Mixed signals in Weber saga
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Mixed signals in Weber saga
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
As this is being written, there are a little less than 48 hours until Nashville has to make a decision on whether to match the Flyers' bold,14-year, $110 million offer to star defenseman Shea Weber.
There are mixed signals being sent.
The fact that Nashville has not talked to Weber since he signed the offer sheet Wednesday leads one to believe the Predators are not going to sign the restricted free agent.
Then again, if Nashville wasn't going to match the offer, wouldn't it be having daily conversations with Flyers GM Paul Holmgren about trying to make a deal _ and getting more value than the four No. 1 draft picks as compensation?
Holmgren and Nashville GM David Poile have had just one conversation since Weber signed the offer sheet.
The Flyers would not confirm or deny whispers that a trade was NOT discussed during that conversation. (If it wasn’t, then Nashville probably plans to sign him.)
The deadline is Wednesday night at 11:30. That gives both sides less than two days to try to work out a deal. Or not.
One wonders if the New York Rangers acquiring standout winger Rick Nash on Monday will cause Holmgren to offer Nashville a trade package that is sweeter than he originally wanted to present.
If Holmgren doesn't land Weber, the Flyers will be 0 for 3 in trying to lure marquee free agents to Philly this summer. This one would hurt the most because Weber WANTS to be a Flyer _ and because he is a bigger difference- maker than Zach Parise or Ryan Suter, each of whom signed with Minnesota.
One last thing: Nashville, a source said, offered Suter a 13-year, $85 million deal earlier this month. Weber’s contract is a bit steeper, but it includes $27 million in the first calendar year and $68 million in the first five years.
That has caused the Predators’ 10-member ownership group to pause and see if it can afford the contract and all its ramifications.
The clock is ticking.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Holmgren is in the drivers seat. No need for him to talk with Nashville about working out a trade that will disrupt the team. Give up the 4 first round draft picks. Who cares? There wont be any bona fide super stars where we will be drafting anyway and we've got plenty of youth so we can afford to lose the draft picks.— Brauny- You'd be a fool to believe that Homer and Poile have only talked once— dp1978
- BRAUNY you are spot on call preds bluff if they were going to match why would they drag it out.Just leaves their fans questioning ownership,builds up angst and pressure, brings upon them more media attention, if they were going to match would have done it immediately. It is obvious this match will make or break them as organization, being the smaller market that they are they have smaller margine for error.— nbean1013
- Anyone who can hold on to a stick could have done what Hartnell did last year playing on a line with G and Jagr.... puh-leaze.... trade him away... he is way over-paid. His value is at the highest point now, so take advantage of it and send him packing. i cant see the Flyers re-signing him, so why not get value for him now? Save the money and use it to get Ryan.— Brauny
- you are a fool, with a comment like that. Hartnell is one of the few physical wingers on this team. He is one of the strongest in front of the net, which is very valuable to the flyers.
"Anyone who can hold on to a stick could have done what Hartnell did last year playing on a line with G and Jagr"
huh? do you watch hockey at all outside of philadelphia? Ryan is on a line with Getzlaf and Perry, two excellent players as well. you can say the exact same thing about ryan - that his numbers are due to him playing with those two stars...— astroqueen0 - None of this matters if Ilya plays like he did last year! Here's to hoping we get Weber but mostly hoping that Ilya plays up to expectations this season! If he does that then we'll be great with or without Weber….though with Weber would be awesome!— connorjr
- Facts:
Nashville took Weber to arbitration a year before 2010. Bad blood.
Weber did not like the fact that Suter walked this year.
There were articles that Weber played his last game as a Predator as soon as Suter went to Minnesota.
Poile was definitely shopping Weber to a number of teams, including the Flyers.
Webers agent confirmed that Weber does not want to be a part of rebuild again.
Weber picked Philadelphia Flyers and signed an offer sheet with the Flyers.
Offer sheet is front loaded with huge bonus dollars and Nashville ownership may have hard time matching it.
— Nitroglycerin - Nice Facts Nitro ,, all your facts point to nashville Not matching , yet you say .. you think they'll match ! .. Could you be alittle more confusing ...— ingy9
- the preds matched ultimte gut pucnh wtffffffffffffffff— nbean1013
- Brah... there is always hope. Right?
— Nitroglycerin - yes i just wanted weber sucks we didnt get him— nbean1013
- @nbean 1013 Your reporting that the preds Matched ????? Where did you get that ????? I checked everywhere ,, i don't seee that ,, where did you get that INFO ,, ???????????????— ingy9
- Its all over the news, the preds matched the offer.
darn— astroqueen0 - sportsnet candad website definetly not all over the news— nbean1013
- Pred re-signed Colin Wilson. As far as Weber. Nothing yet.— Nitroglycerin
