Crazy... i find it hard to believe that Nashville won't match

And let's not forget the one of the Preds owners is a billionaire. I don't see that there's any way the Preds don't match this. I also don't think they trade him in a year. Weber should be a Predator for a very, very long time.
- Predaceous

Agreed...I have no doubt Nashville can afford it based on what they were willing to commit to Weber, Suter AND Parise. Match the offer, and what happens to Weber over his entire career (short of retiring) is entirely in the organization's hands.

Crazy... i find it hard to believe that Nashville won't match
- FlyerMike18

If Weber REALLY wanted out that badly, he tipped his hand way too early. Should have waited till UFA next year and force Poile to trade him at the deadline.

If Weber REALLY wanted out that badly, he tipped his hand way too early. Should have waited till UFA next year and force Poile to trade him at the deadline.
- p_zub

maybe weber just really wanted that huge contract, and nashville wasn't offering it yet. who knows

how do the owners say they have the cash to be a cap team when they keep losing money every year?
- chipiii

The only time you hear owners admit to losing money is when they open their books to prove it.
Nashville owners admit to losing money (as they all do) but won't open their books.

If Weber REALLY wanted out that badly, he tipped his hand way too early. Should have waited till UFA next year and force Poile to trade him at the deadline.
- p_zub

If Dreger was right and Poile really was working on a trade, all Weber had to do was wait on the trade. I still believe he wants to be in Nashville, and this is his way of telling Poile to put up or shut up. It also gives him control of where he goes if the Preds walk.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Preds decide to walk away from this. Too many people around the water cooler already this morning saying they'll never go to another game if the Preds don't match.

If Dreger was right and Poile really was working on a trade, all Weber had to do was wait on the trade. I still believe he wants to be in Nashville, and this is his way of telling Poile to put up or shut up. It also gives him control of where he goes if the Preds walk.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Preds decide to walk away from this. Too many people around the water cooler already this morning saying they'll never go to another game if the Preds don't match.
- Predaceous

And this is why they match, they have a pulse on their fan base too I would assume.

I think he does want to stay too. This just guarantees him more money than he was likely to get under the new CBA.

If Dreger was right and Poile really was working on a trade, all Weber had to do was wait on the trade. I still believe he wants to be in Nashville, and this is his way of telling Poile to put up or shut up. It also gives him control of where he goes if the Preds walk.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Preds decide to walk away from this. Too many people around the water cooler already this morning saying they'll never go to another game if the Preds don't match.
- Predaceous

agreed 100%

obviously i hope the preds decide not to match, but i have a really tough time believing that it will happen

Will the Nashville fan base support a rebuild? Or would the team tank due to lack of interest?

I can't see how Nashville can afford to let Weber walk. Poile should have never of low balled Weber before arbitration last summer.
- EKolb13

My answer is no.
Preds have finally turned the tide into becoming a hockey market (where football is king) after the past two seasons. They will lose a significant amout of fans if they don't resign Shea. Fans here are very fickle. They would't mind losing him if it still provides a playoff quality team.
Rebuild wouldn't cut it.

2 first round picks for the next 4 years? If that's the case I think you start your rebuild right now. It's not like they couldn't use some of those picks to trade for some higher end talent while still getting at least one pick in the first rounds.

I get that Weber is a unique talent, but this is not a bad opportunity to free up a bunch of cap space and possibly trade for other talented players/prospects.

It's not ideal, but it's not a bad scenario IMO>
- MnGump

Isn't it 2 firsts, a second and a third? Doesn't matter. Even if its four firsts they'll be late 1sts and not even remotely worth Weber.

At this moment, the Predators are $14 million beneath the temporary salary floor. I think they are OK.
- SteveTambellini

Yes, I wasn't saying they needed it right now! But would make trading for and signing some other high end talent a lot easier

If Dreger was right and Poile really was working on a trade, all Weber had to do was wait on the trade. I still believe he wants to be in Nashville, and this is his way of telling Poile to put up or shut up. It also gives him control of where he goes if the Preds walk.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Preds decide to walk away from this. Too many people around the water cooler already this morning saying they'll never go to another game if the Preds don't match.
- Predaceous

He seems to be opting for a long term deal and big bonus money given CBA and possible loss of income for a year. This way he gets it whether with Preds or not.

Bit of Long shot try by the Flyers, but gotta give them credit at least their trying to do something, Nashville must Match, I see it as no choice for them.

Paul missed option #4 - the Flyers trade something to the Predators in return for NOT matching (e.g. a few players for some of the draft picks they will have to give up). Poile and Holmgren are friends. I think it highly unlikely that Holmgren didn't tell Poile what was coming, and that they've already not discussed compensation other than the four picks. The Flyers did this years ago when they signed Gratton - they sent two players back to TB (I think it was) in return for the draft picks they had just given up.

Isn't it 2 firsts, a second and a third? Doesn't matter. Even if its four firsts they'll be late 1sts and not even remotely worth Weber.
- GuyLaDouche

According to the CBA, you calculate the average salary per year for compensation purposed by dividing by the lesser of 5 years, or the total term on the offer sheet.

Paul missed option #4 - the Flyers trade something to the Predators in return for NOT matching (e.g. a few players for some of the draft picks they will have to give up). Poile and Holmgren are friends. I think it highly unlikely that Holmgren didn't tell Poile what was coming, and that they've already not discussed compensation other than the four picks. The Flyers did this years ago when they signed Gratton - they sent two players back to TB (I think it was) in return for the draft picks they had just given up.
- jonandabby

Apparently that's out of their hands now too. You can't trade the right of first refusal to another team, you can only do that for an arbitration ruling. Weber's career is completely in Poile's hands now. He's either a Pred until he get's traded later on, or he goes to Philly for 4 1st rounders.

If Dreger was right and Poile really was working on a trade, all Weber had to do was wait on the trade. I still believe he wants to be in Nashville, and this is his way of telling Poile to put up or shut up. It also gives him control of where he goes if the Preds walk.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Preds decide to walk away from this. Too many people around the water cooler already this morning saying they'll never go to another game if the Preds don't match.
- Predaceous

Seems legit, I doubt Nashville lets him go, this is probably not much more than they would have paid him anyway, far more front loaded then they would have preferred, but IF Weber truly wanted out he would have signed a 1 year deal not a 14 year one. He will be a pred for life.

From 2006-2009, with 4 1st rounds pick in the 20-30 range you could get:
2006 - 22nd Giroux
2007 - 26th Perron
2008 - 22nd Eberle
2009 - 24th Johansson or 25th Caron

Weber for Giroux, Perron, Eberle + Johansson or Caron

You still think it's not that great at all?
- chipiii

now you want to do a list of how many picks did not pan out?

now you want to do a list of how many picks did not pan out?
- nightmare3020

Why would he do that? It would completely invalidate the pointless comment he made.

Why would he do that? It would completely invalidate the pointless comment he made.
- p_zub

you know weber should be traded for a few 7th round picks
i mean guys like datsyuk and zetterberg have been drafted there!

you know weber should be traded for a few 7th round picks
i mean guys like datsyuk and zetterberg have been drafted there!
- nightmare3020

He's a flyer's fan..it's not like he has a vested interest in the possible outcome.

Apparently that's out of their hands now too. You can't trade the right of first refusal to another team, you can only do that for an arbitration ruling. Weber's career is completely in Poile's hands now. He's either a Pred until he get's traded later on, or he goes to Philly for 4 1st rounders.
- p_zub

There is nothing to stop Poile from telling Holmgren "I won't match the offer sheet if you don't do a trade with me at the same time, where I give you 2 first round picks in return for players X, Y and Z"

Unless I have it wrong, the average annual salary determines the compensation.

$1,110,249 or below - No Compensation
Over $1,110,249 to $1,682,194 - Third-round pick
Over $1,682,194 to $3,364,391 - Second-round pick
Over $3,364,391 to $5,046,585 - First- and third round-picks
Over $5,046,585 to $6,728,781 - First-, second- and third-round picks
Over $6,728,781 To $8,410,976 - Two first-round picks, second-round pick and third-round pick
Over $8,410,976 - Four first-round picks

Wouldn't the Weber offer sheet put him at just under 8m per year?
Losing Weber=2 firsts, a second, and a third round pick?

Yikes. If you guys lose Weber as well, you'll make Detroit's Dmen not look to bad.

Unless I have it wrong, the average annual salary determines the compensation.

$1,110,249 or below - No Compensation
Over $1,110,249 to $1,682,194 - Third-round pick
Over $1,682,194 to $3,364,391 - Second-round pick
Over $3,364,391 to $5,046,585 - First- and third round-picks
Over $5,046,585 to $6,728,781 - First-, second- and third-round picks
Over $6,728,781 To $8,410,976 - Two first-round picks, second-round pick and third-round pick
Over $8,410,976 - Four first-round picks

Wouldn't the Weber offer sheet put him at just under 8m per year?
Losing Weber=2 firsts, a second, and a third round pick?
- CTGroves

Yeah that's what I was saying. Saw Dreger tweeting about it.