SB Nation Philly - Preds Match Weber Offer Sheet; No Time To Panic, But Flyers Options Dwindlinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48987/philly-fave.png2012-07-24T19:00:56-04:00http://philly.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29336512012-07-24T19:00:56-04:002012-07-24T19:00:56-04:00Preds Match Weber Offer Sheet; No Time To Panic, But Flyers Options Dwindling
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<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"In tendering an offer sheet to Shea Weber, we were trying to add a top defenseman entering the prime of his career. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">With Nashville matching our offer, we wish Shea and the Predators all the best." -- Paul Holmgren's statement released through the club's official website after Nashville's announcement they would match Flyers offer sheet</span></p>
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<p>The deadline for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> to match the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a> offer sheet to <span>Shea Weber</span> wasn't until 11:30 P.M. Wednesday night, but the Preds didn't need that much time to announce their ultimate decision.</p>
<p>Amid speculation throughout the day on social media platforms and anonymous "sources" stating Nashville would match the heavily front-loaded 14-year, $110 million sheet, they did just that a little before 3:00 P.M. EST Tuesday in what the Predators official website called "the most important hockey transaction in franchise history".</p>
<p>The move came as a surprise to many who figured the smaller market club could't handle the $27 million due to the All-Star defenseman within the first 13 months -- with the additional risk coming from the fact that the money is all to be paid out regardless if there is a lockout or the season is played.</p>
<p>Nashville's situation could be very awkward, indeed, as their on-ice leader and captain made it well-known he wanted out of Music City by signing Philadelphia's offer sheet. Weber's team of agents even made comments last week referring to the situation that has the potential to make the relationship a bit strained:</p>
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<p>"He'd like to play with the Philadelphia Flyers because we all feel that he's just another piece in the puzzle to take them to the next level," Jarrett Bousquet said. "He doesn't want to go through a rebuilding process again."</p>
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<p>Wednesday afternoon saw Kevin Epp, another member of Weber's team of agents, trying to do some damage control:</p>
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<p>"I don't think they're in a rebuild, by any means." -- Epp on Wednesday after Nashville matched Flyers offer sheet.</p>
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<p>Under terms of the CBA, the Preds cannot trade Weber for at least a calendar year, so they are on the hook for all of the huge first-year payout, and the defender can even negotiate NTC / NMC if he so wishes.</p>
<p>It was obvious that Weber's first choice was to don the Orange-and-Black next year, and Flyers brass had hoped he would be an integral part in Philly getting to that next level.</p>
<p>For Paul Holmgren and the Flyers -- who had planned on adding a difference-maker on the blue line and one on the wing -- it's back to the drawing board again in what is thus far shaping up as a summer of frustration. After having Weber's defensive partner <span>Ryan Suter</span> reject their UFA contract offer to instead head to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> and striking out in efforts to land <span>Rick Nash</span> -- who was traded from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> Monday -- and <span>Bobby Ryan</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a>.</p>
<p>It's kind of ironic that not only did the Flyers miss out on signing Suter, but Philadelphia would also most-likely landed Weber had Suter stayed in Nashville -- unless Weber had decided to remain with the team, of course. But had he still decided to sign the offer sheet with Philly, the Predators would not have been able to match the financial terms of the offer.</p>
<p>Further impact additions on the blue line -- a spot where Philly could use an infusion of a Weber-type defender with the likelihood that <span>Chris Pronger</span> is destined for LTIR and the loss of <span>Matt Carle</span> via free agency -- will be even more difficult to procure, as there are no remaining UFA's available at this point.</p>
<p>The possibility of a trade exists, possibly for <span>Keith Yandle</span> of the Phoenix Coyotes or Alex Edler of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a>. Both are excellent two-way defenders that could log significant time both on the power play and penalty killing units. Yandle has scored double-digit goals in each of he past three seasons, and Edler had notched 19 goals in the last two years.</p>
<p>The problem with attempting to acquire either rear guard via the trade route is Holmgren will have to part with roster players, and the names of <span>Sean Couturier</span> or <span>Brayden Schenn</span> -- two young players the Flyers GM has been adamant about retaining -- will likely be included by any possible partner in negotiations.</p>
<p>But it's important that Holmgren keep his focus on his defense, as <span>Kimmo Timonen</span> is wearing down and <span>Andrej Meszaros</span> is coming off back surgery. Having lost Carle's minutes and adding <span>Luke Schenn</span> and <span>Bruno Gervais</span>, Peter Laviolette will need more help for Timonen, Meszaros, <span>Braydon Coburn</span>, <span>Nicklas Grossmann</span>, and Andreas Lilja. Youngsters <span>Marc-Andre Bourdon</span> (still an unsigned RFA), Erik Gustafsson, and <span>Brandon Manning</span> may be pressed into service and might see some playing time should Holmgren be unable to add any other top-four defenders. </p>
<p>Many feel Holmgren will now go all out in attempts to land a top-notch winger, but the prospects of that happening are growing slimmer. With the Rangers having taken advantage of the Flyers situation and nabbed Nash in the meantime, that leaves UFA's <span>Shane Doan</span> and Ryan as the best possible options to play on <span>Claude Giroux's</span> right side.</p>
<p>Doan is still hoping there is some type of movement in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> ownership issues so that he can return to the desert, but even if he decides to move on, it's still a long shot he ends up in Philadelphia. The combination of scoring ability, toughness, and leadership that Doan brings makes him a highly sought after commodity, and there are reportedly up to 16 teams that may bid for his services.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a> are among Western Conference suitors, and it's believed he will stay out West when all is said and done.</p>
<p>Again, the issue with trying the trade route to obtain Ryan is Holmgren will have to part with roster players, and Anaheim GM Bob Murray will almost certainly be demanding either Couturier or Schenn be included in whatever package is offered, just as he did at the NHL Entry Draft at the end of June.</p>
<p>Another option could potentially be <span>Alexander Semin</span>, who could be a dangerous weapon riding shotgun with Giroux -- and wouldn't cost Holmgren any roster players since he's an UFA. The ultra-talented 28-year-old Russian is coming off a sub-par season in which he scored 21 goals and notched 54 points in 77 games, a year in which he finished out his one-year, $6.7 million deal. It was his lowest goal total in six years, and his +9 rating was his worst since 2007-08 when he was a -18.</p>
<p>In the three seasons preceding the just-completed 2011-12 campaign, Semin was a combined stellar +83, with 102 goals in 200 games over that same span.</p>
<p>Despite a TSN panel that vilified Semin as a "coach killer" late in the season, there are no other players with his dynamic skill set available.</p>
<p>If all of these other options do not come to fruition, Holmgren could still have the completing player for the top line right under his nose. <span>Jakub Voracek</span> remains an unsigned RFA, and showed late in the regular season and playoffs that he could well be the skater envisioned when he was acquired in the <span>Jeff Carter</span> trade last summer. After going through a sometimes infuriating early stretch where he looked to pass first far too often, the 22-year-old fit in well in a scoring role as the campaign progressed.</p>
<p>The Flyers were a very good club last year and still have the young core intact. There is still a good amount of time in the off-season with which to improve the team, and while it was disappointing to lose out on the attempt to add Weber it's far from time to show any kind of panic.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-flyers/2012/7/24/3184639/preds-match-weber-offer-sheet-no-time-to-panic-but-flyers-optionsDavid Strehle2012-07-24T15:29:12-04:002012-07-24T15:29:12-04:00Predators Match Flyers Offer, Shea Weber To Stay In Nashville
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a> pushed all their <span>Shea Weber</span> chips into the middle of the NHL free agency pot. Unfortunately for Broard Street hockey fans, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> called their team's bluff Tuesday, as <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2012/7/24/3184302/justin-upton-trade-rumors-diamondbacks-outfielder-off-the-trade">the Preds decided to match Philly's 14-year, $110 million contract</a> to the defenseman.</p>
<p>The Predators decision comes more than 24 hours before Wednesday's deadline, which would have been the deciding factor on whether Weber was going to be a Flyer or not. Instead, Nashville decided to bring back Weber and make the biggest investment in franchise history.</p>
<p>"The decision to enter into the largest contract in franchise history was made by all parts of the organization, including ownership, hockey operations and business operations," reads Nashville's official website.</p>
<p>According to Nashville, there were three reasons why it matched the offer: 1) They wanted Weber to be the leader of the franchise for the long-term future; 2) the investment in Weber was a good one; 3) not signing Weber would send a bad message to the franchise's fans and players.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Flyers at <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;" href="http://broadstreethockey.com/">Broadway Street Hockey</a> and <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Philly</a>. For additional news, notes and analysis on the NHL and headlines around the league, be sure to check out our dedicated <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;" href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">NHL hub page</a>.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-flyers/2012/7/24/3184362/shea-weber-nashville-predators-philadelphia-flyers-match-contract-offer-nhl-free-agency-2012Jared Smith2012-07-24T14:06:51-04:002012-07-24T14:06:51-04:00Shea Weber Trade Rumors: Flyers, Predators Have Not Had Trade Talks -- Report
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<p>With $110 million dollars and the future of two NFL franchises at stake, one would think trade talks between the <a href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Flyers</a> and the <a href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nashville Predators</a> for defeseman <span>Shea Weber</span> were happening. However,<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inqflyersreport/Sources-No-trade-talks-for-Weber-.html"> as two sources have told Philly.com's Sam Carchidi</a>, that hasn't been the case, as nothing was discussed Tuesday.</p>
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<p><span>That would seem to suggest that Nashville plans to match the Flyers' offer. Either that, or the Predators are delaying trade talks because they are trying to get the Flyers to call with a sweet proposal.</span></p>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">If your unfamiliar about what's going, the Predators have until 11:36 p.m. ET Wednesday to decided if they want to match the 14-year, $110 million offer from the Flyers. If they do, they keep Weber. If they don't, they get four first-round draft picks from Philly -- NHL first-round draft picks are not as valuable as lets say NFL first rounders are.</div>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">There was the possibility that the Predators could work out an agreement where they promised to not match the offer and would then trade back the Flyers picks to them in return for a player or players.</div>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Flyers at <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;" href="http://broadstreethockey.com/">Broadway Street Hockey</a> and <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Philly</a>. For additional news, notes and analysis on the NHL and headlines around the league, be sure to check out our dedicated <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;" href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">NHL hub page</a>.</i></div>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-flyers/2012/7/24/3184118/shea-weber-trade-flyers-predators-have-not-had-trade-talksJared Smith2012-07-21T11:22:46-04:002012-07-21T11:22:46-04:00Shane Doan And The Future As Flyers Await Preds Decision On Weber Offer Sheet
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<p>As the Flyers await Nashville's decision on the Shea Weber offer sheet, UFA Shane Doan visits Philadelphia on Saturday. The next 108 hours are crucial as to the future of the Flyers -- both immediately and in the long-term.</p> <p>As the <a href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Flyers</a> await the <a href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nashville Predators</a> decision as to whether or not to match the heavily front-loaded offer sheet signed by restricted free agent defenseman <span>Shea Weber</span> this past Wednesday night, Paul Holmgren has other issues with which to deal in the meantime.</p>
<p>The last of this summer's big catches, unrestricted free agent right winger <span>Shane Doan</span> -- who visited the Flyers arch-rival <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a> Friday -- makes a visit to Philly today.</p>
<p>The rugged 35-year-old has played his entire 16-year career with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Coyotes</a> and most likely will make a return to the desert, dependent upon the ongoing transfer of the beleaguered franchise's ownership situation. Along with <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Anaheim Ducks</a> winger <span>Teemu Selanne</span> and <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Edmonton Oilers</a> goaltender <span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span>, Doan is the last of the remaining players to have appeared in a full season with the first NHL incarnation of the <a href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Winnipeg Jets</a> before the franchise uprooted and moved to Phoenix.</p>
<p>Serving as the captain since the 2003-04 campaign, the Coyotes are his first choice -- especially after leading his club to the Western Conference Final last year, where Phoenix finally succumbed to the eventual Stanley Cup champion <a href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Kings</a> in five hard-fought games. Doan is loyal to a fault, and there's no doubt his ideal scenario sees him attempting to help build upon the momentum gained by Dave Tippett's squad over the past year.</p>
<p>That's not to say it's a lock he ends up wearing the desert dog on his uniform whenever it is the new season commences. Doan's tenure has certainly seen it's share of trying times, as relocation has been a constant possibility and remains an almost seeming eventuality.</p>
<p>While he born in Alberta, Canada and has played his entire hockey career on the West coast -- including juniors with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers -- Doan is one of those players that could make a tremendous contribution to a team like the Rangers or Flyers. The seven-time 25+ goal scorer's inclusion in either lineup would bring the additional scoring, toughness, leadership, and grit to elevate them to a favorite to come out of the East come next June.</p>
<p>The good news for the Flyers is Captain Coyote doesn't seem to be in any kind of rush to put his name on any dotted line as he watches Phoenix's ownership mess unfold. This gives Holmgren the time he needs to see what transpires with Nashville and Weber, and to assess just how hard he can push to bring Doan to Philadelphia.</p>
<p>It will be no easy task to land Doan, though, as it has been reported he will be seeking a four-year deal in the $5-$7million annual range -- and there are reportedly up to 16 teams that are vying for his services, so the price could go even higher.</p>
<p>If David Poile and the Predators do not match the Flyers offer sheet, the $7.85+ million cap hit that Weber will bring would just about make it a moot point as to signing Doan. With little more than $7.8 million in available space at the moment -- and RFA winger <span>Jakub Voracek</span> still unsigned -- Holmgren would already have to dump salary before the season begins. Add in the fact that it's almost certain the upper cap limit it dramatically reduced from the current $70.3 million (some reports placing it somewhere in the mid $50 million-range), and any thoughts of adding both Weber and Doan would appear incomprehensible. As a matter of fact even if the Flyers do end up with Weber and not Doan, there will be significant salary that will need to be moved to get close to that number.</p>
<p>One option is trading players to Nashville in exchange for not matching the Flyers offer to recoup any number of the four first-rounders that would become Predators property as a result of the RFA signing of Weber. This would help in not only retaining some of the picks, but also to lop off salary. Candidates for this scenario could be forwards <span>Matt Read</span> and / or Voracek, as well as defenseman Andrej Meszaros. Read's annual $900,000 tab wouldn't put much of a dent into the cap number, but Voracek is looking to sign for in excess of $3 million and Meszaros' price tag is $4 million.</p>
<p>That would be a start as to the Flyers upcoming season's cap compliancy.</p>
<p>Having already subtracted <span>Jaromir Jagr</span>, <span>James van Riemsdyk</span>, <span>Matt Carle</span>, and <span>Sergei Bobrovsky</span> and adding <span>Luke Schenn</span>, Ruslan Fedetenko, <span>Bruno Gervais</span>, and <span>Michael Leighton</span>, this has thus far not been the summer Philly had hoped for with which to improve their club.</p>
<p>But if the Preds do match and Weber slips away -- which is very likely to happen, even with the complex structuring of the contract that pays the blue liner $27 million in the first 13 months and $68 million in six years in an attempt to deter such an occurrence -- adding an impact player like Doan would become much more paramount to the Philadelphia off-season.</p>
<p>Doan would be a terrific veteran presence and would find a probable spot on the right side of <span>Scott Hartnell</span> and <span>Claude Giroux</span>, but the defense -- which has been the area of Philly's game most in need of revamping since the loss of captain <span>Chris Pronger</span> last fall -- would still remain somewhat of a concern.</p>
<p><span>Braydon Coburn</span>, <span>Kimmo Timonen</span>, Luke Schenn, Meszaros, <span>Nicklas Grossmann</span>, <span>Andreas Lilja</span>, Gervais, Erik Gustafsson, <span>Brandon Manning</span>, and <span>Marc-Andre Bourdon</span> (also a RFA) are the current group, and on paper, the pieces all seem to leave Peter Laviolette with a very good group.</p>
<p>Timonen's durability over the course of a full season and playoffs has to be a concern. The 37-year-old battled through numerous ailments last year and as a result wore down this past spring. Entering the final year of his contract, Timonen remains one of the most vital pieces on Laviolette's blue line if the corps remains as-is, but the Finn would definitely benefit from a reduced amount of ice time per game.</p>
<p>Meszaros is coming off an injury-plagued season, one in which he appeared in just 62 contests -- missing the last 19 regular season games and first 10 of the postseason following back surgery. The play of the second-year Flyer was much more inconsistent than the previous season when he won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team's best defenseman. A return to full health and his 2010-11 form is imperative for Philadelphia's success should he remain with the club.</p>
<p>In the seemingly certain event Pronger heads to long-term injured reserve, Coburn is the Flyers defensive anchor. His usual defensive partner has been Timonen, but a season-long grind of top pairing minutes is nothing the team should desire to rely upon. If Schenn were to be partnered with Coburn, the newcomers' defensive presence would allow Coburn the ability to use his excellent skating stride to be utilized by jumping into the play offensively more often.</p>
<p>With Carle gone, the second pairing could be Timonen and Meszaros, and the third Grossmann and Lilja, with Gervais serving as seventh defenseman. Gustafsson, Bourdon, Manning, and 6' 6", 220-pounder <span>Oliver Lauridsen</span> would all be extras or re-assigned to the Adirondack Phantoms, dependent upon their respective waiver limitations.</p>
<p>If Weber does indeed slip away, Holmgren's options for bringing in any impact defenders are running low. Signing someone such as a <span>Milan Jurcina</span> as an UFA at this point would be redundant, as a top-four rear guard would be necessary in any transaction for the reasons stated above.</p>
<p>One option in that regard could also eventually come from Arizona if defenseman <span>Keith Yandle</span> is still being shopped. The 25-year-old Boston-native's name made the rumor rounds during the NHL Entry Draft last month, and the Flyers were one of the clubs mentioned as being interested. The problem with this option is Holmgren would have to give up roster players, and the usual names of <span>Brayden Schenn</span> and <span>Sean Couturier</span> -- who were both named as being in Poile's demands in trade negotiations when Holmgren was attempting to land Weber -- are likely to be included.</p>
<p>And we all know Holmgren isn't interested in moving either at this point, if at all.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/226269125889110017">TSN's Darren Dreger stated via Twitter</a> Friday morning he believed the Preds may have already made their decision whether or not to match the Flyers offer sheet. If Poile believes having to pay Weber guaranteed monies in excess of $25 million is taking too much of a risk with no revenues coming in if an owner-induced lockout is the result of the ongoing CBA negotiations -- one of the most potentially-crippling aspects for Nashville included in the offer sheet -- the caviat of a side deal like the one the Flyers and <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> entered into in 1997 for RFA center <span>Chris Gratton</span> remains a strong possibility as to the conclusion.</p>
<p>Wednesday night, July 25th at 11:30 PM is the Preds' deadline to match. Just as this is an important time for the Flyers, the timing of the offer sheet to Weber could't have come at any worse of a time for the franchise. They just lost Weber's defensive partner <span>Ryan Suter</span> to an UFA contract to the <a href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Wild</a>, and the prospect of losing both ends of their top defensive unit is staggering.</p>
<p>As for Philly, the countdown is on in what will be the single-biggest deciding factor in the direction with which Holmgren will proceed over the rest of the summer. It could go in any number of ways, and one visits the City of Brotherly Love today in Doan.</p>
<p>While he is likely a contingency plan in case Nashville retains Weber, don't put anything past Holmgren. The GM has shown there is little that can limit the possibilities with which he can improve his team, and adding two difference-making captains -- while a Herculean task -- should not be viewed as a complete impossibility.</p>
<p>As you can see, the next 108 hours are crucial as to the future of the Flyers -- both immediately and in the long-term.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2012/7/21/3173857/doan-and-the-future-as-flyers-await-preds-decision-on-weber-offerDavid Strehle2012-07-21T08:00:21-04:002012-07-21T08:00:21-04:00Shea Weber Wants To Be In Philadelphia
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<p>In the wake of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Flyers</a>' <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/7/19/3169610/will-predators-match-flyers-14-year-100-million-offer-sheet-for-shea">shocking offer</a> to restricted free agent defenseman <span>Shea Weber</span>, <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-flyers/2012/7/19/3169879/shea-weber-contract-nashville-gm-poile-releases-statement/in/2933651">we heard from the Predators</a>. We heard very briefly from the Flyers... but we hadn't heard from Weber himself. We probably never will, at least until this situation is resolved, but we did get a pretty clear indication of his thinking via his agent Jarrett Bousque. He <a target="_blank" href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20120720_.html?cmpid=137039853">spoke with the Philadelphia Daily News</a> and said that Weber wants to join the Flyers and is attracted by their rich history and desire to win.</p>
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<p>"It turns out, there was no real hard sell [on Weber]," Bousquet said. "There are a lot of great teams and organizations out there, in great cities. But when you put everything on the table, the Flyers were the best fit in nearly every category. Philly followed with the offer. In the end, it was too good to pass up."</p>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">The Daily News says that Weber spent 3 days in Philadelphia touring the city, the team facilities and being wined and dine by team chairman Ed Snider. One could certainly see how after meeting with Snider, who has been willing to spend whatever it takes, that Weber was impressed with the Flyers' ambition.</div>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">His agent implied that Weber may have take the teams' inability to keep his defense partner, <span>Ryan Suter</span>, as an indication that they do have the same drive (or money) as Philadelphia.<br>
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<p>"We decided that we weren't going to pursue teams, we waited for them to contact us," Bousquet said. "They did that almost immediately. Once July 5 hit and Ryan [Suter] signed in Minnesota, that's when we thought it was important to consider all of our options."</p>
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However he feels, Weber really has no options let. He signed a deal structured to make it very difficult for his current team to match, but the fact remains that they do have the right to match. If they do, Weber will be committed to Nashville for the next 14 years.<br>
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https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-flyers/2012/7/21/3173235/shea-weber-rumors-contract-philadelphia-flyers-nashville-predatorsJason Brewer2012-07-19T12:25:14-04:002012-07-19T12:25:14-04:00Shea Weber Contract: Nashville GM Poile Releases Statement
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<p>Early this morning (or late last night) The new broke that Philadelphia Flyers extended restricted free agent defenseman Shea Weber <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2012/7/19/3169184/will-predators-match-flyers-14-year-100-million-offer-sheet-for-shea/in/2933651" target="new">a staggering 14 year, $110 million contract. </a>The move means that his current team, the Nashville Predators, have 7 days to match it.</p>
<p>President & GM David Poile released the following statement just minutes ago in response to the Flyers offer.</p>
<p>"We are in receipt of the offer sheet signed between the Philadelphia Flyers and Shea Weber. Under the rules pertaining to an offer sheet, the Predators have one week to decide whether to match or accept the compensation. We have stated previously that, should a team enter into an offer sheet with Shea, our intention would be to match and retain Shea. Our ownership has provided us with the necessary resources to build a Stanley Cup-winning team. Due to the complexity of the offer sheet, we will take the appropriate time to review and evaluate it and all of its ramifications in order to make the best decision for the Predators in both the short and long-term.</p>
<p>"We do not anticipate any further comments on this situation until we make our decision within the next seven days."</p>
<p>Obviously there’s nothing really firm either way there. Previously, Poile has indicated that the team would match any offer sheet to Weber. While that may ultimately be the case, clearly the massive offer from the Flyers has the team having at least a few second thoughts.</p>
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https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-flyers/2012/7/19/3169879/shea-weber-contract-nashville-gm-poile-releases-statementJason Brewer2012-07-19T10:59:34-04:002012-07-19T10:59:34-04:00Shea Weber Contract Offer: Salary Numbers Make Way To Public
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have put the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> in a tough predicament. After losing out on their top free agent target, <span>Ryan Suter</span>, the Flyers went all out and inked defenseman <span>Shea Weber</span> to a 14-year, $100 million dollar offer sheet.</p>
<p>Predators GM David Polie has said he would match any offer sheet made to his captain, but now the terms of the deal have been released via NHL insider<a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger" target="_blank"> Darren Dreger</a>:</p>
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<p>Weber will receive $14 mil in each of 1st 4 years. $12 mil in next 2 yrs. $6mil in following 4 yrs...then $3mil and $1mil, $1mil,$1mil,$1mil</p>
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) <a data-datetime="2012-07-19T14:29:49+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/225960641419157504">July 19, 2012</a>
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<p>Nashville now has seven days to decide on whether or not they'll match Philadelphia's offer sheet for the Norris Trophy runner-up.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Flyers at <a href="http://broadstreethockey.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;">Broadway Street Hockey</a> and <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;">SB Nation Philly</a>. For additional news, notes and analysis on the NHL and headlines around the league, be sure to check out our dedicated <a href="http://sbnation.com/nhl" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #162e81; font-weight: bold;">NHL hub page</a>.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2012/7/19/3169627/shea-weber-contract-offer-numbers-on-flyers-offer-sheet-revealedBryanCrawford2012-07-19T06:01:08-04:002012-07-19T06:01:08-04:00Will Predators Match Flyers' 14-Year, $110 Million Offer Sheet For Shea Weber?
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<img alt="DENVER, CO - JANUARY 10: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators looks on during warm ups prior to facing the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 10, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KIDfbOvQIQ10afRT2pBylqESRyM=/0x0:1000x667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5201197/136708449.jpg" />
<figcaption>DENVER, CO - JANUARY 10: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators looks on during warm ups prior to facing the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 10, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Having failed to land UFA Ryan Suter, Paul Holmgren made an aggressive move to improve his defense by inking Shea Weber to an offer sheet overnight. It's now up to David Poile if he wants to match the offer.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> GM David Poile said early in the off-season that he would match any offer sheet made to his captain and anchor defenseman <span>Shea Weber</span>. He now has to make that decision, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a> signed the Norris Trophy runner-up <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/225814498567663616">to a monster 14-year, $100 million offer sheet late last night</a>.</p>
<p>The Flyers have looked at improving their club after the second-round loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> this past spring, and the rumor mill has had them seeking an elite wingers. The names of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> <span>Rick Nash</span> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> gunner <span>Bobby Ryan</span> have been the chief players, but nothing has happened with the young players Holmgren would have to surrender in return.</p>
<p>But with the likes of 93-point man <span>Claude Giroux</span>, 37-goal scorer <span>Scott Hartnell</span>, and a cast of improving young forwards, the team's offense in very good hands.</p>
<p>The defensive side of the game is the spot that could use the huge upgrade. After missing out on Nashville's UFA <span>Ryan Suter</span> -- who signed with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> on July 4th -- Weber would obviously provide the best option available.</p>
<p>He's the big, right-handed shooting defender the Flyers have missed for so long, but would bring so much more than just that. Holmgren did add <span>Luke Schenn</span> in the James van Riemsdyk deal late last month, but Weber would add so many more components to the Philly blue line.</p>
<p>Unlike Schenn, Weber possesses a tremendous offensive arsenal, having one of the biggest shots in the game from the point. The 26-year-old scored 19 goals and posted 49 points last season -- including 10 on the power play -- and has notched double-digit goals since becoming a regular in the Preds' lineup (The only exception was an injury-plagued 2007-08 campaign, when he scored six goals in 54 games).</p>
<p>Weber is the complete package. He is mobile, physical, and also kills penalties. Including his defensive partner Suter, Weber may just be the biggest defensive catch of the summer.</p>
<p>But was the offer sheet the right method of choice for Holmgren? If Poile matches as he said he would last month, the Flyers may have done Poile a huge favor. Weber's camp has maintained a wait-and-see attitude when asked if they would re-sign in Nashville, which may not bode well for the Preds. They believed they were still in the running to re-up Suter and watched him shuffle off to the State of Hockey. If Poile matches, the Predators will have locked up Weber for the rest of his career.</p>
<p>With the unsure status of Weber's future, it's likely Poile would eventually auction Weber off to the highest bidder, and that would surely cost Holmgren a building block player like <span>Sean Couturier</span> or <span>Brayden Schenn</span>. If this gamble pays off, he would have added a linch pin defender to his blue line to replace <span>Chris Pronger</span> -- who appears more and more as if his career is sadly over with the more time that passes -- and in doing so, will likely have to yield up to four consecutive first-round draft selections. And if they end up with Weber, a likely late first-rounder in four drafts is a paltry package compared to the mix of roster players, prospects , and picks that it would take to land Weber in a trade.</p>
<p>The whole issue of Poile matching may just come in the money the Flyers offered up front, which could be in the $25 million range, which would be in the same neighborhood as what the Wild gave Suter. Coincidentally, that is the kind of offer the owners are seeking to abolish with their CBA offer, where a contract will not be averaged out each season for cap hit purposes.</p>
<p>The good news for Poile is he has the most cap space available with which to match, so it would seem that if he has the green light from ownership to match Philadelphia's offer sheet, he can do so without a problem.</p>
<p>Give Holmgren credit. He didn't want to run the risk of missing out completely on Weber, so he took an aggressive approach. With his only other addition to the blue line other than Schenn being UFA signee <span>Bruno Gervais</span>, it wouldn't be the type of revamp the position has needed since Pronger went out of the lineup last fall -- specially when you consider that <span>Kimmo Timonen</span>, one of the best returning rear guards, will be another year older and need to play less minutes.</p>
<p>By adding Weber to a defensive corps that also includes <span>Braydon Coburn</span>, <span>Andrej Meszaros</span>, <span>Nicklas Grossmann</span>, and <span>Andreas Lilja</span> -- in addition to youngsters Erik Gustafsson, <span>Marc-Andre Bourdon</span>, and <span>Brandon Manning</span> -- Holmgren would have made the best-possible upgrade to his club.</p>
<p>Nashville has seven days to match Holmgren's offer sheet. It's now Poile's move in what will determine the outcome of the single biggest acquisition the Flyers could have possibly hoped to make in order to transform themselves into a true Stanley Cup contender for next season.</p>
<p>It will be a long week in South Philadelphia, indeed.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2012/7/19/3169184/will-predators-match-flyers-14-year-100-million-offer-sheet-for-sheaDavid Strehle