Bombshell: Flyers make offer to Weber; will Nashville match?
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Bombshell: Flyers make offer to Weber; will Nashville match?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers hope they have found Chris Pronger’s successor.
His name is Shea Weber, a 6-foot-4, 232-pounder who is arguably the game's best all-around defenseman.
They signed a 14-year offer sheet for a reported $110 million late Wednesday night for Weber, a restricted free agent with Nashville. Weber, owner of one of the game's hardest shots, had 19 goals and anchored Nashville's stellar defense last season.
The righthanded-shooting Weber scored 10 power-play goals last season, had a plus-21 rating and was a finalist for the Norris Trophy, given to the league's top defenseman.
TSN was first to report Wednesday's stunning development.
If Nashville matches the offer, Weber, 26, remains with the Predators.
The Predators, who lost all-star defenseman Ryan Suter to free agency recently, have seven days to match.
If the Preds don’t match, the Flyers would have to give Nashville four first-round picks — reasonable for a player of Weber's stature.
After the season, the Flyers said it was “highly unlikely” the team would make an offer sheet to Weber, the Predators' captain.
That changed after the Flyers struck out with marquee free agents Zach Parise and Sutter. Both signed 13-year, $98 million deals with Minnesota.
NHL owners are trying to put a stop to mega-long-term contracts. They want the new CBA to limit contracts to five years.
It would be shocking, however, if the NHL's Players' Association agreed to that limit. The CBA expires on Sept. 15.
The Flyers' deal with Weber is apparently heavily loaded with upfront money — a reported $26 million signing bonus. Will Nashville, a small-market team, be able to afford such a hit?
Then again, can Nashville afford NOT signing Weber after failing to get Suter back in the fold? (Of the seven offer sheets that have been signed since 2005, six of the teams matched and retained their player's rights.)
According to multiple reports, Weber would receive $14 million in each of the first four seasons, and $12 million in the fifth and sixth years, followed by $6 million per season in years 7-10. He would get $3 million in his 11th year, and $1 million in each of his last three seasons.
TSN's Darren Dreger said Nashville was trying to work out a deal for Weber, but it is "believed several deadlines passed before the Flyers grew tired of waiting and Weber signed the offer sheet."
Give the Flyers credit for their boldness. If they land Weber, they would probably have the league's best defense, one that might look like this: Weber and Kimmo Timonen, his former Nashville teammate; Braydon Coburn and Nick Grossmann; and Andrej Meszaros and Luke Schenn.
Bruno Gervais, Erik Gustafsson, Marc-Andre Bourdon and Andreas Lilja would be among the candidates for the extra D-man spot.
By giving an offer sheet to Weber, the Flyers are, in a roundabout way, saying what everyone has feared — that Pronger's Hall-of-Fame career is over because of a concussion.
With Weber the Flyers would become instant Stanley Cup contenders.
Without him, they have not made improvement from the team that was eliminated in the second round of last season's Stanley Cup playoffs.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
I am not sure any defensemen is worth 4 first round picks let alone a huge long term contract like this. Sounds like a mistake which would have hoped they might have learned by now from the Ilya deal— connorjr- Think of it in terms of time on ice. D men can pay more-- a guy like Weber can easily log 30-35 minutes a game in the playoffs. What that means, essentially, is that for 1/2 the game the other team is shut down (and he can score too). I love it. Go big or go home.
- $1,110,249 or below- Nothing
Over $1,110,249 to $1,682,194- 3rd round choice
Over $1,682,194 to $3,364,391- 2nd round choice
Over $3,364,391 to $5,046,585- 1st round and 3rd round choice
Over $5,046,585 to $6,728,781- 1st, 2nd and 3rd round choice
Over $6,728,781 to $8,410,976- Two 1st round choices, 2nd and 3rd round choice
Over $8,410,976- Four 1st round choices— Nitroglycerin - I always laugh when people freak out about giving players long term deals, but then whine and complain when we don't go after the elite players and try to sign them. NEWS FLASH: elite players don't sign for short term deals. Deal with it - it's called risk and it's a part of sports.— PhillyIllini
- Too early to get excited. Nashville is so far below the salary cap floor that I don't see how they don't match. They would have to sign all of the remaining scrub free agents just to get there. Definitely want to see him in Philly next year but right now, it seems too good to be true.— MikeC67
- Honestly, everyone should have known that Pronger is done.
This just shows that they are actively trying to replace him.
and Gilligan, the compensation is 4 first rounders. Divide the total sum by 5 years (as is the max in the CBA) and you get 4 firsts.— barnzy02 - No way in hell Nashville doesn't match this offer. If they don't, awesome. This will be a long 7 days.....— DrumsAndBeer
- we still need a competent net minder— cheesesteak17
- The Flyers and Snyder are like the Yankees and Steinbrener, they have always been willing to spend the money. Why no championships?????— BOBMATT
- Whoah, easy, Pronger is a Hall of Famer with a Cup under his belt, Norris, and MVP trophies + 2 Finals appearances (game 6,game 7). Let's have Weber WIN up a Cup first, then I will be the first to announce him the next Pronger-Lidstrom-Chara in a heartbeat! But please, please, can some teach the Flyers scouts how to spot amazing talent and how to DRAFT for these players??? Specifically, a GOALIE!— MichaelZoe
- In thinking further those 4 picks should ideally be very late picks so with that in mind this does seem like a good move. Was thinking about Couts and young guys we got but besides Couts there hasn't really that much thru the draft anyway.
No I would love to see them package 2 of the D outside our top 6 and Hartnell (last year on deal) and trade for Ryan! Need young scorer to replace Jagr and JVR to complete the puzzle. Would be awesome to have gotten Luke Shenn, Shea Weber, and Bobby Ryan this off season!— connorjr - I think Nashville matches. I hope not. But, if so, then the Flyers should trade for Ryan and Yandle. I think Homer has been discussing trade talks with Anaheim this whole time. Yandle could be traded even though Phoenix got the new contract, the team itself I think is in financial trouble. Give up some of the picks from the Weber deal to Phoenix for Yandle and Ryan for Voracek, Read, and Mezasaros or a high draft pick. Then to get that inside presence on the power play pick up Knuble on the cheap for a year or two for the Power Play. EIther way I would be happy with Weber or the Ryan/yandle option— EricSpin301
- gonna be a LONG week— garyv
- Nashville may negotiate with Homer a bit. They could threaten to match unless Homer agrees to trade some NHL talent for the first round draft picks that are coming to Music City. Similar to the Gratton deal. Kudo's to Homer for cutting to the quick and ensuring that if we don't get him, Pittsburgh or the Rangers sure won't.— flyler
- The good news-Weber potentially on the blue line
The Bad news - Bryz is still in the crease— Mike Boryla
