I agree with Spatso. There are a number of short term financing options. Also, they fact that lost money last year likely has some accounting adjustments. Their cash position might not be as dire as everyone assumes. That's not to say that this offer doesn't present problems.

The biggest risk is a lockout and whether the ownership wants to commit for 14 years. On an annualized basis his salary actually goes down, so that helps profitability.
- TheGreat28

The economics of this offer sheet is everything.....the Preds made 25 mil last year on ticket sales in 45 home games.......they would have to pay 26 million between now and July 2 nd 2013 in bonus's alone....for one guy!!! If I'm a lender I laugh at that....this $ has to come from ownership.....they may indeed just tell Poile to make the best deal possible.

If Weber works out, I'll have to change my location again. :/

I'd definitely like to see Voracek on Giroux's wing for a full season with Hartnell.

And remember, Holmgren says a lot of things like telling Carter he isn't trading him, or saying something like "I like our team I only see minor tweaks" and proceeding to trade Carter and Richards. He probably said in the Pronger offseason he wasn't going to do much either
- eayost

Teams have asked for those players and Homer seems to really like these young kids. Weber is a great player no doubt about it. Probably the best defenseman in the league hands down at this point. Some people are willing to trade to make sure Nashville doesnt match, I rather wait b/c I dont believe they will match. I dont see anything wrong with either decision.

I'd be willing to live w/ a poor man's schenn in Laughton by the time briere is done in order to get weber. the flyers flat out, can't draft/develop dmen and won't be able to sniff a weber for the foreseeable future.
- isaiah520

Right now, the key question for Homer is will the Preds have the finanical capacity to match Weber and still be able to place other pieces on the team and still be viable in the future. I think it is more a financial decision for the Preds now, I'm not sure player being offered changes the ability to match or not. I could be wrong.

Oops, I guess we have been reading the same stuff. I think that everyone already knows what the deal is going to be (or, not be). Remember Poile has to sell what he wants to do to his owners. Holmgren is way too smart to send him into that meeting with an offer of spare parts.

The financial part of the matching is not a problem, Nashville needs to spend a ton to get to the cap floor.
- spatso

That's the real problem, building a team around Weber and Rinne. Matching Weber is a good first step to getting to the floor. However, he'd only be $7.8mm of the $14mm they need to spend to get to the cap floor.

So on top of the losses, other payments due Weber and possible lockout, they'd need to spend another $6mm or so just to reach the floor.

It's not impossible for them to match. But it's not as easy a call as Vancouver matching the offer sheet Kesler received a few years back.

Teams have asked for those players and Homer seems to really like these young kids. Weber is a great player no doubt about it. Probably the best defenseman in the league hands down at this point. Some people are willing to trade to make sure Nashville doesnt match, I rather wait b/c I dont believe they will match. I dont see anything wrong with either decision.
- stveshdy

Can't disagree with anything there

interesting tid bit...went to cap geek.com in 2013/2014 they have 12 RFA/UFA to sign....if you have twenty mill on two players good luck signing. including 4 this year....alot of contracts to sign come next july and a lot of raises.

That's the real problem, building a team around Weber and Rinne. Matching Weber is a good first step to getting to the floor. However, he'd only be $7.8mm of the $14mm they need to spend to get to the cap floor.

So on top of the losses, other payments due Weber and possible lockout, they'd need to spend another $6.2mm just to reach the floor.

It's not impossible for them to match. But it's not as easy a call as Vancouver matching the offer sheet Kesler received a few years back.
- Jsaquella

Nashville is taking a risk either way. It's really a tough decision to make. The wrong decision could destroy them for years or forever.

The economics of this offer sheet is everything.....the Preds made 25 mil last year on ticket sales in 45 home games.......they would have to pay 26 million between now and July 2 nd 2013 in bonus's alone....for one guy!!! If I'm a lender I laugh at that....this $ has to come from ownership.....they may indeed just tell Poile to make the best deal possible.
- landros 2

The lender could take into account the personal wealth of the individual owners.

The big key, IMO, is can Nashville afford to build a competitive team around Weber if they match.

The lender could take into account the personal wealth of the individual owners.

The big key, IMO, is can Nashville afford to build a competitive team around Weber if they match.
- Jsaquella

They have 12 ufa/rfa next season...some who need raises.

Right now, the key question for Homer is will the Preds have the finanical capacity to match Weber and still be able to place other pieces on the team and still be viable in the future. I think it is more a financial decision for the Preds now, I'm not sure player being offered changes the ability to match or not. I could be wrong.
- ravishingone

I think that saving face with their fans is part of the financial calculation. if there is a fresh new talent on the verge of a breakout season, it think it mitigates the loss to some degree. I def think NSH is teetering to some extent and a reasonable return for them could tilt things towards not matching. it's just deciding what that reasonable return is.

Sorry, Im flat out not interested in including Coburn or Mezzy. We'll just be looking to full their void next year when Kimmo is done. The only D man I offer them is MAB. I offer them Voracek as well. I offer them that and I call Nashvilles bluff to the very end. They can take some garbage as well if it helps them reach the cap floor. Shelly and Walker should be mandatory in any trade we make with them.
- hereticpride

I would definitely be willing to include Meszaros. When Timonen is done, they have 6.3M to play with. he can be replaced. So can Coburn for that matter. Shelly and Walker are non starters. I don't know why anyone brings them up.

The need to get to the cap floor arguement means nothing. The floor will not be even close to what it was last year or the temp one in place now. The floor going up as high as it has is a big problem for the small market teams.

Oops, I guess we have been reading the same stuff. I think that everyone already knows what the deal is going to be (or, not be). Remember Poile has to sell what he wants to do to his owners. Holmgren is way too smart to send him into that meeting with an offer of spare parts.

The financial part of the matching is not a problem, Nashville needs to spend a ton to get to the cap floor.
- spatso

Voracek and Meszaros isn't close to being spare parts. Under the circumstances, that's a great haul for Poile. And he should be thankful.

Voracek and Meszaros isn't close to being spare parts. Under the circumstances, that's a great haul for Poile. And he should be thankful.
- MJL

your on fire today

Then they match. Weber is ONE player. People are acting like the Flyers are desperate b/c their close to getting Weber. I don't see that being the case. The Flyers can still build on what they have if Nashville matches. I understand the talent Weber is but the money being thrown around for ONE player can be used elsewhere down the road. There's only one Weber and when you look around the league it seems to me teams that dont have Weber still have gone on to win the cup. Its not a must have IMO.
- stveshdy

Do you remember how much better Bryz played with Pronger in front of him than MAB or Manning or Gus? Weber has that affect.

As and example, trading Couturier, Meszaros, and 2 1sts for Shea Weber is hardly blowing up the core. You're losing Couturier, and replacing Meszaros with Weber. That's the effect on the team. You're left with so much young talent the 2 firsts aren't really an issue.

I think we're getting greedy with this idea we can get Weber without losing any roster players, where I'd have made the above deal before the offer sheet. Nashville probably wouldn't have. Now, it may be the best value they can get. I'm not saying I'd give anything they'd want however. I'm not sending Schenn Bros., Voracek, MAB, and 3 firsts or something just because we're "close".
- eayost

It would be unwise to minimize the 2 firsts. When your a team that is always up against the Cap. Having that top talent coming in is extremely important. No way in hell do I trade Couturier, or B Schenn for that matter. I don't think they have to if it comes to that.

I'd like to see Briere on the top line for a while. He played well with Hartnel a couple seasons ago and he can snipe...Let Schenn have his own line

Hartnel-G-Briere
Read-Schenn-Simmonds
Fed-Coots-Wellwood
Rin-Talbot-Sestito
- nin9999

Certainly not as good as last year.

I think that saving face with their fans is part of the financial calculation. if there is a fresh new talent on the verge of a breakout season, it think it mitigates the loss to some degree. I def think NSH is teetering to some extent and a reasonable return for them could tilt things towards not matching. it's just deciding what that reasonable return is.
- isaiah520

Fans couldn't care less about the finances. If the Preds don't place a very good team on the ice, an already unstable fan base shrinks even further. And it's incredibly hard to get out of that hole. Losing Weber, on top of Suter, set's them back years.

If he matches the Weber deal, the Flyers can simply turn around and match Voracek.
- Jsaquella

Or even worse...they match Weber, but we don't match Voracek...they might have trouble affording that...I know cap wise they are ok, but cash wise.

Fans could care less about the finances. If the Preds don't place a very good team on the ice, an already unstable fan base shrinks even further. And it's incredibly hard to get out of that hole. Losing Weber, on top of Suter, set's them back years.
- MJL

read what I wrote again and you'll see that we agree...and they couldn't care less.

Fans could care less about the finances. If the Preds don't place a very good team on the ice, an already unstable fan base shrinks even further. And it's incredibly hard to get out of that hole. Losing Weber, on top of Suter, set's them back years.
- MJL

Nashville should match the Weber offer sheet, and then significantly raise ticket prices. How would the fans like that?

I would definitely be willing to include Meszaros. When Timonen is done, they have 6.3M to play with. he can be replaced. So can Coburn for that matter. Shelly and Walker are non starters. I don't know why anyone brings them up.
- MJL

I don't agree Coburn can be easily replaced. I think he is greatly under appreciated by Flyers fans. At $4.5 mill per year for the next 4 seasons, he is an extremely valuable asset to the Flyers for the length of that contract.

Fans could care less about the finances. If the Preds don't place a very good team on the ice, an already unstable fan base shrinks even further. And it's incredibly hard to get out of that hole. Losing Weber, on top of Suter, set's them back years.
- MJL

Funny thing is... signing him may set them back even more. With all his guaranteed money, that restricts them even more as to what they can spend on the rest of their roster.