the rhetoric of a player saying how nice it is in Nashville, etc, the best interest of the team should have came first, no loyalty in sports anymore & that affected him to face reality.
He actually went to a conversation back in November that suter said how he would stay, liked it there etc. Then sign if you like it here so much.
He has a tough job playing GM in a hard to sell market, should be 2 GM awards each year instead of one
large market GM
small market GM

Agreed. I truly believe that is what the NHL proposal is all about. As much as I love the Weber signing for the Flyers, it really is bad for the league. Limits on contract length, elimination of signing bonuses, and equal payment of salary are really musts in my mind.

In another thread, someone reported that a couple of players in an interview agreed with some of the owner's proposals. The point was that they not only play for money, they play for a chance at the cup. Parity really gives them a chance at some point in their careers to play meaningful hockey. Also, these specific provisions don't necessarily mean a reduction in total player salaries across the league...they likely represent a shiift from large market teams to small market teams.

Look at Fehr's comments yesterday. He was really only picking apart the decrease in the revenue split and the adjustments to the cap floor/mid point. Didn't even comment on some of the other things. That is where the players will likely fight.
- TheGreat28

A majority of players will never see these 14 year 100M contracts, so they may not be terribly against limits if it maybe ensures teams don't have to fold. Less NHL teams = less NHL jobs.

Personally, if I was Nashville, I would have dealt rinne, kept lindback, and resigned the two franchise d men.

Agreed. I truly believe that is what the NHL proposal is all about. As much as I love the Weber signing for the Flyers, it really is bad for the league. Limits on contract length, elimination of signing bonuses, and equal payment of salary are really musts in my mind.

In another thread, someone reported that a couple of players in an interview agreed with some of the owner's proposals. The point was that they not only play for money, they play for a chance at the cup. Parity really gives them a chance at some point in their careers to play meaningful hockey. Also, these specific provisions don't necessarily mean a reduction in total player salaries across the league...they likely represent a shiift from large market teams to small market teams.

Look at Fehr's comments yesterday. He was really only picking apart the decrease in the revenue split and the adjustments to the cap floor/mid point. Didn't even comment on some of the other things. That is where the players will likely fight.
- TheGreat28

So true!, as long as the league wishes to stay expanded in all markets, we will have these issues, they can claim that the owners are united & all, I don't buy that, owners that make the revenue VS the one's that need the revenue.
They will cry foul at negotiations all they want, Snider wants a cup, he doesn't care about what a southern market needs, and maybe he shouldn't

A majority of players will never see these 14 year 100M contracts, so they may not be terribly against limits if it maybe ensures teams don't have to fold. Less NHL teams = less NHL jobs.
- eayost

That's another really good point. Along the same lines, most of the owners will never give out 100m contracts, which is why guys like Snider lost that argument while the leadership committee was crafting their proposal.

If this goes until tomorrow........I may have an ulcer, BUT the longer this goes the better.


I like the point someone made on here last night about being pot committed on Weber. Hes the man, the guy they havent had, well Pronger, but he was 34ish. This is our Scott Stevens/Chara mixed into one. (Chara for the shot) I know we say Homer should call their "bluff", but if theres a trade to be made no involving the Schenns or Coots I think they almost have to make it to guarantee getting Weber, and Im A OK with that....

Personally, if I was Nashville, I would have dealt rinne, kept lindback, and resigned the two franchise d men.
- nails

Problem is, they didn't want to stay there, period, didn't matter what you offered them.
The problem is not only what they were paid, but will the team spend to give them other good players?
That's what the Preds were up against as well, Rinne making $7 million a year while he plays with 2nd tier players all around him now makes no sense

A majority of players will never see these 14 year 100M contracts, so they may not be terribly against limits if it maybe ensures teams don't have to fold. Less NHL teams = less NHL jobs.
- eayost

Amen finally someone has said it....Bettmans bastards are dragging the league down. It's not their fault no matter how competitive they are they loose money . Look at phoenix Nashville Tampa. A competitive team does not equal profits....those teams need to move or leave

Yep. I think that he's probably meeting with Homer & co right now.
- Jsaquella

Plan B to a weber fallout or take this as a good sign to weber being here?

Problem is, they didn't want to stay there, period, didn't matter what you offered them.
- puckhead17

Maybe. Maybe not.
I wonder how much the whole radulov thing soured these guys.
Or maybe pole knew this was coming and it is why he let radulov happen

If this goes until tomorrow........I may have an ulcer, BUT the longer this goes the better.


I like the point someone made on here last night about being pot committed on Weber. Hes the man, the guy they havent had, well Pronger, but he was 34ish. This is our Scott Stevens/Chara mixed into one. (Chara for the shot) I know we say Homer should call their "bluff", but if theres a trade to be made no involving the Schenns or Coots I think they almost have to make it to guarantee getting Weber, and Im A OK with that....
- aosplayo

Completely agree on the ulcer!!

And I also agree that Holmgren will likely do what it takes to guarantee the outcome of getting 'Weber as long as that "insurance" cost isn't too great. OR...he has another option to mitigate the cost of the insurance, like signing Doan for example...

I'm just waiting patiently for something to leak out.

Plan B to a weber fallout or take this as a good sign to weber being here?
- Just5

plan b, imo

Plan B to a weber fallout or take this as a good sign to weber being here?
- Just5

Good sign. Doan and Weber press conference Thursday at noon. I can hear Crosbys balls dropping now.....