Nashville retains Weber
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Nashville retains Weber
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Shea it aint so.
The Flyers have struck out with another marquee free agent.
Nashville announced it had matched the Flyers' 14-year, 110-million offer sheet to star defenseman Shea Weber, who thus is retained by the Predators.
“In tendering an offer sheet to Shea Weber, we were trying to add a top defenseman entering the prime of his career," Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said in a statement. "With Nashville matching our offer, we wish Shea and the Predators all the best.”
Holmgren said there would be no further comment at the moment.
As reported earlier today, Nashville seemed on the verge of matching when two sources said it had not been involved in trade talks with the Flyers since Weber signed Philadelphia's offer sheet on Wednesday.
The absence of trade talks led to speculation that Nashville was going to sign him.
For the Flyers, they figure to turn to Plan B - trying to sign Shane Doan or acquiring Bobby Ryan. Or will Holmgren give an offer sheet to another restricted free agent, such as Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban?
But make no mistake, this is a MAJOR setback to the franchise. A team with Claude Giroux and Shea Weber as its anchors - along with a terrific young nucleus - would have been a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
In a news release, Nashville said, in part, "Would a decision not to match the offer sheet send a negative message to current Predators players and other NHL organizations, a message that the Predators would only go so far to protect its best players and be pushed around by teams with 'deep pockets?' "
To avoid that negative message — and, more importantly, to land arguably the NHL's best all-around defenseman — Nashville's 10-member ownership group was able to justify the staggering contract, which is the second-largest in league history. Washington's Alex Ovechkin signed a 13-year, $124 million deal in 2008.
The Flyers had front-loaded the contract — $27 million in the first calendar year, $68 million over the first five seasons — to make it difficult for the small-market Predators to match it.
"He's excited; he said the ownership group stepped up," said Jarrett Bousquet, one of Weber's agents.
Give the Flyers an 'A' for effort, but the bottom line is this: After striking out on free-agents Weber, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Flyers are no better than the team that lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season.
Tweeted one fan after hearing the news that the Flyers didn’t land the game-changing defenseman that they desperately wanted: “I'm so bummed I don't even want to use my Weber grill tonight.”
(more to come)
- Nash didnt make them better?
— jmn3240 - Lundqvist has a career playoff record of 25-30 and he was outplayed by Brodeur after barely beating the Caps and Sens goalies. He's a playoff failure
— Flyers1975 - Time to get Yandle and Ryan! even though our D is pretty solid anyway but would love to trade Read while his value is high. Read/Voracek and more for Ryan— fman727
- Well at least we won with the BRYZ signing last year...thats the only FA who we have been able to get here......Not good at all.....we are screwed and wont be close to competetive with Rangers ..They have beaten us 8 straight and are even stronger now with NASH— flyers1000
- Now we get to sit back and watch the CBA negotiations. Does Nashville and Minnesota have a leg to stand on when they cry poor to the players?— mikeyo27
- 'bout as much credibility as snider — petemagoop
- Plan B? This was plan B!— jmn3240
- Congrats to the Preds. Now pack your bags and get ready for the inevitable move to Quebec.— maine_mariner
- Well, Nashville will have 1 good defenseman...and that's about it— briman
- Tonner, just one of your comments is plenty. A 2 to you is a negative number and a no-way to most of the rest of us.— PhillySubsMac
- Nash? ha ha ha ha ha The Rangers have won once since 1940. Nash will fail like every other fatcat who goes to the biggest joke in sports— Flyers1975
- Flyer1975..watch who you mock....the Rangers have won a cup in the last 20 years..the Flyers in almost 40...neither team has cup bragging rights bt be realistic Nash is a beast of a power forward and a 40 goal scorer...Also just 28 yrs old so he isnt the usual old fat cat FA that they used to sign...also you are mocking a team that has beaten us 8 straight times you look foolish.... — flyers1000
- I agree with you, f1000. It's crazy for Flyers fans to talk smack with anybody. Our guys have had plenty of great years since the mid-70's, and that more than justifies our pride in the team. But no Cups = no trash talk, in my opinion.
But, I do think that even at 28, Nash is on the decline. He won't turn into another Wade Redden, but maybe pretty close, eh?
My fear now is that Homer will sign Doan to big bucks through age 50, just to show he can.
On the up side, looking forward to the continued development of B. Schenn, Couturier and Read. GO!!!— 1980 - Ha ha, keep wishing flyers fans....— UDTate
