Brendan Morrison?
- DarthKane

The force is strong with this one

I wrote awhile ago...Preds put themselves into a corner by hesitating...primarily due to ownership issues.

They locked up Rinne and should have resigned either or both Weber/Suter to longer term deals sooner..

Similar to what the Hawks did with Toews, Kane and Keith.

Now Preds put themselves into a position to lose 2 of 3 key players...and also lose a ton of tix sales as well.
- Al

Didn't Poile offer Weber something in the $4 million range last summer before they went to arbitration? I seem to remember something like that. In all, that low-ball offer I think sparked the chain of events that have lead up to now.

I can't see how Poile or the Predators organization can let Weber walk. I would think it would hurt the relationship with the fan base. Letting Weber walk could be a cataclysmic event for this franchise.

Didn't Poile offer Weber something in the $4 million range last summer before they went to arbitration? I seem to remember something like that. In all, that low-ball offer I think sparked the chain of events that have lead up to now.

I can't see how Poile or the Predators organization can let Weber walk. I would think it would hurt the relationship with the fan base. Letting Weber walk could be a cataclysmic event for this franchise.
- EKolb13

I tend to agree with this.. Weber is the Preds for now.. PR is coming close..

They are banking that Nash can't pay $28 million to Weber w/in the next year. Read meltzers blog.... its a really strong write up.


#Preds Weber offer sheet from #Flyers. 1st 4 yrs 1M salary+13M sb; yrs 5-6 4M sal+ 8Msb; yrs 7-10 6M sal; year 11 3M sal; last 3 yrs 1M sal -- Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper)
- moylander

Just gotta love Ed Snyder and Homer.

Bettman goes into labor negotiations with a proposal to limit contract length, age for UFA's etc. While the Commish is crying poor to Donald Fehr, the Flyers come out of the closet with this offer sheet for Weber.

I want to be a fly on the wall listening to Bettman and Syder's next telephone conversation.

The front end money will be the only reason Nash won't match....And they might not have the $$.

I wrote awhile ago...Preds put themselves into a corner by hesitating...primarily due to ownership issues.

They locked up Rinne and should have resigned either or both Weber/Suter to longer term deals sooner..

Similar to what the Hawks did with Toews, Kane and Keith.

Now Preds put themselves into a position to lose 2 of 3 key players...and also lose a ton of tix sales as well.
- Al

While as Hawk fans it is frustrating waiting/watching/hoping for more activity, in reality, from a relative standpoint view, the Hawks have improved.

I will never discount the need to add pieces each summer, however, the hyper emotion shown by many fans....the hysteria reminds me of the rich superficial girl who is hollow inside and focuses her attention on altering the physical world around her. Thus making things look better and her to feel better...at least for a short time.

Improving...not necessarily eliminating, but improving internal strife could go a long way in the Hawks playing a more consistent/improved brand of hockey.

Question on the matching of an offer sheet:

Does the team need to match the exact offer, or can they match the same dollar amount but spread out the payments differently?

For sake of ease, if a team signs player A to an offersheet that pays 6 mil, 4 mil, 4 mil (total 14 million), is a matching offer considered 4 mil, 4mil, 6 mil (still 14 million over the life of the contract, just paid out differently).

Thanks for the knowledge.

Just gotta love Ed Snyder and Homer.

Bettman goes into labor negotiations with a proposal to limit contract length, age for UFA's etc. While the Commish is crying poor to Donald Fehr, the Flyers come out of the closet with this offer sheet for Weber.

I want to be a fly on the wall listening to Bettman and Syder's next telephone conversation.
- RickJ

This.

I think this might have just increased the chances for a lockout.

Question on the matching of an offer sheet:

Does the team need to match the exact offer, or can they match the same dollar amount but spread out the payments differently?

For sake of ease, if a team signs player A to an offersheet that pays 6 mil, 4 mil, 4 mil (total 14 million), is a matching offer considered 4 mil, 4mil, 6 mil (still 14 million over the life of the contract, just paid out differently).

Thanks for the knowledge.
- powerenforcer

If I'm not mistaken, it's the exact offer. I think that's why the word "matching" is used.

That's assuming those 2 key players (Suter and Weber) wanted to stay in Nashville. If they wanted out there was nothing Poile could do.
- DarthKane

Go back and look at the history...

I am not saying they should have signed each to a 14 yr contracts but they could have done something similar to what Hawks did with Kane/Toews and Keith ....all at once.

The opportunity was there to resign them for 5-6 years and could have staggered the terms.

They locked up Rinne when they could but put themselves in a position to lose other two.

Not blaming Poille but $$ matters and they have had ownership issues until recently and even now might not have $$ to match.

While as Hawk fans it is frustrating waiting/watching/hoping for more activity, in reality, from a relative standpoint view, the Hawks have improved.

I will never discount the need to add pieces each summer, however, the hyper emotion shown by many fans....the hysteria reminds me of the rich superficial girl who is hollow inside and focuses her attention on altering the physical world around her. Thus making things look better and her to feel better...at least for a short time.

Improving...not necessarily eliminating, but improving internal strife could go a long way in the Hawks playing a more consistent/improved brand of hockey.
- TrueGrit

In the Central if a team holds serve over this summer that may show to be an improvement considering Nashville/Detroit.

If I'm not mistaken, it's the exact offer. I think that's why the word "matching" is used.
- EKolb13

I believe so....the front end $$ is the killer.

In the Central if a team holds serve over this summer that may show to be an improvement considering Nashville/Detroit.
- Al

Detroits D looks pretty screwed for years to come. Their top defensemen of kronwall, white, smith, and ericsson is NOT a good top 4

Their grand scheme was to wait a year and throw the big money at weber because most figured weber would play under a 1 year deal with nsh then hit UFA. Their grand scheme is now screwed and wouldnt be surprised to see DET start to making some scrambling moves

The conversation was much more interesting when we were talking about Kellie Pickler.
- EKolb13

I'm so glad I mentioned her on that thread last week. See she's still on the mind, oh that hot little biscuit.

In the Central if a team holds serve over this summer that may show to be an improvement considering Nashville/Detroit.
- Al

That's the Hawks blueprint for success they don't have to get better the other teams just have to get worse.

Conan O'Brien or Leno or Letterman.
- robhawks

None of the above. They all suck compared to Johnny.

I believe so....the front end $$ is the killer.
- Al

Signing an offer sheet is the same as signing a contract. The incumbent team (Nashville) has the right to retain their player by matching the offer sheet exactly as written - no changes permissible.

I'm so glad I mentioned her on that thread last week. See she's still on the mind, oh that hot little biscuit.
- blackhawk24

I guess we'll have to bring her into the conversation again when we have nothing to talk about.

Signing an offer sheet is the same as signing a contract. The incumbent team (Nashville) has the right to retain their player by matching the offer sheet exactly as written - no changes permissible.
- RickJ

That's why they call it "matching."

That's the Hawks blueprint for success they don't have to get better the other teams just have to get worse.


- jhawk159

btw is anyone else fed up with the whole phoenix situation? Just move the team out of that city and be done with it! Would love to see a team in milwaukee, that would be a great rivalry with the hawks, and close proximity.
- Wowo2282

Milwaukee Wisconsin ... Chicago's biggest suburb.

Nice idea. Would wonder if they could sustain it for hockey. Admirals could have to move too.

From Paul McCann's blog: The Weber offer:

Year 1 through 4 - $1 million salary, $13 million signing bonus
Year 5 through 6 – $4 million salary, $8 million signing bonus
Year 7 through 10 - $6 million salary
Year 11 - $3 million salary
Year 12 through 14 - $1 million salary

I'm so glad I mentioned her on that thread last week. See she's still on the mind, oh that hot little biscuit.
- blackhawk24

Yes this...the pickle !!

Didn't Poile offer Weber something in the $4 million range last summer before they went to arbitration? I seem to remember something like that. In all, that low-ball offer I think sparked the chain of events that have lead up to now.

I can't see how Poile or the Predators organization can let Weber walk. I would think it would hurt the relationship with the fan base. Letting Weber walk could be a cataclysmic event for this franchise.
- EKolb13

...But by that time both he and Suter were too close to getting a possible huge payday.

Milwaukee Wisconsin ... Chicago's biggest suburb.

Nice idea. Would wonder if they could sustain it for hockey. Admirals could have to move too.
- blackhawk24

There will be a NHL team in Quebec or Seattle before Milwaukee even gets consideration.

Per Darren Dreger, Shea Weber just signed an offer sheet with Philly. 14 yrs 100 mil, wow.
- dan9189

Moy's gotta love that.

GREAT move by Philly. Not because it weakens a 'Hawks div rival in NSH, but move by a GM with GIANT STEEL BALLS in PHI.