If you went to bed at a normal hour last evening like I did, then you missed this bombshell from Darren Dreger of TSN: the Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenseman Shea Weber to a fourteen-year offer sheet in the $100+ million range.
Dreger also reported that, along with the New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks, the Flyers had been trying to trade for his rights but Nashville Predators general manager Dave Poile was not quick enough with a decision for the Flyers to stay patient. You can’t blame him for not moving him right away after losing Weber’s defense partner Ryan Suter to free agency.
The contract offered by the Flyers will pay Weber until he is 40. It is believed that the deal is structured such that it is intended to make it difficult for the Predators to match. They have seven days to make a decision.
Should they not match the offer, the Flyers will have to give up their first round draft pick to the Predators for the next four years. There are few players for whom this price is worth it, though, and Weber is one of them.
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An excellent Player who has lots of good years ahead of him.. Not sure how they fit this Contract in with the rest of the Team, but locking up one of top Defenseman in the entire NHL would be a real coup for the Flyers.. from all reports, he’s a real good locker/leader type also which will benefit the younger players along that Blue Line …
JJ, if this comes to fruition, all 3 of my wishes, for the off-season, Defensive rebuild, will have happened…. 😀
1- Let stiff @$$ Carle walk.
2- Trade JVR for Luke Schenn.
3- Get Shea Weber at all cost.
MAN! I WISH I COULD PICK LOTTO #’$ LIKE THOSE PREDICTIONS/ HOPES. Let’s hope, that this doesn’t end up, the same way as the Suter & Parise stiff job.
DCar, it’s funny you mention that. I literally thought of you this morning as I tried to react to the move. I have to give Holmgren a ton of credit for structuring this offer such that it forces Nashville’s hand to make a decision now.
Homer doesn’t sleep! Though Poile has a relatively “easy” job to match and keep Weber with the money he says is there in the organization, why would you want a guy who obviously wants out now that his buddy Suter is gone? You want to keep him as your model captain too? Poile would be crazy to match… take the Flyers’ 4 1st rd picks plus your own higher ones (since Preds won’t make playoffs) and become competitive rather quickly. Preds wouldn’t be facing a financial squeeze and could sign other FA’s next year. Be realistic Poile instead of taking the loss of your best guys personally. You’ve still got a top goalie to work with.
Iggles, you have to look at it from this perspective- Weber has to know that Nashville signing the offer is still on the table. He wouldn’t agree to a 14 year deal if he wanted out of Nashville at all costs.
All he is doing is forcing them to commit. No more one year or three year deals. If anything, this contract makes it easier for Poile to get the owners to commit; they have no other choice now.
Someone kidnap polie until the26th. I see Nashville passing on signing him…too much in the shortterm to commit.
As much as I would like Weber, I don’t see this happening. Dave Poile and Homer as good friends. I believe Homer did not want a rival trading for him. This offer sheet keeps Weber in Nashville, they will match, and flyer don’t face him 6 times a year. Smart move by Homer
JJ, I was so surprised, I thought it was BS! Homer has a beanbag, the size of the moon. LOL! I really doubt that the Preds can match it, the way Homer front loaded this contract. I can’t see their owner signing off on giving a player a contract worth 25% of the teams net worth. After hearing Poile comments today, it all but confirmed it. IMHO, since he & Homer are such good friends, I think they’ll work out a side trade, to replace a few of those 1st rounders. As ballsy as Homer is, I don’t think he would screw over a friend & consistent trade partner. Only if the 76ers had the Balls to make moves/ decisions like this. POLAR OPPOSITES!
And you didn’t think of me?!? I been on the Weber bandwagon with DC for awhile, just never thought it’d actually happen