Why is the decision time now? For Philly's benefit, it's now, for Nashville's it's whenever they decide it's the time.

Edit: Philly was 8th in 2010-2011 in revenue generated. There are many teams in their ballpark of spending, or higher, that can afford him if the Flyers can. Even Detroit had higher revenue, and there have been questions regarding the local economy and its ability to sustain the team.
- p_zub

I forget. What's Comcast worth? Its not all about team revs.

You are right. However, kovys contract as no different then hossa, Lu, Franson, zetteberg etc. The Lee just decided o finally step in. I am not saying they will but they could and void it.
- Bieksa#3

Kovy's was different for a few reasons.. Age being the #1.

hes being paid 27mm for 2 years of service, not one...not sure where this 1 year argument is coming from.
- flyershockey

From my understanding, the first $13M is paid when the contract is signed, he's paid $1M in regular salary for the season, and the second installment of the signing bonus is paid on July 1, 2013. Nashville can't trade him until at least this time next year so they will already have paid him $27M.

They did not budget 26 million dollars to pay Weber this year.

They already do not make money and have good ratings and great live support. It's a great franchise, but their budget does not include 26 million for one player for one year. Will they break that budget for the first 4 years to keep him? Maybe, but it would not be a sound financial decision.

Loosing Weber does not negatively impact the value of this franchise nearly as much as taking on that front loaded contract.

If I'm a Preds and want this team to stay in Music City I hope management leaves ego out of this process and does the right thing.
- acmilano3

Again I think you are believing what you want to believe. The $27m. Is merely accelerated payment on two years of playing. The second part of the money comes from the 2013-14 budget. The first part of the cost comes out of the 2012-13 operating budget. The additional cost to the team to move the money forward by an average of 6 months would be around $350k. Once the Nashville accountants look at this they will simply shrug and say no problem. The larger issue is that I think Poile wants to deal Weber for the best return possible and that is what Holmgren moved to stop.

and still lost money....
- flyershockey

You’re point being? Minnesota lost money too, actually they lost more than us and are in a much larger hockey market. Plus they just signed TWO GUYS to huge contracts!!! If you're not an owner then why do you care exactly? Do you get a cut of league profits? Did YOU loose money because of the Preds? You bought your tickets sure, but you'd be doing that even if we made money.

Why league revenues concerns anyone other than the owners is beyond me. It's their money, if they want to share it with teams losing money they can. You get no say, I get no say. So how about we ALL stop brining up league finances like it matters to any of us?

Its contingent on whether or not he is traded, and if he IS traded whether or not it is after July 1 of 2013.

If he is traded July 2nd of 2013 he will have been paid that amount for 1 year of service.
- jak521

1 year of service to that team, but 2 years of service in the league. regardless, hes being paid 27mm for 2 years of service.

I forget. What's Comcast worth? Its not all about team revs.
- acmilano3

Team revs can vary immensly year to year... Also, you could have a total revenue difference of 3 million from the first place team to the 5th place team.

So your saying Giroux agent is so dumb, he's just going to take whatever Philly offers him and not wait for other teams to drive his price up? Maybe your right but we'll see
- sabrescupbound

no what he is saying is that if the flyers want to keep him they will offer him a contract that makes him want to stay and not low ball or go to arbitration like some other gm's seem to want to do with their star players ( LIKE NASHVILLE)

From my understanding, the first $13M is paid when the contract is signed, he's paid $1M in regular salary for the season, and the second installment of the signing bonus is paid on July 1, 2013. Nashville can't trade him until at least this time next year so they will already have paid him $27M.
- Jeffmt

that second installment is for year 2, not for year 1. so hes being paid 27mm for 2 years. if nashville decides to trade him after 1 year thats their own problem. the 27mm is still for 2 years.

1 year of service to that team, but 2 years of service in the league. regardless, hes being paid 27mm for 2 years of service.
- flyershockey

That isnt an argument.

But does that matter if and when he were to be traded on July 2nd? The Preds will have paid him 27 mil for ONE year of service to them.

You’re point being? Minnesota lost money too, actually they lost more than us and are in a much larger hockey market. Plus they just signed TWO GUYS to huge contracts!!! If you're not an owner then why do you care exactly? Do you get a cut of league profits? Did YOU loose money because of the Preds? You bought your tickets sure, but you'd be donig that even if we made money.

Why league revenues concerns anyone other than the owners is beyond me. It's their money, if they want to share it with teams losing money they can. You get no say, I get no say. So how about we ALL stop brining up league finances like it matters to any of us?
- Pelvis

i actually contributed to nashville's revenues this year, since as a flyers fan i travel to go see them play and nashville was one of my stops this year.

That isnt an argument.

But does that matter if and when he were to be traded on July 2nd? The Preds will have paid him 27 mil for ONE year of service to them.
- jak521

to them, yes. which is why it'd be stupid to trade him. but it doesnt change the fact that the 27mm he's being paid is for 2 years, not 1.

1 year of service to that team, but 2 years of service in the league. regardless, hes being paid 27mm for 2 years of service.
- flyershockey

It's still costing Nashville the full $27M for one season though. Essentially by trading after playing the first season, they'd be paying him $13M to play for someone else in 2013-14.

Absolutely... If our GM let our guy hang out there and he got an offer sheet it would absolutely be his fault.
- jak521

come on. I would understand any fan being angry about it. I highly doubt most of Flyerdom would be rational in such an instance. Don't piss in my ear and tell me its raining.

come on. I would understand any fan being angry about it. I highly doubt most of Flyerdom would be rational in such an instance. Don't piss in my ear and tell me its raining.
- GuyLaDouche

no flyer fan would be happy about it but it doesn't change the fact that the only one to blame would be the flyers GM

It's still costing Nashville the full $27M for one season though. Essentially by trading after playing the first season, they'd be paying him $13M to play for someone else in 2013-14.
- Jeffmt

and thats why trading him after one year shouldnt even be an option on the table. but hes still paid for 2 years, not 1. its beyond inaccurate to say hes being paid 27mm for 1 year.

come on. I would understand any fan being angry about it. I highly doubt most of Flyerdom would be rational in such an instance. Don't piss in my ear and tell me its raining.
- GuyLaDouche

So what would be say?

There isnt a more self-hating group of fans in one city than in Philadelphia. That is a (frank)ing fact.

i actually contributed to nashville's revenues this year, since as a flyers fan i travel to go see them play and nashville was one of my stops this year.
- flyershockey

Oh, well thank you!!! If we match Shea's offer I'll personally thank you for giving us the money to make it happen. Haha, sorry I'm just joking. Honestly though thanks for coming to Nashville and spending money, lord knows we need it.

and thats why trading him after one year shouldnt even be an option on the table. but hes still paid for 2 years, not 1. its beyond inaccurate to say hes being paid 27mm for 1 year.
- flyershockey

Its coming from the (frank)ing eyes of the team trading him.

The point was it would be dumb for the Preds to sign him and then trade him in a year because !!THEY WOULD BE PAYING HIM 27 MILLION FOR ONE YEAR!!

If teams want to offer 14, 15 or even 20 year deals, I say let them. BUT, then make it so those teams are on the hook for that ENTIRE contract including cap hit, whether the player is traded, retires or suffers a career ending injury. The NHL has to quit worrying about teams circumventing the process and start finding ways to dissuade teams from wanting to dabble in such deals because it would handcuff them in the long term.

Implementing a luxury tax on top of the Hard Salary cap would also deter major market teams from offering such lucrative long term deals. ie. teams that offer signing bonuses over 10% of the term amount of the contract and offering anything over 7 years could be subject to a "luxury tax". This could mean one of many possibilities ie. lowered cap ceiling, loss of draft pick(s) etc...

Obviously the NHL does not want to deter the betterment of teams, but big market teams with multiple all-stars getting league high salaries would be the target for such deterrents.

Not that the NHLPA would ever go for it, but something needs to be done to get these problems under control.
- MnGump

i agree that the team needs to shoulder much more risk in long term contracts...but i really believe that there should be a 5 year maximum on contracts...these long term contracts are getting out of hand...its the new jersey kovalchuk's vs the minnesota parise's vs the pittsburgh crosby's...if it keeps up the FA pool is gonna get thinner and thinner until one team just dominates for years and thats boring

It's still costing Nashville the full $27M for one season though. Essentially by trading after playing the first season, they'd be paying him $13M to play for someone else in 2013-14.
- Jeffmt

Then maybe they keep him 2 or3 years and trade him. Or not trade him at all. If they match all they resume control. I think it'd be funny if they eventually dealt him to Pitt just to prove a point.

that second installment is for year 2, not for year 1. so hes being paid 27mm for 2 years. if nashville decides to trade him after 1 year thats their own problem. the 27mm is still for 2 years.
- flyershockey

Exactly, they would have no difficulty recovering full value for the player. And, it is simply an accounting entry for the new team to offset the actual dollars advanced by Nashville. The cap hit is against the coming (second year of deal) so, there is no problem there for the Predaors or another team.

all these arguements about a deal that in the end could help the franchise (the preds) leaps and bounds.....I remember the Lindros deal....and some kid named Forsberg heading the other way.
If Couturier or .....thats or...Schenn were to be included and lets say Vorecek and some draft picks the preds could end up winning the deal!!!
I know what everyone has said regarding those two are non-starters for Philly....but who really knows....SERIOUSLY....who really knows? do you thinks Homer calls the guys from TSN with this stuff.
what is known for FACT....is that these two GMS have done deals before....They trust each other.....I would venture to guess they have already made up their minds how this plays out.....Its really in the hands of the owners who have to shell out 26 + million over the next 11 1/2 months.... for one guy when the ENTIRE revenue for seat sales was 26 Million last year for 45 games!!!!!

Rules are not just there to protect the weaker financial teams....they are there to help everyone.

no what he is saying is that if the flyers want to keep him they will offer him a contract that makes him want to stay and not low ball or go to arbitration like some other gm's seem to want to do with their star players ( LIKE NASHVILLE)
- flyer186

Last time I checked every team has a cap. No matter how great Philly is, they can't offer every guy huge contracts. You'll have Giroux, Couturier, and Schenn all up as RFA's in two years. Good luck keeping them all

I forget. What's Comcast worth? Its not all about team revs.
- acmilano3

What does that have to do with it. If that's your argument, these other teams can pay his salary without dipping into their parent company's personal account. You know what you call a company that can't sustain their costs with the revenue generated? A money-loser.