Nashville retains Weber
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Nashville retains Weber
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Shea Weber will remain in Nashville. (Jae C. Hong/AP)
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)
Comments (124)
Yep, the Predators are going to go bankrupt because they can't afford this contract.
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/richest-billionaires/brett-wilson-net-worth/— PabloD- Don't know why folks seem to think this move did anything in regards to keep him from our rivals in the future. NSH was in a no win situation, for now. They'll fork over a ton of dough to be sure. But the contract does not have a no-trade or no-move clause. After this season, they can command a huge trade package from the highest bidder since a disproportionate amount of the contract will be paid in year 1. They can trade perhaps the best d-man under a then-manageable long-term contract. I wonder who has a ton of All-Star d-men and cash to swing such a deal... perhaps the same team that didn't have to trade any of them for Nash. Yep, NYR. Book it. They'll probably thank us for structuring such a great long-term deal...for them.— guru26
- "pretty good, not-nearly-cup-contending team."
Sounds like the Flyers— cmhop - NOOO!!!!— Reality Speaks
- If the Flyers hadn't made the offer, we would still think they have a pretty good defense. That trade would have hamstrung the Flyers in acquisitions for years to come. Many times, the team with the best player doesn't make the playoffs. Look at the Phillies with 2 $20+ million dollar pitchers who might as well be Kyle Kendrick for all the help they have been. Actually, Kendrick my end up with more victories than Lee and Halliday combined! That is scary. Washington isn't getting its money worth from Ovechkin. And how about Florida with Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes? I'd rather see a team wit grit play over its head than a team with a bunch of contented millionaires playing to the level of a minor leaguer.— gotedge
- This'll get ugly and he'll be here next year. His agent flat out said he didn't want to go there and it'll be worse after next season with no Sutter. He wanted to be a Flyer. UGHHHH!@!!!!!— boom dynamite
- There will still be a trade. Book it.— ByeByeButtman
- "I predict the LA Kings will beat the New Jersey Devils to win the Stanley Cup" - a statement by *absolutely no one last year*. Come on people, this is a bitter pill, but it's not the end of cup hopes. Weber going to the Rangers? Or the Pens? That would have been brutal. I can deal with him staying in Nashville and clearing a path straight back up north for that franchise (where they belong). Doane is still unsigned, Ryan is still in play, our team is young, and best of all our goalie has been getting much needed psychiatric help this off-season. OK, I don't know about that last one, but here's hoping.— 3-hit shutout
- LMAO..LETS GO RANGERS. LETS GO RANGERS LET'S GO RANGERS. NY GIANTS ARE THE DYNASTY. 1960 pigeons talking trash while there is no trophies at nova crack complex. How bout dem fighting philthees? How you like them Yankees? Yes we won the world series vs Philly too— Big blue wrecking crew
- Bradley85 The Preds can't trade Weber until after next season and the 27 million is paid. Once that happens there is no reason to trade him at that point.— predsfan
- The Preds has not put 60 million to cover losses. Have you been reading the Tennessean? Last season the owners put 30 million dollars of their own money to renovate the arena not to cover losses. They paid off a huge amount of the original loan and they bought Boots share out of bankruptcy. In all that came to 62.9 million dollars. The Preds have more money than any fan across hockeyland will ever realize. Then last year Brett Wilson a billionaire bought 5% of the team and now owns 20%, plus a local owner sold his share of a business which came to around 300 million dollars and all of that money was put into the Preds operating cost.— predsfan
- i wonder how much more tickets are going to cost to go to a predators game this year?— tmq
- Just watch in the coming weeks, there will be a trade between the Predators and the Flyers. Nashville cannot afford him. This is a ploy to get more than 4 first tround draft choices. Just wait and see......— nftfree
- Between this debacle and the Bryz contract, Homer is batting a thousand....— Mike Boryla
- Wow big market lost to small market. How many funny comments on here from people that do not know anything about our city, our team, our owners or our fan base. First off the Preds can't go anywhere, they just signed a 30 year lease with the city about 2 weeks ago with no out clause for 15 years. We are one of the fastest growing cities in America that love hockey, we are getting a minor league hockey team once the new arena is completed in a nearby surburb. We have a billionaire owner that owns 20% of the team now. The Preds makes millions off the arena. The run and operate the arena and make money off every event that is held there. The Stone is the fourth busiest arena in America and ninth in the World. Our fanbase is great overall attendance is over 90% capacity since day one and we are one of the loudest arenas in the NHL. Not on here to troll in fact the Flyers is one of my favorite Eastern Conference team. Just to educate some of you about Nashville and the Preds.— predsfan
- Wow, I have to admit I'm surprised. 1)They don't have the money, 2)They are in rebuild now, 3)Weber signing so quickly basically said he didn't want to be there, and 4)Preds owners have already spent over 60 million of their own money to cover financial losses for the the team in recent years. Nashville will be the next bankrupt team. At least Nash is traded so Homer won't make a dumb move to get him. Gonna be interesting to see what card he pulls from his sleeve next.— Fly Guy
- Since when did miscalculation become a prerequisite for a GM job in Philly sports? Holmgren and Amaro -- batting about .091 combined this year.— EaglesWest
- I wonder what Bobby Clarke would be worth as a free agent today or Wayne Gretzky for that matter. These free agent offers are going to take a toll on pro sports, especially hockey eventually. When you spend that much money on one player, especially in hockey, it's crazy. Look at Pronger and Crosby. They are one hit away from the retirement home, but their contracts are for multiple years. I have a feeling this is going to end badly for the NHL.— redstaterightwinger
- there goes all my cup hopes. Pathetic D now, this team is significantly worse— flyfightinbullies
- There is no place - other than trades - to turn. Maybe, as cartoon character "Andy Capp" says, "if all else fails, you can always turn to the booze."— billtfla
- That sucks!u— yourdaddy!
Comment removed.- Maybe they should learn how to scout, draft and develop defensemen.— txflyer
- Now that we know Weber won't be with us, I say lets move on. Sometimes the moves you don't make turn out to be the best. The good thing is our young talent is battle tested and NHL ready. We'll just have to see if our goaltending was a fluke last season and that the best is yet to come. Holmgren may still have some options up his sleeve, in the mean time I'm excited about our young group of players.— LCBline
- Poor taste..whats the animosity toward nashville wishing them bankrupcy etc...did you just expect them to roll over because its the Flyers?...Why the hate toward Weber wishing him injury...and he never said he didnt want to play for Nashville . By signing the offer sheet he got his money a year early. Homers gamble backfired big time. 1) flyers would have been a stone cold lock to either sign him next year as an FA or trade for him this year at the tyrade deadline...Now they lost him because they took the gamble. 2) For those who say Preds will eat his contract for a season then trade him next year to dump salary....well what are the Chances Poile is calling up Homer to make a deal...I would say ZERO after he tried to steal him away. Was a big gamble by Homer I am sure he felt he was in drivers seat like many of you did but he got trupmed big time. Also dont be surprised if there isnt a little collusion by NHL GM's to work against the Flyers in trades due to their breaking the unwritten rule of Dont offer another teams UFA a contract....Well at least we have BRYZ for 8 more years.....a very bad day in FLYERVILLE— flyers1000
- He probably wishes he was here.— drenner
- This was a no brainier for Nashville. They are built to win and are building their fan base. It what the fans believe that generates the money.
If the Flyers go after Doan, then they are nuts as how much future does a 35 year old have?— jpelle36 
Depressed. :(— dianne16- The issue is this. The Preds could have dealt a couple of first rounders back to the Flyers and maybe gotten Matt Read in the mix which would have been a tough pill to swallow. Read is a great player and had a lot to do with our success last year. Weber would have been nice, but it is obvious that the Flyers will always try to do what it takes to improve the team.
Nashville may go bankrupt trying to cover Weber's salary.— redstaterightwinger - Weber's playoff numbers were pretty pitiful.— philly_floyd
- I would of loved to get weber .....But I respect Homer for trying to get the best players and I respect him even more for not trading away our young guys to do it— balboa2151
- Ooooops - another lost season on the horizon.— bigdaddyG
- blessing in disuise. too long of a contract and too much money up front— psualum
Call me sour grapes. I'm rooting for career ending injuries for Shea Webber and Rick Nash. YEAH!— ANDY-IS-FAT- lets see the Preds attempt to sign anyone else in the next few years after signing that positive message they sent, that franchise cannot afford the deal with those empty seats.....lol— pr0f3ss0r
- Shocked!
— Neebo - Nashville, had to match, if not this will be the president of better high money pocket teams, Plus he let Scott Stevens walk in the past, and look how that turned out....So he wasn't going down that route again.....At least Weber is in the West. But look what the Rangers gave away for Nash.....Nothing....Nashville, will want to much, not getting anything in return......So Buy Buy Nashville...... Enjoy bankrupt....I bet Columbus is kicking themselves now..but letting Nash go to early.— shmoo
- Ha Ha Go Preds!!!— herndog77
- Great job by the Flyers! A++++++ Goodbye Nashville -you have a player that committed himself to another team; you got into a peeing contest that shows your shortsightedness. NASHVILLE WILL NEVER WIN A CUP! They may not even have a team in the years to come, because hockey is not accepted in Nashville like other sports. AND FINALLY - like all players -their investment in one (1) player, in a small city market -is one injury away from the total devastation of a franchise.— Eddubbs2013
- Great job by the Flyers! A++++++ Goodbye Nashville -you have a player that committed himself to another team; you got into a pissing contest that shows your shortsightedness. NASHVILLE WILL NEVER WIN A CUP! They may not even have a team in the years to come, because hockey is not accepted in Nashville like other sports. AND FINALLY - like all players -their investment in one (1) player, in a small city market -is one injury away from the total devastation of a franchise.— Eddubbs2013
- Huh? How could this happen? Didn't our very own know-it-all master of high stakes negotiations, PhillyBoyinNYC, just yesterday declare that this was a done deal?
Here is his brilliant analysis: "consider yourself schooled on what high stakes negotiations, something I have done my whole career, look like and sound like. This says utter capitulation by Nashville all the way, but Poile begging for ANY handout player the Flyers can give them to save face. Homer will give them nothing"
Gee counselor, sounds like you are the one who just got schooled. Looks like it is the Preds that will give us nothing. Back to the pond, rookie.— snipesmorris - My worst fear is that Schenn and Couturier regress next year. Yes, they had great Rookie years but now their EXPECTED to produce....and the fact that Hartnell, Giroux, Simmonds, Talbot and Voracek ALL had career years is scarey...can we really expect all of them to have career years again ?? I hate to say it, but I think our best chance was last year...we beat the hell out of Fleury and the Pens and we're rolling like a run away trian...then we hit New Jersey and the wheels fall off...No Weber, no chance ??— Apollotwo
- Nothing personal, but I hope he has ACL problems.— dogman5
- Three guys they offered $100m to, and all 3 turned Flyers down. That's a slap upside the head of Holmgren and Laviolette, yes? This amounts to a no-confidence vote on both of them to improve things from last season, IMO.— PHJR2010
- Weber did not turn the Flyers down. Nashvile matched the offer. Nothing Homer (nor Weber) could do about that. — MikeC67
Good job Nashville, you did nothing to make your team better. The only thing you did was put such a financial burden on your team, you may not be in Nashville too much longer. What a bunch of idiots, they had the perfect opportunity to built your club for the future. Well, instead you just put your team in the toilet financially.- Hey, at least this means that Weber won't be playing for anyone else in the Eastern Conference this year. Can't blame the Preds, they had to match. Still was a good play by Homer to keep him away from the competition.— johnnyvegas
- Go get Byfulian and Doan and trade Hartnell, Rinaldo, and one of our D outside top 7 for Ryan.— connorjr
- Before Nashville gets all high and mighty they might also want to recognize that the teams with the deep pockets subsidize their ailing franhises. Seems pretty lousy that Flyers profits are used to help out the Preds of the world to stay afloat, who then in turn send out these types of comments. Low life Tennesseans.— rockinrob
- The Preds didn't need to trade him because he was still a RFA. They will pay $27M if they got nothing but 4 picks. They will eat the $27M, get him for one year, then trade his salary away and get top players plus picks.— LAFlyer
- Well that move cost the Flyers.. nothing. Nashville can whine all they want about teams with deep pockets, but how about they sign their players before it gets to this.— Sidewinder7
- Nash to NYR's & no Weber --- now what? Lets go Sixers!!!!!— ChangeISNeeded
- It's a damn Sheame.— phoreverphilly
- Why would the preds pay $27M for 1 year...if they wanted to trade him, they would have done it. Get over it....she's over— philly thug
- Well, Weber won't be a Flyer this year, but I don't believe there is a no trade clause in the contract and the Preds WILL trade away the salary next year. The issue was that Homer wouldn't give the Preds any players just the draft picks and the Preds needs players. They will get the players next year and a LOT next year when they trade him. It's a win for the Preds. Homer played chicken and in the end the Preds didn't flinch. Mark my word, Weber will not be a Predator for the 2013 season. Maybe he will be a Flyer eventually.— LAFlyer
- I think it id now official that players don't to be here seeing that they can't build a Cup winner ignoring "skill" players— bvl390
- They are better w/out Matt Carle. Addition by subtraction.— homerjay99
- It's pretty impressive that Flyers fans apparently know more about the Nashville financials than the Nashville ownership does. Bravo— jbruder02
- wouldn't rule out trade talks? For Weber? The Preds cant trade weber for 1 year now.— sickoflosing
- We need to go after PJ Subban...strong,big-shot, nasty righty d-man.— Romus
- He is also an idiot, who takes the dumbest penalties (evey year he leads the league in minors) and is an underachiever for the talent he has. No thanks. — Sidewinder7
- If they can't get another Grossman via trade near the halfway point, trade for picks and stock up. Groom D-men. (If Pronger can't play, he can teach.) Weber came in the 2nd round. Lot of luck there, but with all the youth in the Flyers, maybe it's the route to go.— pillsbury
- I wouldn't rule out trade talks, but what concerns me is what Nashville would want (read: Couturier). I have this unpleasant feeling that about all Holmgren will have to show for his efforts is a second- or third-level signing (read: Subban) that yields marginal/incremental improvement rather than the order-of-magnitude improvement he sought. Got a feeling it'll be another season of looking up at the Rangers in the standings and a 6th or 7th seed in the playoffs.
Maybe if Columbus let go Nash for odds and ends, Anaheim would do likewise for Ryan? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah....— 1940LaSalle - Flyers fans should have expected Nashville would match. It's what we would do... I never believed the Preds were willing to pay Suter $85 million and Weber the same or less. In the end, I think you need to consider that Holgren thought the Flyers young talent is worth more than a 'chip' in a trade. Frankly, I'm optimistic going into this season with the same group of guys a year older. At some point they need a good young d-man... it just won't be Weber.— JGD84
- Sign Leighton! And Fedotenko! Oh, right.— ghostofozark
- 37 years and counting Flyers' fans...get busy living or get busy continuing this futile ride!— jmmdk5
- there shouldn't even be a team in Nashville, but either Phoenix, Nashville is moving to Quebec anyway— Raphael
- Suter and Parise were never coming here. Holmgren had no control over that. Weber was a restricted free agent. Homer made a ballsy move and submitted a powerful contract offer. If they didn't, and Weber hit the open market next year? Forget it. Not that they couldn't sign him, but... the price would have driven up because of Detroit, NYR, and the Pens. It would have been detrimental to their ability to sign Giroux to a long-term deal later on.
Also, the Preds were asking for Couturier AND Schenn. They're untouchable. I mean, the Preds had the right to--to stabilize the future of the franchise, but it would offset progress the Flyers made.
Ball didn't bounce the Flyers' way, but they have been making right moves. Only two questionable ones were waiting to jump on Jagr and Carle--thus losing them. Now? They need to get Voracek and Hartnell locked up and pursue Doan.
(Bobby Ryan trade won't happen, because Anaheim is asking for the same as Nashville did.)— pillsbury - I am supremely heart broken. But no need to go after Ryan right away, as Anaheim will be asking a king's ransom. The ironic part to this all is that after the next CBA is signed, there will probably be a soft cap and a luxury tax and we'll go over it and the luxury tax will go to "small market" teams like Nashville. Wait a bit, then see what the market is like for Bobby Ryan and Yandle. He is no Weber but at least its an upgrade. All you Matt Carle haters are going to have a field day with our D now...— NYFlyersFan
- I am so bummed. Guess Poile asked for too much from us to make some trades. Good try by Homer. Still believe in our team. Our boys play better as underdogs anyway.— Cali7
- Maybe Bobby Orr is available. Only one left.— 4thand10
- Timing was poor...should have signed Weber before Suter left Nashville...— Napa818
- Difference between a Cup and No Cup just unfolded before our eyes. Flyers have a nice team but are in no way Cup contenders with this defense and net-minder. Offense will be worse than last year and defense the same at best. Another second round playoff exit. Don't bother with Doan and the other scrap-heapers out there, they are not difference makers. Only player that could have helped them over the top just re-signed in Nashville!— OUTOFTOWN
- The Flyers need to get Shane Doan to replace Jagr. I like Doan and he is a great team guy too, besides being a talented player.
Sadly, the Flyers lack the depth on Defense to advance deep into the playoffs and they know it.— redstaterightwinger - The First National Bank of Nashville probably extended the Predators a $110 million line of credit at 2% interest to pay Weber. The downside of the Parise, Suter, Weber and Crosby deals is that it raises the bar of NHL salaries just when the team owners and Commissioner Buttman want to play tough in the negotiations with the players union.— schultz08
- I would not be surprised if the Penguins sent money
to the Preds to help keep him in Nashville.— flyersfan - I hate to say it but I told you so. Weber IS their franchise and they figured that they would loose more in ticket sales if Weber was gone than what they would pay him. Not only that, I think that Homer didn't want to give the Preds ANYONE in trade (which is ok with me) and that pushed the Preds to made the deal.— LAFlyer
- sooo... interesting that days ago Sam Carchidi said that based on ONLY ONE conversation between Preds and Flyers, he thought they would match. After getting called out repeatedly on twitter and elsewhere for that ridiculous piece of reporting, he changed his tune yesterday. AND NOW, we see he was wrong from the start - AGAIN.
Nice Job, Sam.
Keep up the great work!— mookie1k - Now they should pursue RFA Evander Kane.— macoman
- Now they should pursue RFA Evander Kane.— macoman
- Huge gamble and loss by Homer. If you make that kind of offer you better be right in your assumption that Nashville wouldn't match. If we wait a year we probably get Weber. Now he's probably a Predator for life. Homer blew this one.
— Chuck Wagon - Huge gamble and loss by Homer. If you make that kind of offer you better be right in your assumption that Nashville wouldn't match. If we wait a year we probably get Weber. Now he's probably a Predator for life. Homer blew this one.— Chuck Wagon
- Huge gamble and loss by Homer. If you make that kind of offer you better be right in your assumption that Nashville wouldn't match. If we wait a year we probably get Weber. Now he's probably a Predator for life. Homer blew this one. (HTML deleted)— Chuck Wagon
- Huge gamble and loss by Homer. If you make that kind of offer you better be right in your assumption that Nashville wouldn't match. If we wait a year we probably get Weber. Now he's probably a Predator for life. Homer blew this one.— Chuck Wagon
- Huge gamble and loss by Homer. If you make that kind of offer you better be right in your assumption that Nashville wouldn't match. If we wait a year we probably get Weber. Now he's probably a Predator for life. Homer blew this one.— Chuck Wagon
- ... thats ok ...
flashbacks of trading everything for lindros and for what?
- always about having a hot goalie when it counts, if we can just bring bryz slightly into this dimension, just a bit - - we can win it all...— LivePhilly_DiePhilly - I give Weber 18 months before he demands a trade from the state where indoor plumbing is a luxury— Flyers1975
- Uh, yeah. Get out much? — PabloD
- Pablo, you're the one trolling, do YOU get out much? How about leaving the hockey talk to the adults and taking a little break, eh? I'm sure your cee-ment pond must need cleaning, so do us all a favor and sod off (cue dueling banjos music). — Jabey
- Pabloooo- U serious dude.????
— pdog154 - http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=19
14 forwards, 5 D-men, 2 goalies under contract, with $16.5M in cap space. Plenty of AHL talent that's NHL-ready to fill out the roster and leave them ~$15M under the cap. So they don't max out to the cap as they said they would. So what? They have reached the second round the last two seasons, have the best D-man in the league and arguably the best goalie, and a solid team all around. What am I missing that makes you ask if I am serious? (HTML deleted)— PabloD - It doesn't matter if the Predators are $16.5M or $165M under the cap THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO SPEND. Got it? Hockey is done in Nashville. — F. Harry Stowe
- at least they tried. Now go after another big time Defensemen. We don't need offense, just a nasty, big time D.— xrajux
- Ha ha, keep wishing flyers fans....— UDTate
- 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 - 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
- Well, Nashville will have 1 good defenseman...and that's about it— briman
- Congrats to the Preds. Now pack your bags and get ready for the inevitable move to Quebec.— maine_mariner
- Plan B? This was plan B!— jmn3240
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Rangers didnt get any better! Gabornik is out half the year, they lost their two main gritty guys.. NYR are good bc they have the best goalie in the world.— fman727
- 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 - We cant trade for him, genius— fman727
- Sour grapes much, azguz? I grew up in Philly a Flyers' fan, and they remain my 1b team, but since moving to Nashville, the Predators are 1a. Holmgren played a game of high-stakes poker and lost. I can imagine that after the Rangers landed Nash for a song (compared to what most expected), Poile had Homer over a barrel: pay up, or deal with an improved Rangers team that owned you last year. Homer put himself in this situation and it didn't quite work out as planned. He could have put together a trade offer to land Weber earlier but decided to go the money-bomb route and miscalculated. And no, Nashville will not be going bankrupt any time soon.— PabloD
- Just wondering, do you by any chance know what the phrase 'sour grapes' actually means? It refers to a situation in which I wanted something but didn't get it, so now I pretend that I'm glad at the outcome, as in "those grapes were probably sour". Doesn't apply here; we all wanted Weber.
Just by way of a reality check, the Preds are paying way, way, way more than they can afford to pay for a defenseman, regardless of how great he certainly is. They don't have the supporting cast to allow him to be any more than what he is now - a terrific defenseman on a pretty good, not-nearly-cup-contending team.— 1980 - Holmgren lost? The battle for Weber?, yes but for long term? No. The Predators will be paying out more to one player next season then they took in all of last season in ticket sales. Hockey is done in Nashville. Either they will move to Quebec or file for bankruptcy. — F. Harry Stowe
- good run made by flyers. low risk, high reward. at very least its blocking weber being moved in FA next year to a division/conference rival.— AndyReidsMustache
- I still think Homer made an excellent move.— Nitroglycerin
- How much are your beer goggles costing you, brotha'?— Claudio Vernight
- Sounds like a trade is coming soon!— Phillyfan among the NYers
- They really didn't have much of a choice. Darned if they do, darned if they don't. Like when the Tonner weighs (no pun intended) his options at 2 AM. A 2 at 10 is a 10 at 2. Wonder who the Flyers 2 will be?— hunglikeaton
- They really didn't have much of a choice. Darned if they do, darned if they don't. Like when the Tonner weighs (no pun intended) his options at 2 AM. A 2 at 10 is a 10 at 2. Wonder who the Flyers 2 will be?— hunglikeaton
- Insert Sour Grapes comment here.— AreaMan
- Well, there goes Nashville. They will be bankrupt like the Yotes next season.— azguz
- Nashville has lost money every year for the past 3 seasons. I don't know what they are thinking in matching this offer. Maybe they are hoping for a bailout from Obama/Romney. Another thing to keep in mind is that they have to pay Weber $27M regardless of whether the NHL plays 1 game or 82 this season. — F. Harry Stowe
- Look at it this way Harry. Nashville, even with Weber's salary thrown in, is still under the cap minimum!! They have to find someone to pay more money to just to abide by cap regulations. Meeting Webers numbers is a tough pill to swallow in the first year, but after that, the Predators should be ok and continue to make the playoffs. If they don't make the Playoffs, they, like other small city teams, will be going out of business to pay these players. Even mediocre players are making $5-$6 million a year now and that is going to kill a lot of teams, especially in the southern and western USA. — redstaterightwinger
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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