Predators evaluating offer ramifications
The Nashville Predators released a statement on Thursday morning to acknowledge that they are in receipt of the offer sheet signed by defenseman Shea Weber with the Flyers. It appears, according to the statement, that this offer will sit for a few days while Nashville evaluates the complexity of the Flyers' attempt at a 'poison pill' offer.
Predators evaluating offer ramifications
The Nashville Predators released a statement on Thursday morning to acknowledge that they are in receipt of the offer sheet signed by defenseman Shea Weber with the Flyers.
It appears, according to the statement, that this offer will sit for a few days while Nashville evaluates the complexity of the Flyers' attempt at a 'poison pill' offer.
"We are in receipt of the offer sheet signed between the Philadelphia Flyers and Shea Weber," Nashville GM David Poile said. "Under the rules pertaining to an offer sheet, the Predators have one week to decide whether to match or accept the compensation.
"We have stated previously that, should a team enter into an offer sheet with Shea, our intention would be to match and retain Shea. Our ownership has provided us with the necessary resources to build a Stanley Cup-winning team.
"Due to the complexity of the offer sheet, we will take the appropriate time to review and evaluate it and all of its ramifications in order to make the best decision for the Predators in both the short and long-term.
“We do not anticipate any further comments on this situation until we make our decision within the next seven days.”
For their part, the Flyers have rebuffed all media requests and they are refusing to further comment on the offer.
For me, the key to the statement is that the Predators are almost acknowledging the Flyers' shot front-loading the deal. If the contract structure as reported by Rogers SportsNet's Nick Kypreos is indeed true, Weber will be due $27 million in the next 347 days alone. The deal would be worth upwards of $68 million in the first 6 seasons.
In perspective, the Predators' entire franchise valuation was targeted at $163 million in 2011 by Forbes Magazine.
Sure, the Predators would be a much better team in the short-term, as Poile hinted, but would they be better off in the long-term being cash strapped by one player? The other half of their defense corps was already decimated on July 4 when Ryan Suter bolted for Minnesota.
For now, it just doesn't sound like anything definitive will be happening any time soon - perhaps even before the weekend is over.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Nice move Homer, let's hope it works!!!— Flyboy24- What?? "The Predators are almost acknowledging the Flyers' shot front-loading the deal." What the hell does that mean???— billtfla
- Holmgren's got em by the short ones.....either way, Nasville might be screwed.— philly thug
- Balls that took. Regardless of how it shakes out. How'd you like to be a fly on the wall in the Nashville GM office, 'eh? Betcha he is m.f'ing Homer and Philly up big.
:^)— Poppys - Simply NO WAY Nashville matches and keeps a guy who wants out. All the speculation from now until a new announcement is made should focus on what players go in the trade they agree to in place of the 4 #1s.— GNIKGNARLY
- Teams could care less about what the player wants. He's the team captain and he just got Philly to do his bidding for him. — theeutmost
- I doubt he wants out. If you sign an offer sheet like that with those years you have to be prepared to end up with either team and be happy about it. Nashville just drug their feet negotiating with him and he is cashing in. — Sidewinder7
- Nashville had big offers on the table to Suter and Parise and wanted to re-sign Weber so they have the money in the short and long term. Looks like Philly just did the negotiating for Nashville.— theeutmost
- Gee, I hope Philly never, ever tries to negotiate something for me. I'm not so sure that contract does Nashville any sort of favor considering that last year at this time they were reluctant to put a $21M, 3-year contract on the table to him. — sklandog
- NSH would be foolish not to match. They should have or should now make a deal because its just wrong if small market teams cant keep their best players because of money. The NHL is terrible that way.— Fabulous
- If Nashville wants to match the offer, then they'd really be stuck! They'd have a guy who has most of their money who doesn't want to play there. AND, they can't trade him because that's monster contract that not a lot of teams can afford. I love this!— macd41144
- No it's not...if the team isint drawing fans and selling merchandise than who's fault is that? If Nashville can't succeed in Nashville than they should sell their team to someone who could bring in more revenue...it is NOT the flyers fault, NOT the leagues fault, it's Nashvilles...we buy merch, go to games, post on these forums, c'mon, look at Nashvilles message board on ESPN...I don't feel bad for the small market teams and never will— Joey1233
- Flyer fans, dont like do douse everybody's excitement,but the NASHVILLE PREDATORS fully intend to keep Weber.— flyers11
- The Flyers have thrown out a front loaded contract to kind of grab the Preds by the balls, but I fully anticipate the Preds to match offer. The only way I see the Preds not matching the offer is if the Flyers work on some contigency deal (where Preds don't match the offer) and give some current players in return for a couple of their first round picks. That's the only way I see Weber in a Flyers jersey. Regardless of whether or not it makes sense for Nashville to match the offer or not I just can't see them allowing Suter and Weber to walk away and settle for late 1st round picks. I hate to spoil the party, but just keeping it real. I still give props to Homer for trying to get something done— phillyfan880123
- Have to give homer credit for a ballsy offer - but in the long run this will hurt the flyers. These long term big$$$ deals are disasters. Anyone happy with Bryz for the next nine???— bigdaddyG
