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.
sportsnet canada is reporting it— nbean1013- Who exactly is reporting that nashville has Matched ,, i don't see it on TSN.ca ,,, not on espn ,, no philly outlets ,, it's NOwhere ,,, only thing i saw is an NHL ex, said ,, the Preds will LIKELY match ,, that's all ...— ingy9
- nbean ,, So your saying as a Fact that nashville has Matched ,, i went Everywhere ,, i can't find it ,, TSN.ca has all the info within MINUTES of the breaking news , yet there is Nothing on their website ,, Please tell us All again ,, where this story is ,, that the preeds have matched the offer sheet ??????????????????— ingy9
- Weber will stay in Nashville , cause he has a large ranch there..lolWhen Weber becomes a Flyer in the midnight hour on Wednesday, he will have enough money to turn half the city of Philadelphia into a ranch.Goats,and sheep will be roaming Broad Street,and hangin out at Geno's. (HTML deleted)— Flyerswin
- that was the story john shannon was reporting nhl exec said that they would match, turns out that the nhl exec is the canucks gm who said he feels the preds will match............— nbean1013
- nothing is official canucks gm said the flyers and preds havent talked trade at all this week, and in that case in his experience that usually means the original team will match...— nbean1013
- I hear there is a Large Ranch , up for sale in nashville ,, being reported by sports net canada ,,, lol— ingy9
- Ah Flyerswin ,, , You forget , Weber would have the exact Same amount of money if he stays in nashville ,, kinda dampens that argument eh ?— ingy9
- THEY MATCHED IT.
http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=638547
WEBER is a PREDATOR— astroqueen0 - Preds matched. And then depression set in...— Grazman
- How does it feel to be played. ha ha ha ha. SUCKERS— cmhop
