After listening to yesterday’s conference call with David Poile and Shea Weber, and then thinking about it overnight… I feel a little better about how it all played out. The good news for Pred Nation is that it wasn’t about term, or money… the two biggest worries that you heard… it was about winning. It was about being a cup contender.

The clear message from Shea Weber was… I’m from Missouri (figuratively)… Show me.

It is way too easy for the traditional media to go back to old stories about the viability of Nashville as a hockey market (how soon they forget) but the discussion has moved past that. It is now about the Nashville Predators and a commitment to winning, and winning at the highest level. Shea Weber made that very clear in his comments yesterday and David Poile agreed. To be fair, Weber said that he thought the Predators were close.

The captain was clear in his affection for Nashville, the fans, and living in Tennessee. He obviously loves it and doesn’t want to leave… but his desire to win a championship outweighs that, and now the ball is clearly in the Preds GM hands.

In order to keep Shea, he must surround his captain with a team that competes for a Cup. David Poile also must make the dollars work, and here is where the addition of Sean Henry and Jeff Cogen on the business side is making all the difference. This pair has led the organization to capture more corporate dollars and increased ticket sales. They, along with their team, are doing the job of bringing the money in to afford a $7.5 million dollar player, and more. For this franchise to be walking the “break even” line over the past three seasons is nothing short of amazing, and projection going forward have that trend going in the right direction. The money looks to be there if current trends continue.

This team will never be a free spending, free agent crazed franchise. It is not in the DNA of this team. This ownership group leaves that to teams like the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers… and let's face it, the free spending strategy hasn’t exactly proven to be a method of constant championship success. Hockey teams are built from within, long-term winning franchises are built by smart drafting and finding those lower round steals… then surrounding them with the right role players. Want proof? Look no further than Nashville’s Central Division rival, the Detroit Red Wings. There is a reason that they have been incredibly successful over the last 20 years or so… they spend when they need to, but develop their own.

It’s the right model for any franchise, but it is especially right for Nashville.

So… I have a novel concept. Let’s enjoy the 2011-2012 season without too much focus on the off season. Yes I know that the team will have to get Suter, Rinne and Weber locked down and that it will be expensive… but let’s not ruin what should be another fun run with wild speculation and panicked prognostications. The captain is signed and given his comment from yesterday... that particular beast sounds hungrier than ever, and that, my fellow denizens of Pred Nation, is a very good thing.

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Random Notes

- Weber’s arbitration award was the highest in NHL history, beating the previous $7 million awarded to John LeClair in 2000… similar asks as well, LeClair submitted a $9 million figure, where the Flyers submitted $4.6. In 2004 Scott Neidermayer was also awarded $7 million.

- It is also interesting how several media outlets are intimating that Nashville was only offering $4.75 million in the negotiations… it is amazing how silly these guys can be.

- Elliotte Friedman’s main point in his speculative column on CBC.com was completely blown to smithereens by yesterday’s press conference as both parties were very clear in their statements that they understood it was just business. He made a point to ask both sides about how insulting the offer from Nashville was. With no hesitation at all, Shea Weber said it was not insulting at all, but just the way it goes. That being said, despite the invalidated point about damaged relationships, Friedman is entirely right about Weber being interested in winning over money.

- After yesterday’s award, the market price is set. I expect deals to be announced soon on Schenn and Doughty.

- Chicago’s extending Patrick Sharp is a great move. He’ll be around to bedevil the Preds for five more seasons after this one.

- 42 days till training camp opens.

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