They aren't taking Walker.
- MJL

Then I pull that deal because Flyers would be giving them a lot more than 4 1s.

End of the month is coming folks don't forget to pay your Comcast bills you guys are footing the bill for Weber .
- 215mike

His salary would fit in with Comcast executives. $20-30 million is normal.

Problem is Nashville isnt going to make money if they match this deal. In fact its almost a guarantee they lose money.
- stveshdy

They aren't going to make money if they don't either, in fact, they will probably lose more money if they don't match it then if they do.

Nashville has made some great strides in terms of their fan base. If they keep Weber and stay competitive they can only go up. They lose him, they have to start from the get go.

You know what also says trouble?

Losing your top two defensemen in one off season and kissing all future revenues good bye as they would have to go into total rebuild, probably with mediocre 20-30 draft picks.
- _Zippy_

There's a possibility that not matching will be more devastating financially them matching the offer is. Matching the offer is an investment in the future.

You know what also says trouble?

Losing your top two defensemen in one off season and kissing all future revenues good bye as they would have to go into total rebuild, probably with mediocre 20-30 draft picks.
- _Zippy_

See to me thats pure speculation. We have no idea how much the Preds will lose with Weber gone. Theres no guarantee if Weber stays there going to make more money (b/c of his contract).

There's a possibility that not matching will be more devastating financially them matching the offer is. Matching the offer is an investment in the future.
- MJL

Exactly.

That just says "trouble"
- stveshdy

I'm not even saying they won't match.

If I was one of those owners, I'd be doing everything possible to try and make it work out and keep Weber.

But at the same time, winning trumps any one player. They still have a solid team, and could use the assets acquired to add other players.

Say they don't match, and trade 2 first back to Philly for Voracek and Meszaros. Then turned around and traded another 1st for Bouwmeester. That adds 3 very capable NHL players, allows them to reach the cap floor and still be very competitive in a weakened Central division(Detroit lost Lidstrom, Chicago is still weak defnsively, Columbus...well they're the Jackets)

See to me thats pure speculation. We have no idea how much the Preds will lose with Weber gone. Theres no guarantee if Weber stays there going to make more money (b/c of his contract).
- stveshdy

No different from the speculation about how much money the Preds have and their ability to match it.

They still have to reach the floor. They are going to have to give out this money regardless. Maybe now they pay probably a bit more then they'd want to, but they are still have 14 million to hit the floor.

All I'm saying is there is still a really solid chance Nashville matches, if i had to put a number on it. It's 60% Nashville, 40% Philly at this point.
- _Zippy_

If they don't match, and trade 2 of the picks back to Philly for Voracek and Meszaros, that's as big or bigger in terms of cap hit than Weber. Then trade another first for Jay Bouwmeester. Then they're at or near the floor and still a pretty competitive team

The flip side is, how many people in Nashville will pay to see a team that isn;t competitive, just because it has Weber and Rinne?

No different from the speculation about how much money the Preds have and their ability to match it.
- MJL

Figures have been posted on Forbes. People know how much money the Preds are putting out based on that chart that was posted earlier today. I dont see anything that proves how much they would lose if Weber leaves, thats all speculation with no numbers to back it up with.

27th in revenue speaks for itself about the money they have laying around.

I know. It's a lot of money. But then at the same time, they just lost Suter as well. They lose Weber, their best defensemen is Hal Gill, and they lose all the strides both on-ice and in terms of their fan base they have made. Also, someone pointed out a 12% minority owner, Tom Wilson, has a lot of money and bought that share in Nashville in November. I still think they match it out of necessity, because there's a good chance if they do, they will make the money back in revenue, and if not, I doubt there's any revenue for Nashville.
- _Zippy_

I'm not so sure they can make the money back in revenue. They lost money last year with Weber and Suter and making it into the second round of the playoffs. Could they lose even more money with losing both this year? Certainly, but other key young players are coming up for raises over the next two years on the Preds. Gotta have money to pay them.

Generally speaking, millionares are millionares because they don't lose money for an extended period of time. Certainly the owners of the Preds could dig into their pockets for Weber and may do so, but I'm confident they have to be worried about a potential lockout which would effect gate revenue even more.

I know. It's a lot of money. But then at the same time, they just lost Suter as well. They lose Weber, their best defensemen is Hal Gill, and they lose all the strides both on-ice and in terms of their fan base they have made. Also, someone pointed out a 12% minority owner, Tom Wilson, has a lot of money and bought that share in Nashville in November. I still think they match it out of necessity, because there's a good chance if they do, they will make the money back in revenue, and if not, I doubt there's any revenue for Nashville.
- _Zippy_

I'm not so sure they can make the money back in revenue. They lost money last year with Weber and Suter and making it into the second round of the playoffs. Could they lose even more money with losing both this year? Certainly, but other key young players are coming up for raises over the next two years on the Preds. Gotta have money to pay them.

Generally speaking, millionares are millionares because they don't lose money for an extended period of time. Certainly the owners of the Preds could dig into their pockets for Weber and may do so, but I'm confident they have to be worried about a potential lockout which would effect gate revenue even more.

If they don't match, and trade 2 of the picks back to Philly for Voracek and Meszaros, that's as big or bigger in terms of cap hit than Weber. Then trade another first for Jay Bouwmeester. Then they're at or near the floor and still a pretty competitive team
- Jsaquella

WHy would Philly trade Voracek and Meszaros for two late 1st rd picks, eve if they were the 2013 and 2014?

I'm not so sure they can make the money back in revenue. They lost money last year with Weber and Suter and making it into the second round of the playoffs. Could they lose even more money with losing both this year? Certainly, but other key young players are coming up for raises over the next two years on the Preds. Gotta have money to pay them.

Generally speaking, millionares are millionares because they don't lose money for an extended period of time. Certainly the owners of the Preds could dig into their pockets for Weber and may do so, but I'm confident they have to be worried about a potential lockout which would effect gate revenue even more.
- ravishingone

Totally agree.

The more we discuss the more I think Nasshville matches or Philly trades too many assets for Weber.

If they don't match, and trade 2 of the picks back to Philly for Voracek and Meszaros, that's as big or bigger in terms of cap hit than Weber. Then trade another first for Jay Bouwmeester. Then they're at or near the floor and still a pretty competitive team

The flip side is, how many people in Nashville will pay to see a team that isn;t competitive, just because it has Weber and Rinne?
- Jsaquella

First off, why would Philly do that.

They can just give seemingly worthless picks that won't be ready for at least two years, instead of throwing in proven NHL players.

Without Weber they are practically guaranteeing they aren't competitive, with Weber they can still be a very competitive team.

WHy would Philly trade Voracek and Meszaros for two late 1st rd picks, eve if they were the 2013 and 2014?
- jstross

Perhaps to guarantee the Predators don't match. There's still a very good possibility that the Preds decide to match the offer sheet. Then it boils down to how badly the Flyers want Weber.

I'm not even saying they won't match.

If I was one of those owners, I'd be doing everything possible to try and make it work out and keep Weber.

But at the same time, winning trumps any one player. They still have a solid team, and could use the assets acquired to add other players.

Say they don't match, and trade 2 first back to Philly for Voracek and Meszaros. Then turned around and traded another 1st for Bouwmeester. That adds 3 very capable NHL players, allows them to reach the cap floor and still be very competitive in a weakened Central division(Detroit lost Lidstrom, Chicago is still weak defnsively, Columbus...well they're the Jackets)
- Jsaquella

weber is popular there for sure. everyone loves big hits.. even casual hockey fans

but getting a top scorer in there would bring in even more fans, imo.
if they dont match, they'll have a ton of picks they'd be able to package for an established one (or trade up for one in a future draft)

obviously this might not work, or take some time, but it could play into their thinking

Figures have been posted on Forbes. People know how much money the Preds are putting out based on that chart that was posted earlier today. I dont see anything that proves how much they would lose if Weber leaves, thats all speculation with no numbers to back it up with.

27th in revenue speaks for itself about the money they have laying around.
- stveshdy

I think there is a general idea of the franchises worth and income. But actual numbers are not public. Nor is all of the cash flow available to the owners. There's a lot of information that the public is not privy to. Were going round and round here.

I'm not so sure they can make the money back in revenue. They lost money last year with Weber and Suter and making it into the second round of the playoffs. Could they lose even more money with losing both this year? Certainly, but other key young players are coming up for raises over the next two years on the Preds. Gotta have money to pay them.

Generally speaking, millionares are millionares because they don't lose money for an extended period of time. Certainly the owners of the Preds could dig into their pockets for Weber and may do so, but I'm confident they have to be worried about a potential lockout which would effect gate revenue even more.
- ravishingone

There's a far greater chance they lose money when they lose Weber. Unless ownership or management feels very confident with the team they have, I certainly would not looking at the roster, they have to match that deal.

If they don't match, and trade 2 of the picks back to Philly for Voracek and Meszaros, that's as big or bigger in terms of cap hit than Weber. Then trade another first for Jay Bouwmeester. Then they're at or near the floor and still a pretty competitive team

The flip side is, how many people in Nashville will pay to see a team that isn;t competitive, just because it has Weber and Rinne?
- Jsaquella

Exactly. The same number of people may come to games with or without Weber there. Theres no numbers to prove otherwise.

I'm not so sure they can make the money back in revenue. They lost money last year with Weber and Suter and making it into the second round of the playoffs. Could they lose even more money with losing both this year? Certainly, but other key young players are coming up for raises over the next two years on the Preds. Gotta have money to pay them.

Generally speaking, millionares are millionares because they don't lose money for an extended period of time. Certainly the owners of the Preds could dig into their pockets for Weber and may do so, but I'm confident they have to be worried about a potential lockout which would effect gate revenue even more.
- ravishingone

And Millionaires have great accountants that make a profit look like a loss. There's all kinds of games that are played with finances.

Perhaps to guarantee the Predators don't match. There's still a very good possibility that the Preds decide to match the offer sheet. Then it boils down to how badly the Flyers want Weber.
- Jsaquella

I wouldn't trade Voracek, Meszaros and 2 first rd picks for Weber. IMO that's the equivalent of 4 first rounders and 2 3rd rounders.

First off, why would Philly do that.

They can just give seemingly worthless picks that won't be ready for at least two years, instead of throwing in proven NHL players.

Without Weber they are practically guaranteeing they aren't competitive, with Weber they can still be a very competitive team.
- _Zippy_

The Flyers may well offer a trade like that for several reasons:
1. To entice the Preds to agree not to match

2. To free up enough cap room to add Weber and address other needs.

3. To make the whole process as palatable to the NHL as possible.

The Preds can still be competitive without Weber, assuming they use the assets they get via the Flyers to fill immediate holes. If they're paying Weber and Rine so much that they can't build a competitive team around them, the fans will stop coming.

Perhaps to guarantee the Predators don't match. There's still a very good possibility that the Preds decide to match the offer sheet. Then it boils down to how badly the Flyers want Weber.
- Jsaquella

In that case, they are getting something of quality out of losing Weber, rather than four first round picks that probably aren't going to be anything good.

They get a top six forward and basically a Weber-lite. But even then, this is all pure speculation.