How did i know you would say that. Doesn't matter that I also put other teams who could make the are sort of deal...eh?
- Eklund

you should probably plug everything in to mash with some internet heckler. it would be the most extradordinarily professional thing you could do

Odd. I was just saying what if Holmgren were to offer Voracek, Read, Cobourn, Lilja + 2 1st rd for Weber. Would Nash accept? Would Suter then take the big contract?

Nash gets a sizable return immediately that fills your loss, improves your scoring, and leaves you plenty of $ to make other moves.

I'd think it would be hard for Suter to decline that offer then if he can play with his lifemate. The Flyers defense is immediately repaired and set for years to come. Plus the Flyers would then have around $6 million to plug a few offensive holes.

Odd. I was just saying what if Holmgren were to offer Voracek, Read, Cobourn, Lilja + 2 1st rd for Weber. Would Nash accept? Would Suter then take the big contract?

Nash gets a sizable return immediately that fills your loss, improves your scoring, and leaves you plenty of $ to make other moves.

I'd think it would be hard for Suter to decline that offer then if he can play with his lifemate. The Flyers defense is immediately repaired and set for years to come. Plus the Flyers would then have around $6 million to plug a few offensive holes.
- DinkusMaximus

interesting..

philly is certainly one of those teams that can stir the pot with big offers. i think they can battle for nash.. and once they get him. its alot more appealing for a guy like suter

I simply don't understand why people focus on the significance of the $ values of the front end loaded contracts. Borrowed money adds 3% to smooth the contract out over the full length of the contact term. It should not be a problem for any team with a good cash balance. Probably not a problem for a team who has one player carrying this kind of term. But, if a team does this with a couple of players they are headed for serious trouble. The problem is not the cash flow, the problem is always the same, it is the cap hit and the impact it will have on expectations of team mates for future contracts with the same club.

There is nothing happening this year that did not happen last year. Buffalo blew the top off the UFA market last year by offering these big cash up front deals. This year they don't really cost anymore, it is just more of 3%. But Buffalo is not part of the dealing this year because they have quickly realized how counter productive it can become to the overall development of the team.

Sign Suter and trade Shea for a ton of talent.

I mean, Weber is good... but... really?
- theblueandgold

Yes, Weber is that good. He is a franchise D. One that doesn't come along that often. And he is still relatively young.

Assume Weber was made available. Further, assume the team that gets him has to pay dollars matching whatever the Suter deal turns out to be. The front end loaded contract is not nearly as big a deal as some people make it out to be.

If that happens, you need a team owner with deep pockets and a team that will offer up a player and prospect that has strong future star appeal.

Is it worth it for LA to give up Doughty for Weber? No, in my opinion.

Is it worth it for Ottawa to give up Karlsson? No.

Is it worth it for Buffalo to give up Myers? Maybe, probably.

Is it worth it for Edmonton to give up Yakupov or one of the top kids? Yes

You can go down all the teams and know that a hypothetical deal would involve making a match for the best player coming back. Any deal like this is always dependent on the best player coming back.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=399751

Report, Marty staying in NJ

I am so sick of people saying that Suter and Weber want to stay. No they don't. Weber made it clear last year. Suter has made it clear this year. If Weber wanted to stay he'd be locked up. If Suter wanted to stay he'd be locked up.

Great soldiers? Great teammates? Then why don't they act like it? Sign a deal. Take 6-7 million instead of 8-9 million. That's what a great soldier and a great teammate would do. And if you don't want to do that then let the team know within a reasonable time instead of holding the team hostage for literally YEARS. If they wanna go, go, no problem. But the way they're doing it has crippled the team's ability to move on. That's a great teammate? Not only leaving, but doing as much damage as possible on the way out?

Even better people? Sure. I'm sure they're great to hang out with. But let's stop living in this fantasy world where some athletes aren't greedy scumbags. ALL athletes are driven by ego and greed to some degree. It's what they're taught from a very young age. Stepping over the bodies of other players is how they get to this level. Sure they're heavily trained in PR and know the right things to say to keep the fans happy, that doesn't mean what they're saying is true. Suter and Weber can BS all they want about wanting to be in Nashville but when given the chance to prove it, they've both don't the exact opposite. Actions speak louder than words. Pekka wants to play for Nashville and he proved it loud and clear. Suter and Weber could do the same, they've chosen not to, that speaks volumes about what great soldiers and teammates they are.

As far as Ek's thoughts about trading Weber. This is obviously what the team should do. I 100% agree with it. Either one of those guys leaving wrecks the entire philosophy of the team and it's time to start over.

The problem is you still have to sell tickets. Particularly in this market where we've barely scratched the surface of becoming stable, do we really think this ownership group is going to lose Weber, Suter AND Tootoo and then try to sell tickets? No matter who they replace them with, it won't erase the stigma in a lot of people's minds that this group has lost the most popular player and their two best players in one off season. I'd love to see them try it, but I don't think they have the guts.
- Lethargic

^THIS

Greedy scumbags? I really get a kick out of how fans in the midst of losing their best player(s) to free agency turn on them so quickly. What do you expect these guys to do? Of course they're going to go where the money is, they hold an occupation that consists of approximately 690 available positions at any given moment. They're careers could end or be drastically shortened or altered inside of a split second during any game, so why the hell wouldn't they squeeze every red cent out of the highest paying team possible?

People act like these guys are supposed to hold some unrealistic standard of loyalty to the fans of their current team. They're not going to leave millions of dollars on the table because they feel loyal to a certain fan base. So as far as "stepping over bodies" as you put it, the way I see it, they don't really have a choice if they want to make sure they and their families are set for life in case that dreadful career ending injury should come to fruition?

This is nothing more than a business as are all professional sports. $$$$$$ is the primary goal for owners and players alike...
- MnGump

not lie and hold us hostage. go for the money is what they earned and i understand its a business. i would do the same, but they have done a fair amount of hostage holding for what i think will be nothing. i dont think the scumbag, etc is necessary or even right, BUT they have had every chance to sign. if they wanted to stay it would have been over long ago. quit flirting and just say whats on your mind... at leas to DP so he can plan for the future.

Luongo, Ballard + Raymond for Weber.
- Scooby_Doo

No words - just laughter.

I know I am not going to win over any fans in Nashville for this, but then again, most don't like me anyway, but with all the crap being heaped on Weber and Suter, lost in the shuffle is David Poile.

A few years back, a great of local investors came together and bought our team. At the time, what caught my eyes, was the revelation that Craig Leiopold had taken the team as far as he could. The local investors had to do the rest. From my perspective they have.

So now I question whether it is time to find a GM who can get us over the hump. Don't get me wrong, I like David Poile and he has been a great asset to our organization. But on his resume of 30 years as a GM is not winning a CUP, bringing Radulov back and letting him off his final year, letting Suter go for NOTHING, and potentially, losing all asset value in Shea Weber.

Unless Weber is willing to sign a FAIR long term contract, by the start of the season, Poile must trade him. If he doesn't, and Weber leaves as a UFA or we get a weak return at the trade deadline, POILE SHOULD BE FIRED.

It pains me to say those words, but we don't' live in fantasy land. We live in a land where we MUST take the good that comes out of a players mouth with a grain of salt, and focus on the bad. In the case of Weber and Suter, both have said all the right things. But both also have made more then a few comments that suggest they don't want to be in Nashville. They don't believe in Nashville. They don't believe they can win a CUP in Nashville.

Hindsight is 20/20, but looking back, Poile should have traded Suter at the start of last year, or at the latest, the trade deadline. Had he done that, and if we had received some draft picks, some prospects, we might be a better team going into this year. Had he traded Suter, he could have told Weber prior to the 7/1 of this year he needs to sign or he is going to be traded for a mountain of prospects and draft picks. If Weber signed, great. If not, we would have had 2 years of draft picks and prospects at our disposal.

Yes it would have been a rebuild. But we still have Pekka Rinne, and we would have had a wealth of talent a year or 2 away. As it turns out, we are getting nothing for Suter, less then potential for Weber, and we have no prospects or draft picks.

This may turn out better than it looks, but right now, I am seeing a GM who has failed the organization and let top assets go for nothing. Had this happened on Wall Street, Trump would have said, "YOUR FIRED"

No words - just laughter.
- Ballsackian

Made my day...Probably the funniest trade scenario I've seen on this website.

FIRST!!!













Any Habs rumours?!?













'nuff said

The problem is you still have to sell tickets. Particularly in this market where we've barely scratched the surface of becoming stable, do we really think this ownership group is going to lose Weber, Suter AND Tootoo and then try to sell tickets? No matter who they replace them with, it won't erase the stigma in a lot of people's minds that this group has lost the most popular player and their two best players in one off season. I'd love to see them try it, but I don't think they have the guts.
- Lethargic

Five years ago this happened to the Sabres Briere/Drury, the same time their hand was forced to pay Vanek 7mil (offer sheet), and the fans are still talking about it like it was yesterday. I can't imagine Suter/Weber walking. Yikes!!!

I liked alot of your other thoughts.....but i think the player's agents run the show here for the most part, using deadlines and CBA rules to the players leverage. The only thing the player can outright say is "no, i want to pay here" and be adamant about it.

You are that special kind of stupid aren't you hah

That is by far the worst trade offer I have ever seen, no one wants luongo or his contract, plus nashville already has rinne. ballard sucks and raymond once again nobody would really want.
- the_dough_boy

LOL.... It appears Chicago wants LU !!!

I am so sick of people saying that Suter and Weber want to stay. No they don't. Weber made it clear last year. Suter has made it clear this year. If Weber wanted to stay he'd be locked up. If Suter wanted to stay he'd be locked up.

Great soldiers? Great teammates? Then why don't they act like it? Sign a deal. Take 6-7 million instead of 8-9 million. That's what a great soldier and a great teammate would do. And if you don't want to do that then let the team know within a reasonable time instead of holding the team hostage for literally YEARS. If they wanna go, go, no problem. But the way they're doing it has crippled the team's ability to move on. That's a great teammate? Not only leaving, but doing as much damage as possible on the way out?

Even better people? Sure. I'm sure they're great to hang out with. But let's stop living in this fantasy world where some athletes aren't greedy scumbags. ALL athletes are driven by ego and greed to some degree. It's what they're taught from a very young age. Stepping over the bodies of other players is how they get to this level. Sure they're heavily trained in PR and know the right things to say to keep the fans happy, that doesn't mean what they're saying is true. Suter and Weber can BS all they want about wanting to be in Nashville but when given the chance to prove it, they've both don't the exact opposite. Actions speak louder than words. Pekka wants to play for Nashville and he proved it loud and clear. Suter and Weber could do the same, they've chosen not to, that speaks volumes about what great soldiers and teammates they are.

As far as Ek's thoughts about trading Weber. This is obviously what the team should do. I 100% agree with it. Either one of those guys leaving wrecks the entire philosophy of the team and it's time to start over.

The problem is you still have to sell tickets. Particularly in this market where we've barely scratched the surface of becoming stable, do we really think this ownership group is going to lose Weber, Suter AND Tootoo and then try to sell tickets? No matter who they replace them with, it won't erase the stigma in a lot of people's minds that this group has lost the most popular player and their two best players in one off season. I'd love to see them try it, but I don't think they have the
guts.
- Lethargic

Why would anyone settle for 5 or 6 mil when you could get 8 or 9 ? You know you would too. You have to make it now as you don't know what the future holds.... Oh wait, you do to, at some point/age your playing day's are over. Not to mention what your heath be like ?

As far as holding a team hostage... Loyalty ??? Where do you think they learn this !!
They learn that as soon as they sign with their team. As soon as they walk in the door it becomes a business that they learn from TEAM Management and Ownership.

Why would anyone settle for 5 or 6 mil when you could get 8 or 9 ? You know you would too. You have to make it now as you don't know what the future holds.... Oh wait, you do to, at some point/age your playing day's are over. Not to mention what your heath be like ?

As far as holding a team hostage... Loyalty ??? Where do you think they learn this !!
They learn that as soon as they sign with their team. As soon as they walk in the door it becomes a business that they learn from TEAM Management and Ownership.
- wrister

It's true. Everyone is praising Crosby for taking a friendly salary cap hit, but look how much he makes in endorsements. He can actually afford to take a salary hit, whereas someone like Suter really only banks in from him contract. Put yourself in his shoes.

Yes, Weber is that good. He is a franchise D. One that doesn't come along that often. And he is still relatively young.
- dgutzman

Youre looking at two lottery picks, an allstar franchise forward and a top pairing defensemen.

Weber is not worth all that, sorry.

how did i know this would turn into a fking flyers trade scenario
- wingz4life

hahahahahahahaha

Almost as bad as kind of latching onto the Kings cup

Yes, Weber is that good. He is a franchise D. One that doesn't come along that often. And he is still relatively young.
- dgutzman

you're a crazy person...that's way more than anyone would give up for weber

LOL

two disgusting contracts and a player on arbritation for a stud dman? ahahahahah
- sensnucksnocups

HAHAHA

Oh, it takes 2 to trade.

I love when somebody offers you 5 pennies for a nickle.

"Um, yeah.....I'll trade you my entire 3rd line, our back up goalie, and a 5th rounder for Malkin."

Two words: Ryan Ellis
- pearboy

He is a human rocketship. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10zQ23C_Q9Q)

In my opinion, Poile is in a "Catch 22". If he had traded Suter before or during the season, the fans would have turned against him and the team. Now if you lose both Suter and Weber witihin a year the fans will turn against him and the team. The problem is, the Predators play Trotz's system. A top 6 forward doesn't want to come to Nashville because of the style of hockey the team plays. A 40 or 50 goal scorer isn't going to play Trotz's system, and the guys that are here or have been here that don't play the system, are often in Trotz's doghouse or run out of town (i.e., Wilson, Hornqvist, Hartnell, Radulov, Forsberg). The last major free agent brought was Paul Kariya, and he played Trotz's system. You repeated hear Poile say a "Predator-type player", especially in the draft. A "Predator-type player" is not a prototypical top 6 forward, who have a "score-first" mentality. Remember this is a team that made the 2nd round of the playoffs, after getting out-shot on a regular basis during the regular season and the playoffs. So why wouldn't a top 6 forward want to come to Nashville where he would be a "God", if he scored 40 goals and had a 80 point season? Because the system and a "Predator-type" player doesn't play that type of game. A team that is 30 million under the cap that doesn't sign a top player on the first day of free agency, or isn't rumored to be in on the top players, doesn't sound like a place the top players want to be.

HAHAHA

Oh, it takes 2 to trade.

I love when somebody offers you 5 pennies for a nickle.

"Um, yeah.....I'll trade you my entire 3rd line, our back up goalie, and a 5th rounder for Malkin."


- bruinsbeer69

i dont know what's worse, nucks fans thinking they can get weber for junk, or nucks fans thinking they can still win the cup.

the window of opportunity has closed for them, the sedins are back to being 80 point players, kesler will have to find more creative ways of diving.