Shea Weber signed to $110M offer sheet
The Flyers may be well on their way to landing their biggest prize since Eric Lindros arrived in Philadelphia via trade in 1992.
Shea Weber signed to $110M offer sheet
Shea Weber has reportedly agreed to a 14-year offer sheet with the Flyers worth over $110 million. (Carlos Osorio/AP file photo)
The Flyers may be well on their way to landing their biggest prize since Eric Lindros arrived in Philadelphia via trade in 1992.
As first announced by TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Flyers have signed Nashville star defenseman Shea Weber to an offer sheet. According to Rogers Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, the deal is worth $110 million over 14 years.
That deal, in pure dollar figure, would be the second-richest in the NHL’s history – exceeding Sidney Crosby's recent $104 million extension from earlier this summer and traling only Alex Ovechkin's $124 mammoth contract.
Messages left for Flyers executives, well past the midnight hour on Thursday, were not returned to the Daily News. On Thursday morning, the Flyers confirmed that they have signed Weber to an offer sheet but would "have no further comment at this time."
Nashville has 7 calendar days – until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, July 25 – to match the deal for the market’s marquee restricted free agent.
If the Predators do not decide to match, or do not acknowledge the offer sheet within the 7 day window, Weber would be a Flyer. The Flyers would then likely owe 4 first round draft picks in consecutive years to Nashville, depending on his actual total dollar figure. If the Predators do decide to match Weber's offer from the Flyers, they would be locked in at the exact same term and dollar amount, with the inability to trade him for an entire calendar year.
According to Kypreos, the Flyers have structured the deal in a way that it may be impossible for Nashville to match. The breakdown would be as follows:
2012-13 (age 27): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2013-14 (28): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2014-15 (29): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2015-16 (30): $1 million salary + $13 million signing bonus (league maximum $14M)
2016-17 (31): $4 million salary + $8 million signing bonus (total $12 million)
2017-18 (32): $4 million salary + $8 million signing bonus (total $12 million)
2018-19 (33): $6 million salary
2019-20 (34): $6 million salary
2020-21 (35): $6 million salary
2021-22 (36): $6 million salary
2022-23 (37): $3 million salary
2023-24 (38): $1 million salary
2024-25 (39): $1 million salary
2025-26 (40): $1 million salary
TOTAL: $110 million
Since signing bonuses are usually paid out in a lump sum on July 1 before the season of play, the would mean the Predators would be required to pay Weber $27 million in the next 347 days just to match. To put that in perspective, 16.5 percent of Nashville's entire franchise net worth ($163M as valuated by Forbes Magazine in 2011) would be paid out in less than a calendar year by the small-market team.
For the Flyers, if Weber's offer is matched by Nashville, they will not be penalized in any way.
A source told the Daily News that Weber spent time in Philadelphia last week meeting with the Flyers' brass, though that also has not been confirmed by the team. This would not be tampering, since Weber was not under contract with any team.
Weber, 26, would be signed until he is 40 years old. At exactly $110 million, his salary cap hit would be $7.8 million per year, just slightly more than his $7.5 million hit from last season in Nashville and the hit teammate Ryan Suter signed with in Minnesota on July 4.
(As a note: the cap hit is figured by dividing total dollars spent by term, regardless if it is salary or signing bonus)
For the Flyers, the move makes a lot of sense.
Weber is a two-time NHL first team All-Star. He has been a multiple time Norris Trophy finalist for the league’s best defenseman. He is a demanding, durable, physical presence who has also contributed more than 43 points from the blue line in each of the last 4 seasons.
Weber is perhaps a better addition on the Flyers’ blue line than even a Chris Pronger in his prime. Coincidentally, the move would also likely spell out the formal end to Pronger’s playing days, since the Flyers would no longer be able to afford his cap hit, should he even decide to skate again.
Plus, Weber would solidify the Flyers’ defense corps for years to come. Weber, Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros, Luke Schenn, Nick Grossmann and Bruno Gervais would all be under contract for at least the next two seasons.
Currently, the Flyers have approximately $12.7 million in cap space available for next season, not including Pronger's $4.91 million which can be moved to the long-term injury list. That number is based on the temporary cap ceiling of $70.2 million, which could indeed fall based on the next Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current deal expires on Sept. 15, and with a lockout now looming, the NHL's first proposal at the negotiating table included a cap drop to $64 million for next season. Any of those numbers could limit the Flyers to re-signing restricted free agent Jake Voracek, who is due for a decent raise.
Then again, it could also mean that the Flyers would need to stash a larger contract in AHL Adirondack to remain cap compliant, something they have not been afraid to do in the past. Any one of those outcomes is a happy biproduct to landing Weber.
The Flyers are no stranger to offer sheets for restricted free agents. Only a handful have been offered in league history, but the Flyers signed Chris Gratton from Tampa Bay to one in 1997. The Flyers, also under Bob Clarke, signed Vancouver's Ryan Kesler to one, though the Canucks chose to match that off-the-wall, one-year, $1.9 million deal. The Flyers flirted with an offer sheet for Lightning star Steven Stamkos last summer before ultimately deciding against it.
The last free agent to sign an offer sheet in the NHL was defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. He signed a 4-year, $14 million offer from San Jose on July 9, 2010, but the Blackhawks chose to match the deal just 3 days later.
For Weber, the timing of the signing is interesting. While he may be subject to a significant, double-digit salary rollback under the next Collective Bargaining Agreement – whenever that is hashed out and completed – he may have also been subject to a term limit of just 5 years in his next contract next summer. That would severely limit the total number of dollars heading to his bank account.
The signing bonuses are guaranteed, whether there is locked out a season or not. It is CBA-proof, so to speak.
According to Dreger, the Flyers made multiple attempts to try and pry Weber’s rights from Nashville prior to signing him to that mega offer sheet. Apparently, they grew tired of the repeated rebuffs from Nashville general manager David Poile.
Dreger also reported that the Rangers, Red Wings and Sharks were also interested in signing Weber to an offer sheet.
Poile, the son of the Flyers’ first general manager in Bud Poile, has reiterated over and over again this summer that he would match any offer sheet brought down the pike on Weber.
Losing Weber, for Poile, would decimate his franchise. They already lost his partner, Suter, to a 13-year, $98 million deal to Minnesota. Goaltender Pekka Rinne, Suter and Weber were considered to be franchise cornerstones – and now two of them may be gone in a matter of weeks.
Then again, Poile is on the record as saying that letting defenseman Scott Stevens go to St. Louis via an offer sheet in 1990 when he was the GM of the Washington Capitals was the biggest mistake of his career. That time, Poile’s hands were tied by owner Abe Pollin, who did not want to match the terms of St. Louis’ offer, which would make Stevens the highest-paid defenseman in the league over names like Ray Bourque and Chris Chelios.
Depending on Poile’s message from Predators ownership, he may not have much of a choice this time around, either. A lot of it may have to do with the up-front money being offered, whether Nashville is even liquid enough to match such a deal with their pinched books. There is some thought that the Predators have prepared themselves for this eventuality by having quite a few players on other previous, front-loaded deals to be able to focus themselves on re-signing Weber and/or Suter.
Plus, is Nashville really interested in bringing back a player like Weber, who has apparently pursued skating elsewhere? For Weber, Suter’s well-orchestrated departure to Minnesota may have been a sign that Nashville is not a viable Stanley Cup contender. Suter reportedly receives $25 million over the next calendar year in up-front money.
Keep in mind, too, that Poile and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren have worked out a bevy of trades in the past, ranging from Peter Forsberg to Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell.
Interestingly, both Hartnell and Weber represented the NHLPA at the CBA negotiations in New York on Wednesday. The two were teammates in Nashville for parts of two seasons ... and now may be teammates again?
It’s fair to say that this next week will define the entire Nashville franchise. And, in many ways, the Flyers’ Stanley Cup dreams. With Weber, the Flyers will become an instant and credible contender.
This story will be updated throughout the day.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Comments (146)
Awesome reporting by the crack flyers beat writers. 5 guys writing and covering the Flyboys and none of them even know Weber is in town touring the facilities and having dinner with Snider. what the hell are they doing? trolling bars looking for players misbehaving? bunch of toolbags. nice popped collar. you almost look like detective. go back to goofing on Bryz, more your speed. get that article ready where you blast the length of contract.— spittooncj- Gotta realize that the Flyers have some pretty good young talent on the roster right now. I think that giving up 4 first rounders for the addition of Weber is a complete no-brainer.— mrjarn
- A fantasy of mine - Weber signs with the Flyers, and Pronger has a miraculous recovery - all brain functions normal. Both playing on the same line - Crosby would tinkle in his shorts trying to bring the puck across the blue line, with those two warriors parked there. Ah, to dream...— philly2sf
- The Flyers win either way here. If they get him it's an amazing addition to the team. If the Preds match the offer then they have kept Weber from hitting the open market next year and possibly signing with an Eastern rival.
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Not exactly true...Weber can reject Nashville's match.
— flyers2thecup
No he can't.— BlockofSalt - love the below article. Good job Homer
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Travis-Yost/Crying-Over-Offer-Sheets-Child-Please/134/45682— phillyfan880123 -
The Flyers win either way here. If they get him it's an amazing addition to the team. If the Preds match the offer then they have kept Weber from hitting the open market next year and possibly signing with an Eastern rival.
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Not exactly true...Weber can reject Nashville's match.
— flyers2thecup - I like the offer sheet signing, but 4 first round picks are a lot to lose - even if they can be reacquired. My guess is Nashville will never let him go, with Suter already gone.
route66west
I'm not offended by your avitar, but I am offended by anyone stupid enough to give four more years to that loser again.— doctorlivingstone - Hmm... $110 million. I just want $1 million. Guys, any advice on how I can make $1 million by working at an office job?— The Baron
- The Flyers win either way here. If they get him it's an amazing addition to the team. If the Preds match the offer then they have kept Weber from hitting the open market next year and possibly signing with an Eastern rival.— BlockofSalt
- Any real Flyers fan has common sense and votes for Obama. Also, I think Weber is one of the few players worth that offer.— matthew76
- Pronger is last D to win MVP.— boroughboy
- Enough of this political talk. Seems like the Flyers have not learned from the Lindros deal 4 first rounders for 1 guy.— Rutgers82
- Anyone that says Homer has no balls now, has no sense. What a move. Like the bonus action - very creative. Very Joe Banner-like. Hey, is he now an employee?— Poppys
- Thank God ...i dont have to hear any more we miss Pronger comments!— puckdaddy
- if flyers win the cup all wars will cease and the economy will pick up no matter who is the white house !!— rob427
- Now package 2 of our not top 6 D with Hartnell and trade for Ryan!!!! Younger goal scorer would help replace loss of Jagr and JVR and be nice final piece to puzzle!— connorjr
- Obama Sucks period(.)— chilenos
- Seems like everyone loves this deal. Granted Weber is top notch and a great upgrade for the defense but I am looking at the production we've been getting lately from the young draft picks and wondering if 4 1st rounders are worth giving up. I guess if the picks are all very late rounders and the drafts are not expected to be stocked with high caliber then this is a great move.— connorjr
- Look at our most recent picks:
2012: Scott Laughton
2011: Sean Couturier (I don't count this; he was Columbus pick; we didn't have first rounder)
2010: None (Our pick went to Anaheim who selected Emerson Etem)
2009: None (Our pick went to Columbus who selected John Moore)
2008: Luca Sbisa
Still think four first rounders is giving up too much?— NYFlyersFan - Lol. Yup, who needs first round picks. You only get bums like Giroux, Forsberg, Gagne, Justin Williams, Carter, Richards, Propp, Barber, Ricci, Sutter. — eagle1971
- Why do ppl cry about losing picks if they win say 3 cups in 5yrs ? Or even 2 in 3yrs? The core is young anyway and we can always trade a player in 2yrs and get a 1st rd pick or 2 !!! Please let this happen Hockey Gods lol.— diehardeagle
- Look at our picks the past five seasons:
2012: Scott Laughton
2011: Sean Couturier *
2010: None (Our pick to Anaheim (Pronger deal) was Emerson Etem. Yeah. Who?)
2009: None (Our pick to Columbus was John Moore. Again. Who?)
2008: Luca Sbisa
* Couts should not even count since we got the pick from Columbus as part of Carter trade
So again I ask: when we (presumably) draft in the mid to high 20s, who will we miss in the first round? You can say Giroux in 2006, who went at 22 and Carter (from Phoenix) AND RIchards, who went at 24. But if you do that, remember we got Downie in 2005 at 29. In 2002, we got Pitkanen via Phoenix but our pick went to Dallas and that was used to select Martin Vagner (Who? #3).
So you are talking four presumably VERY low first rounders for a guy who is 26 and will stabalize our D for years to come????
NO BRAINER!!!!— NYFlyersFan - This comment has been deleted.— GrindHouse
- Dude you just got tricked by a Pens fan. — sla6yer
- If that's true let's hope the poster that suggested a sign and trade was correct. Dang I guess they must have more money to pay upfront than the author thought.
- I've been saying for the last 2 months that Weber is the 1 and only target the Flyers should have this offseason and sure enough that is exactly what they were thinking. Weber is the best defenseman in hockey, 4 late first round picks for him is an absolute steal, are you joking?? With the depth the Flyers have it will be simple to trade back into the 1st round if that's what is necessary. Now all that said, it's still likely Nashville matches. To me, it also seems likely that this is no surprise to Poile. He had to have known Weber was meeting with the Flyers, and by their past dealings it is obvious he has an excellent relationship with Holmgren. That makes it seem very likely that the teams already have a trade worked out. That way the Preds get NHL ready players and picks and the organization saves face by getting a good return and letting the Flyers look like the bad guys. If you thought 4 1st rounders was a lot to give up, what do you think of Schenn, Meszaros, Read and 2 1st rounders? It's not going be cheap, but it would be hard to come up with a trade for Weber I wouldn't accept. You don't get many opportunities to add the best d-man of his generation. Gut feeling is he has a Flyers jersey on next Friday.— sla6yer
- Hockey is hockey and politics is politics. They shouldn't get in the way of each other. Vote for whomever you want, or nobody. It's your business and you can do what you want. Just don't push it on me.
More importantly, this is a good move. I agree with eagle1971 that Frank's statement is likely over-the-top about Weber vs Pronger. With that said, there are no Prongers out there and the general consensus is that Weber is the closest one around. Nice job Homer!— thawthor88 - preds dont have the upfront money to pay Weber. Suter knew it, weber knows it. Weber will want the safety of knowing he will be paid and play ion the same place for many years. I think he will voice his displeasure if he stays in nashville. And nashville will never be able to move him under a new cba in a year. Look at him to sign with us, and then homer will make a nice trade with nashville for say reed and a good defensive prospect "for future considerations" as a token of peace/thanks. Poile will be mortgaging his young up and coming team on one player. Nashville doesnt have the money to do thid now.— Pocono Phlyer
- "Weber is perhaps a better addition on the Flyers’ blue line than even a Chris Pronger in his prime."
A fairly ridiculous statement Frank. Pre-concussion, in his mid-30s, Pronger was at least the equal of Weber. Bigger, far more intimidating, and a Cup winner. He racked up 55 points in his first season with the Flyers, don't forget -- a number Weber has never reached. Is anybody, short of Gretzky in his prime, worth 4 first-rounders? And even if they get him, it's hard to forget that we're one groin pull away from having Leaky Leighton as our starting goalie. Hard to take the Flyers too seriously with that in mind.
— eagle1971 - If you're going to blow a ton of money, this is the type of guy I'd like them to do it with. You're not going to get full value for a contract like this but if it can put you over the hump once or twice you have to try it.— hillbillybirdsfan
- Romney's a tool— Penguins fans have small willies
- It would be way too naive, although very possible, to think NSH will just walk away and accept the 4 1st rdrs as compensation. But, by front loading the contract and getting the AAV above the 7.8 mill threshold for the 4 1sts, Homer has placed the most pressure on Poile he possibly can do to obtain Weber. Already been said, but to reiterate, this is a PHENOMENAL, strategic move by Homer in so many respects. I think, in the end, the Preds will work out a trade deal that lands them a combo of 2 1st rdrs plus players, perhaps the Schenn brothers. Otherwise, you might as well book the next relocation team as the Quebec City Predators. Wouldn't it be funny if the Preds countered by signing Voracek to a ridiculous offer sheet today, then matched the Weber deal at the last possible minute, giving Homer 24 hrs our less to decide on V. Preds could win back Weber and steal Voracek. Just thinking of the ridiculous out load. God, I love Homer! If you don't win the Cup, the 2nd best thing is being this aggressive in the off-season....and beating Crybaby.
- Unless Weber dons the pads and gets between the pipes himself, this team still has a huge albatross hanging around its neck. I'll miss Voracek if they let him walk; that guy's a great scorer and plays all-out.— AnukKrakatoa
- No way Nashville lets Weber go, after losing Suter earlier... Hope I'm wrong, but even if not, it does keep the Rangers from signing him. Great move by Holmgren, either way...— topwonk
...so following this "millionaires vote for Romney" hypothosis, all Pro athletes support Romney? I don't think so...- I think you may have misunderstood my point. I'm not saying that all people making more than 1 million annually support and vote for Romney. I am saying that if they did they would at least be voting in their own financial interest as you would benefit from his policies and agenda. I just can't make sense of how so many people making average wages could support someone that so blatantly serves the top 1% that works against their own interest.
Heart says yes, head says Nashville will match....They have been trying to lock him up long term...and we gave it to them on a silver platter. Hope I'm wrong. Either way it blocks him from going to the rangers or pens, which is a win.- No matter what happens, this shows that the Flyers organization cares about their fan base and realize what a Stanley Cup in this city would mean. That being said, the other major Wells Fargo Center resident professional sports team exchnges mediocre players for mediocre players, brings in has beens or never weres and drafts projects. The 180 degree difference in commitment to its fans between to the two teams is astonishing.— syddan26
- I love the Flyers first and foremost of all Philly franchises, just ahead of my fighting Phils, and the Eagles. I never liked basketball, so to me Hockey, baseball & football in August through early November now, is my kind of time. I always said we were the "Yankees" of Hockey with the wealth of Comcast and Spector behind us. If there was no cap we would have owned the best team money can buy. We're almost there.
One last political point to my two neophyte wannabe politicos, if you want to assess blame or recognition, remember the "Presidency" is an office quite like an actor. Indeed we find former "monkey co-star " Ronald Reagan beginning the trend. Do you really think EITHER political party runs this Country? If you're that naive, I suggest you look no further than the closest defense contractor, those authoring WARS ( you do know we're still an Empire stealing oil in Iraq, and the natural gas pipeline is in Afghanistan ), in other words, use your heads to see who profits by War. You think George Bush, who can barely say his own name, was "President". All he was, and to a lesser extent, Obama is, are puppets at the end of Wall Street, Corporate politics. Case closed.— PhillyboyinNYC - I couldn't agree with you more, we live in a plutocracy and the presidents are nothing more than political figure heads. Trust me I'm not naive to believe that either political party runs this country, hence my remark about the grass roots tea party being run by the Koch Brothers. The top 1%, energy barons, bankers, pharmacies, insurance, weapons manufacturers, liquor and tobacco lobbies and Saudi, China and Israel that own us and have a lot more influence over our political policies than we the people do. Politicians say one thing and do another to fool the people and please the highest bidder. Believe me it does matter to some extent because our country is going to be a much more difficult place to live if you make under 250k annually if Mitt Romney gets elected. They all server their corporate over lords but they don't come any more Wall Street than Mitt Romney. If they get the house, senate majority and presidency look out working class, and they will also continue the erosion of our freedom and liberties. The problem is we they aren't serving their constituents and their interests, they are serving the people the put them in power. Follow the money. Go Flyers.
- JBin: this is a possible good contract because unlike Pronger, Weber is under 32. So if he does have a serious or career ending injury (hopefully not), he can retire without the contract remaining on the books.
Regarding some other comments, the Flyers are well stocked with extremely young and developing players both at the NHL and AHL level. look at all the rookies that played last year and those guys that got minutes from the Phantoms. This is the difference between the Phils and Flyers right now. The Phils have about 2 or 3 guys ready or near ready for the show. The Flyers proved last year they could manage with 5 or 6 different guys for stretches and be ok.— frstrm - Also like Prongers contract they front loaded it so if his play declines or he does retire it doesn't kill our cap structure down the road. It's interesting to know that they have Pronger on long term IR so he salary can be taken off our cap hit. Once a player retires officially, their salary apparently still counts against your future cap for the remainder of contract. I'm curious if that will be changed in the next CBA.
- This comment has been deleted.— Owner of Junod
- "Who cares about 4 draft picks, this organization is relatively young so they can afford to lose some picks and try to win it all in the next 40-50 years."
fixed that for you.— ekw555 - You are morons! This is the sports page— triad
- And I was just thinking to myself last night that the Flyers haven't been in the news much lately....laying low in the weeds getting ready to pounce, I guess..— uncle meat
- A couple of other things:
1. Look at our ADP the past few years. You think we'll miss picking 24, 25, 26? Please Weber is worth it. Plus we are young enough already with Couts, Schenn, Read, etc.
2. It does not go by AAV, the pick compensation goes by this formula: 20% of the total contract. So if we're talking $100M, 20% is $20M. And at that level it is four first rounders.— NYFlyersFan - Thanks for clearing up point 2, I have to say 4 1st round picks is a huge number, seems a bit extreme but I guess that's written in to protect the smaller franchises from the big dollar teams from stealing their marquee players.
- I was asleep and I had SportsCenter on and I heard Neil Everett say at the very end, "I say Weber ends up in Philadelphia" and the show ended -- and started again. I went to get a bottle of water and convinced myself I was dreaming. But nope, checked TSN when I woke up and boom, there it was!
BEST POSSIBLE SIGNING THE FLYERS CAN MAKE. Everyone stop whining about needing a goalie. With a year under his belt in Philly and Weber on the blueline, Bryz will be the goalie we all know we need. God the next seven days are going to SUCK.— NYFlyersFan - Thank god for reason. Let's pray that we sign him. I mean you would think that Bryz played bad last year to have so much hate bestowed up on him by this fan base. He will look ten times better when he has a real defense in front of him and he played pretty well the second half of last season in front of a pretty terrible blue line.
- I'm going to temper my excitement because they're a lot of angles to this story. We need to just relax and let it play out. I don't believe its a lock either way. Nashville may feel after losing Suter they have no choice but to match,no matter how much it binds them for the future. maybe since the two Gm's are close they work out a trade along with picks if Weber has demanded out, maybe Homer is just keeping Weber from some of our rivals and doing Poile a favor until Weber publicly demands out next year(making Poile look good), that's assuming Weber even wants out, maybe with the cba looming he just wanted his big payday now and doesn't care Philly or Nashville either way. Like i said, a lot of angles and i still think it's most likely that Nashville matches(how do you sell this to your fan base if you don't), but i really like the move by Holmgren.— The Pink Floyd
- now all we need is for homer to teach lavy what defense is.— thunderstick
I'm almost certain that Nashville will match the offer. They want to be a big cap team and if they let Weber go they would look foolish. Another article says that the Flyers did them a favor by setting the price. It may come down to how much up front money the Flyers are offering and if the Preds can handle that part of it.— NHLfan- Weber is Chris Pronger in his prime. This would be huge for the Flyers.— cmp4668
- I think this team is young enough that the potential loss of 4 1st rd picks would only be a blip on the radar.— CaptAwesome
- I really hope they can still sign Voracek after all of this.— CFA
- I think they'll be able to. After Weber, they're down to approx. $9M or $10M in space, so if the new CBA drops it by, say $5M (a WAG), then they still have $5M for Jake. He's not worth THAT much.
That said, I'll take losing Voracek if it means Weber's in orange and black next year.— uncle meat 
Sounds great! I'm not worried about the draft picks... Whether its 2 or 4 first rounders... Weber is a stud D man in his prime and it could take 10 years or more to find someone like this on your own (and then develop him)... I hope they don't match the offer. Way to go Homer!!!- after an appropriate and civil exchange between @1980 and @route66west regarding the latter's politically-inspired avatar, along comes a dope like @JudgeReinhold to showcase the blatant disrespect of so many whom share his views. Yep, you got it buddy, all Americans whom choose to vote for the current office-holder to be replaced by the challenger Romney are "stupid".
Didn't you also mean to write that those who vote for the challenger must be racist as well?
What a complete dope you are! You, sir, are what is wrong with this country. You are the greatest enemy many of us will ever know. Complete disrespect for an opinion different from your own.— advantasux - You are funny, calling me a dope. I didn't tell anyone to vote for anyone. I told people that if they make less than 1 million a year and vote for Romney they vote against their own interest. and yes that would make them an idiot. Just look at the track record and results of whom we've elected the past 12 years and that should tell you all you need to know about he intelligence of our voter base. They put the Koch Brothers, or tea party in power rather and are too dumb to realize it. And don't worry if Romney wins I won't be in the country anymore, so you won't have to read my posts. Freedom of speech, another endangered American species.
- Dont get all excited he will sign with Nashville the will undoudtedly match. But a very smart move as it forces nashvilles hand and now Flyers would be able to move on knowing they wont get him next year when he would have been a FA. If by some miracle he comes here I know just the contract to hide with the Phantomns...BRYZ"S— flyers1000
- Biproduct: You mean like David Bowie?— andrewfrombrooklyn
- OOOHHH... We have Schenn and hopefully Weber..."That would be humongous big! Bigger than universe!
Not as many pucks I see!!— kchaz - I don't like the thought of losing 4 1st round draft picks. It sounds like money won't be nearly as much as advertised after the new CBA agreement. The cash & years will be cut. Thats great for Flyers. Losing draft picks when they got Linros hamstrung them.— tl8125
- Losing FORSBERG was what hamstrung them! (IMO) — uncle meat
- just to clarify it will definitely be 4 first rounders if they don't match because the team only gets to use 5 years to determine the average annual value so 100/5= 20 million which is way over number Nashville would have needed for 4 1st rounders.— mdb20
I like this if if happens. But, we still have a headcase goaltender who has proven nothing when it comes to handling playoff pressure.- It would be a lot cheaper to just DRAFT top players, wouldn't it? #please hire any of Bowman's kids as scouts.— MichaelZoe
- goalie,,,goalie,,,get a better goalie than bryz who can stop overtime shootouts and cheap shots,,,— hardball
- Now we hold our breath for 7 days.— ej610
- Tres interessante. Can't fault Homer for inaction. Even if this doesn't happen Homer is trying. Would be awesome if it does go through.— 2ndNlong
- @wiseman6 - fman27 said they would trade for Ryan ( from Anaheim ) the day after Nashville matches the offer sheet ( if they do ). Not that they would trade for Weber....— C-Note
- Yeah, not this is a guy worth paying. Giving marginally good players like Weber and Parise for 90 million each when you can get this stud and truly great player for 100 million? It seems like a steal. Eat that knuckle head snivelers that kept crying about Suter and Parise. Flyers 1000 you can dry your teary eyes now.
- build a team like the blackhawks did. keep the draft picks!— uncle cholly
- The Blackhawks built their team by having nearly the firt pick in consecutive years. They were horrible for a stretch getting the first overall picks. The Flyers are not going to be that bad for years to come, we should be drafting out of the top 15 for years to come. No comparison here. Go back to blindly following Ruben Amaro Jr. — kozykoz26
- I don't think Nashville can match this offer. They are a small market team and already have a lot of money tied up with their goalie. I think they make a smart move and take the 4 first rounders and rebuild their defense. Great move by Homer. Get the CBA done and let's play some hockey.— SplendedSplinter9
- I LOVE IT!— Nitroglycerin
- Up the offer to 200 mil, I'll contribute myself once I get done skating around the kitchen in my socks with this shiny bowl we got for a wedding present that I now call the stanley cup.— jdoggg
- If we get Weber or not, good article Frank.— Another_1
- Ain't sports grand ? In a matter of days we go from Kwame Brown to Shea Weber .... from the ridiculous to the sublime. Can't wait to see what Rube Jr. has in store for us !!!— jeromie
- After Nashville matches the offer, I'll expect to see posts like "The contract was too long" "We didn't really want him anyway" etc etc
Friggin seesaw
Last year Flyer fans were making parade preparations when they signed Bryz. I see those posts are back.— Sidney Crosby - These Penguins are going to win the Stanley Cup.
There isn`t another NHL team — not the Flyers, Canucks, Blues, Predators, Rangers or anyone else — that can match the Penguins` total package.
Scoring? That was No. 1 in the league, led by the game`s preeminent players in Crosby and Malkin and suddenly one of its preeminent wingers in James Neal.
Depth? Not many teams can claim seven players with 17 or more goals, and bear in mind that Crosby isn`t among them. He had eight. Chris Kunitz (26), Pascal Dupuis (25) and Matt Cooke (19) all had career-high outputs in supporting roles.
Goaltending? Of the current top performers at the game`s most important position, Fleury is the only one with a ring. That counts.
Now, dump the Flyers in five or six and get on with it. There`s bigger business at hand.
http://blackandgoldworld.blogspot.com/2012/04/say-it-penguins-will-win-cup.html
- Seems to me that the Pens are the same team as the one embarased by the Flyers (minus their best checking center). Fluery is one of the current top performers? In what way? Had a bit of a rough go of it last playoffs if I recall. BTW, the Flyers also had 7 with 17 or more goals last season. So what? You had better hope that Nashville matches. It's Sid's only hope.
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 4.11.12_
…the Penguins have it all again -- scoring, depth, special teams, goaltending, and more than a little desire since winning the Cup in 2009. "The fire is there, for sure," Crosby said Tuesday after practice. "This team`s really hungry," right winger Craig Adams said. "We've wanted it all along," defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "The desire was there even last year when we were playing without Sid and Geno. This year, it`s just a little more realistic." Sure is. ...Add all this up, look at the rest of the field, and don`t be afraid to say it: This team is built to win the Cup. Not to take a round or two. Not to reach the final. To win it all…. - JBin, you've mis-understood the compensation rules: it's either 4 first round picks OR 2 first rounders, 1 second and 1 third. It just depends on how high the annual cap hit of the offered contract is. Either way it is still a high price to pay.— PhillyAustralian
- These multi-decade deals will be the downfall of the Flyers and the NHL. They don't seem to learn from the history of other sports.— JBinPA
- I love Weber and think he'd be awesome in the orange and black. Like many, I was concerned about giving up 4 first round picks in compensation. However, when I look at a bust like JVR, I like the signing more and more. Let's hope Nashville doesn't sign him and Weber comes to Philly. Let's go Flyers!— Tar Heel 1
- 4 first round picks, a 2nd round pick and a 3rd round pick; if I'm Nashville, I'm not matching a thing! I guess Holmgren hasn't watched RAJ rape the Phillies future by killing off upcoming young players.— JBinPA
- Another poster actually pointed out that under 118 million is only 2 first round picks and the contract is for a reported 110 million. If that's true, it does make it a little less daunting. Blah also makes a good point that the Flyers are in much different position than the Phils are, we have a lot of young talent on our NHL roster that should be good for another 5 plus years if we can keep them healthy. We can agree that RAJ mortgaged way too much of the Phils farm too obtain some over paid players that were low on tread, but I don't think you can accuse Homer of doing that.
- Except the Phillies were an aging going on old time as RAJ 'raped' the future. The Flyers are much younger in comparison to the Phillies. — blah
- wow!
this will be just like when the Flyers signed Pronger.
which is to say: a lot of money & hoopla, but no Cup.— ekw555 - Wow! Now that is what we have been waiting for. Nice move, hopefully they do not match and Weber is Flyer. Nice work Homer.— OrangeCrush81
- All I an say is wow...my jaw dropped when I saw this headline. I just can't believe that Nashville would match this offer, but you never know.— CTL
- Has everyone in this sport lost their minds...?
Sorry, I'm as much a fan as anyone here, but I'm just disgusted by this, in so many ways. Hopefully some fans stay of the bandwagon craziness and agree with me.— bosso_fataka - Wow!! wasnt expecting that at all. I thought Holmgrem and the Nashville GM were friends?
Homer must know something about the Predators financial situation that we dont. Hard for them not to match the best defenseman in the NHL for a contract similar to Suter's (whom Weber is much better than)— astroqueen0 - jeez man, these contracts are nuts. Who'd a thunk a defenseman would generate that kind of loot? Great player, and it's a real big stinkin need for this team. Now all they need is a defensive (assistant) coach to make them play better.— Jeffritoe
- This is very exciting. The cap hit he would have sounds decent enough considering his ability. The new CBA may come to the Flyers help here as well with regard to contract length. If the Flyers lose some first-rounders, that's obviously a steep price but then we are talking about the best defenseman in the world under 30, the Flyers are not going to draft in the top ten anytime soon and the core of team is already very young, so the loss of first-round drafts would be acceptable.— flyerdommo
- Nashville can't afford to match Homer's deal. Weber will be a Flyer, and now with one of the best defense's in the NHL, the Flyers can put a cardboard cutout of Bernie Parent, and still win the CUP.— Flyerswin
- If Homer can pull this off then I take back everything I said about all his dumb moves in the past. Preds will probably find a way to match but being a small market team I think it will hurt them in a bad way the way it's front loaded. Losing the 1st round picks won't hurt as bad either because of how many young guys we have. This is going to be exciting to see how this plays out.— Fly Guy
- "Calm down, Nashville will match this offer, some of ou people get excited to easy"
Either way, the flyers win. Future free agents will be more likely put a team that goes for it like this on their list ; Players notice moves like this. - That's a big time offer.— ICDogg
- @fman27- The article says that if Nashville matches, he cannot be traded for a year. It's either the Flyers get him via no Nash match or they don't get him for at least a year.— Wiseman6
- @fman27- The article says that if Nashville matches, he cannot be traded for a year. It's either the Flyers get him via no Nash match or they don't get him for at least a year.— Wiseman6
- Not true...if Nashville comes to the conclusion that they CAN'T match it, then they can work a trade with the Flyers now. — uncle meat
- They could, but it's pretty darn hard to bet 4 first round picks, I'm betting Homer would much rather give them some players to dump salary so I'd be all for a trade if it allowed us to keep some 1st round picks.
- Calm down, Nashville will match this offer, some of ou people get excited to easy.— primo
- Bout time homer— Jay Grace 69
- Of course they match. We blocked weber from all other east teams too. When they match we will trade for Ryan within a day.— fman727
- You sir, are an idiot, read the article. It will be surprising if they have the capital to match because it's front loaded and Nashville doesn't have that kind of budget. They took a page from Joe Banner's book, maybe they consulted him on this deal.
- I apologize for calling you an idiot, it was rude and uncalled for. I'm taking a new kinder and gentler approach like Mitt Romney.
- Nashville will match. No idea why they wouldn't.— jbruder02
- The offer sheet is so outrageously structured as to put Weber out of reach for Nashville. Isn't that Homer's game here ?
- WOW!— brio
- NIIIIIIIICEEEEEE!!! just need a goalie, and the flyers will be all set. yikes.— CosmoK
- Yes I would love to see Weber in a Flyers jersey. Though 4 consecutive 1st round draft picks is way over the top.
- I agree with both of your points, although as we saw with the Jeff Carter trade, you can always deal for draft picks. BTW, just my opinion but regarding your avatar, you should think about saving your politics for the politics boards.
— 1980 - This is still somewhat of a free country. What if someone said they were offended by the ugly picture you use for an avatar, would you remove it?
— fgomarty - What if a dbag like you failed to notice that I never said I was offended by anything, and never asked anybody to remove their avatar? Would other dbags like you notice? Probably not. — 1980
- Speakig of "avatars", what's up with YOURS? Is that some kind of sick political statement?
- No, MINE is just a still from a 1960 episode of "The Twilight Zone" titled "Eye Of The Beholder". No political content whatsoever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t5qwyWl0xw
I'm assuming this post is so long after the main thread that nobody will ever read it.— 1980 - 1980- Speaking of "Avatars", whaT'S UP WIT YOUR? IS that some kind of sick political statement?
- The trick of implying politics has no place here is old and tired. THAT is how we got where we are. 90% of the population knows NOTHING about the people running the country because it is impolite to discuss.
This IS a Sports site, but if a picture upsets someone, they are too happy in their ignorance. KEEP the avatar. Next time someone complains- invite them to a political forum for more discussion. - I'm not offended by your Avatar but I am offended by anyone stupid enough to vote for Mitt Romney that is making less than 1 million a year.
- Judge, that number happens to be $250,000, not 1 million. Your hero wants to perform a gonadectomy on anyone making more than that. Big difference and a lot more people involved. — Bob1
- Both parties suck and I'm offended by anyone stupid enough to think there's a difference between million dollar Romney and million dollar Obama. Ppl act like Obama lives in a blue collar city and mingles with the poor. Give me a break. They are the elite and only throw their scraps to the peasants. Now, back to hockey and the $110 million contracts — dmr528
- I agree both suck, but there are clear differences if you are making less than 250k a year and don't hold equity in a fortune 500 company. I didn't say to vote for Obama regardless, I simply said if you make under 1 million and vote for Romney your voting against your own interest.
- I could say if you make under 1 million and vote for Obama your voting against your own interest. My interest is to be free. Everyone only looks at their wallet, until their wallet is empty (typically happens under socialism)and then they cry foul. There's more important things to life than money — dmr528
- do you understand what socialism is? the people who throw around the term of socialism have no clue what it actually means. we have socialism in the US everywhere: public schools, social security, medicare, medicaid, food stamps, the construction of the interstate highway system, the hoover dam, public universities.....the list is endless. all of these created long before obama was president. yet somehow obama is the "socialist". nonsense!
don't like obama, that is your choice. i am not a huge fan of the president. but to call him a socialist is ignorant. plus to say he has emptied your wallet is wrong too. he extended the bush tax cuts in 2010. if you live in the US, this impacted you.
now, can we get back to sports please?— wobblie - We can agree that money isn't everything, but I'd like to make clear that I'm not talking about parties here, I'm taking about Romney, the worse presidential candidate in my lifetime, at least that I recall. Freedom? Like his state mandated health care program just like Obamacare? I mean regardless of which side of the fence you are the guy is terrifying. I'm an independent, I vote for the least scary guy every time. The past 12 years they have all been downright terrifying. And if you are on the right, please don't lecture anyone on the left about freedom, you controlled both houses and the presidency when the Patriot Act was indoctrinated. Now that's a form of freedom I can live without. Romney wins, I'm moving someone else not in the USA. Like another continent.
- TSN says the Flyers could possibly owe Nashville two first round picks, one second and one third.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=400969 - It all depends on how much "more than $100 Mil" the offer is for. Anything less than $118 million and it will be 2 firsts, 1 second and one third pick. Above that and it will be 4 first rounders. The threshold for the maximum compensation is an $8.41 mil annual cap hit.) — PhillyAustralian
- Thank you for clarifying that 110 mil = 2 1st rounders and 118 + is 4. Seeing that the reported amount is 110 million that would make the author of this article bad at math. You appear to know more about NHL contracts that the moron that wrote this article.
- Hell yeah! Homer is getting it done. From the gist of this article, it seems we landed a prime time defenseman with the Preds not being able to match the up-front money the Flyers are willing to invest. Weber will instantly make this defense one of the top ranked in the NHL. Crossing fingers this gets done.— the sichee-ation
- This Mr. Banner is "all in"— Earl J
Whoa! I am now completely convinced the Flyers WILL win a Stanley Cup during Homer's regime as GM. The man is possessed!
LETS GO FLYERS!!!!- yes yes yes.... I hope he signs here.
I think they should give him even more than 100 mil to be sure he Nashville does not match. But let's hope nash does not match.
With Webber here even the lost in the woods goalie would probably play good.
— mvandei
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Frequent Flyers is your home for news and analysis of all things orange and black.
Reach Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com.
Frank Seravalli
Daily News Sports Columnist
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