That's a pretty big risk to take. According to reports, Poile was already looking to deal him. He could have waited it out. He has until September. I think he was just tired of waiting. Preds made good offers, but I'm positive none of them included the bonus money.
- Predaceous

True.

I agree they will have to give to get. Which Schenn?
- Hextall271

My guess : not the kid they just picked up from Toronto.

It has nothing to do with the price of tea in China, and everything to do with you constantly stating that the finances will be a burden to the Predators. Clearly, they will not.
- Predaceous

How will this clearly not be a burden? How?

Will someone explain to us how this will not be a burden?

The offer sheet was clearly written to wrap a noose around the Preds. Unless a magical rev stream is to arrive from an unknown land this contract is terrible.

How will their EBITA not take a major hit here? I'm not saying the Preds will just take the picks or players, but no one on this board has informed us how this makes fiscal sense.

well i really do think he took his chances to get paid now...Theres the new CBA in which he would never get this kind of money.
- Philly1980

That makes sense, thus the reason why he signed it.

How will this clearly not be a burden? How?

Will someone explain to us how this will not be a burden?

The offer sheet was clearly written to wrap a noose around the Preds. Unless a magical rev stream is to arrive from an unknown land this contract is terrible.
- acmilano3

Because the owners have deeeeeep pockets and they're apparently willing to dip into them, regardless of hockey revenues. It's called an investment. You do realize that these guys also have other revenue streams besides hockey, right? Not the least of which is the lease deal with the city of Nashville which pays them to manage the arena.

How will this clearly not be a burden? How?

Will someone explain to us how this will not be a burden?

The offer sheet was clearly written to wrap a noose around the Preds. Unless a magical rev stream is to arrive from an unknown land this contract is terrible.
- acmilano3

I'm pretty sure he just explained how the contract will not be a burden. They have a new ownership team, including the guys who was tweeting, and they have boatloads of money.

That makes sense, thus the reason why he signed it.
- acmilano3

Except that he could have waited for a trade to be completed if he really wanted out of Nashville. He would have still been able to accept offer sheets after a trade, but he wouldn't be risking being in Nashville for the rest of his career.

Except that he could have waited for a trade to be completed if he really wanted out of Nashville. He would have still been able to accept offer sheets after a trade, but he wouldn't be risking being in Nashville for the rest of his career.
- Predaceous

No he could not have it he wants to beat the new CBA.

John Shannon...sports net.....tweeted ...Preds will match unless Flyers willing to make a great deal....doughtful....

No he could not have it he wants to beat the new CBA.
- acmilano3

Yes he could. The current CBA is good until Sept 15. He just needed to sign by that date.

I'm pretty sure he just explained how the contract will not be a burden. They have a new ownership team, including the guys who was tweeting, and they have boatloads of money.
- nucks_94

Sorry. Try again. How will this not be a burden?

Yes he could. The current CBA is good until Sept 15. He just needed to sign by that date.
- Predaceous

He did that. He signed a few days ago.

Just saw a tweet from Weber wondering where those deep pockets were during his contract negotiations.

Colin Wilson tweets the Preds have deep pockets and now their EBITA magically improves post Weber.

Sorry. Try again. How will this not be a burden?
- acmilano3

I don't know anything about Nashville's ownership group so will defer to others on here -- apparently they have deep pockets and can match. If this is the case, then why is the contract any more of a burden to Nashville than it is to Philly ? The stumbling block to matching would be whether or not Nashville could afford the front-loaded bonus, right ? Otherwise, the deal is not that bad (from a Cap hit perspective).

Sorry. Try again. How will this not be a burden?
- acmilano3

Yes, but why male models?

It looks like the Preds will match the offer unless the Flyers are prepared to make a huge trade per John Shannon @ sportsnet...

Per JSportsnet John Shannon on twitter:

Just got told by 1 NHL Exec it looks like Preds will match Weber offer sheet. "Unless,Flyers are prepared to make a great trade"#doubtful

He did that. He signed a few days ago.

Just saw a tweet from Weber wondering where those deep pockets were during his contract negotiations.

Colin Wilson tweets the Preds have deep pockets and now their EBITA magically improves post Weber.
- acmilano3

Which of the fake Weber tweet accts were you perusing?

Because the owners have deeeeeep pockets and they're apparently willing to dip into them, regardless of hockey revenues. It's called an investment. You do realize that these guys also have other revenue streams besides hockey, right? Not the least of which is the lease deal with the city of Nashville which pays them to manage the arena.
- Predaceous

the owners have no problem letting the city of nashville subsidize 6.5 million dollars of debt last year. ticket sales were 23 million dollars last year. Rinne+Weber will equal 20 million alone next year. Owners have deep pockets but they wont throw good money after bas especially when they have twelve contracts coming up next year. Just saying. I kinda wish wilson puts his money where his mouth is so this whole cluster(frank) can be over. I dont really care if we loose weber.

I don't know anything about Nashville's ownership group so will defer to others on here -- apparently they have deep pockets and can match. If this is the case, then why is the contract any more of a burden to Nashville than it is to Philly ? The stumbling block to matching would be whether or not Nashville could afford the front-loaded bonus, right ? Otherwise, the deal is not that bad (from a Cap hit perspective).
- MadCap2008

They offered it. The Preds did not and still have not matched.

The Sabres matched the Vanek sheet in minutes.

If its as easy as everyone thinks to come up with this money then why have they not matched it yet, so they can move on to players like Doan or signing Wilson and Blum.

Why wait? How does that help Nashville here?

They also knew this was coming. I will gaurantee Homer expressed to Poile this was coming. Poile and the Flyers org go a long way back. There is a ton of respect there.

True. I find it humorous when fans call out for GM's to extend/sign young players early (as the Canes blogger is calling for regarding Skinner) as though all that needs to be done is hand the player a new contract with instructions to sign here, here and here. Lol. It's just not that easy.

Promising athletes are being groomed at an early age by parents, coaches, mentors, etc. and, eventually, sports agents on how to say "no". They aren't dumb and their advisors certainly aren't either. The name of the game from that perspective (agents, et al) is to know everything possible - strengths and weaknesses - about the organization, legal structures, ownership, etc. and then find a way to maximize the payday. Period.

Free agency has substantially altered professional sports. At least it's never boring, especially concerning the Preds.
- blueline

^^^This^^^
I'll be the first to admit that the Wild got lucky with Suter and Parise. The planets and stars certainly were in perfect alignment for this transaction to be even remotely possible... Wild had the money and cap space first and foremost, but then again so did a lot of other teams... Wild had Parise's home town and his desire to go home along with being close friends with Suter and wanting to play with the same organization. As well as Suter wanting to be closer to his home in Wisconsin. This type of scenario is rare if not non-existant for the most part. 99.999% of the rest of the time, the NY, Phillys, Pittsburghs, Detroits etc.. of the league are usually preventing any real competion from small and mid-market teams...

Which of the fake Weber tweet accts were you perusing?
- blueline

Which of the fake Weber tweet accts were you perusing?
- blueline

Sarcasm. Who gives a rats patutt what a players tweets. I would be impressed if someone provided hard numbers, quantify deep pockets and provide a modicum of fiscal feedback outside of a Colin Wilson tweet.

Did anyone ask Colin why he is not signed if their pockets are that deep?

They offered it. The Preds did not and still have not matched.

The Sabres matched the Vanek sheet in minutes.

If its as easy as everyone thinks to come up with this money then why have they not matched it yet, so they can move on to players like Doan or signing Wilson and Blum.

Why wait? How does that help Nashville here?

They also knew this was coming. I will gaurantee Homer expressed to Poile this was coming. Poile and the Flyers org go a long way back. There is a ton of respect there.
- acmilano3

Just because they can match it, doesn't mean they should...

the owners have no problem letting the city of nashville subsidize 6.5 million dollars of debt last year. ticket sales were 23 million dollars last year. Rinne+Weber will equal 20 million alone next year. Owners have deep pockets but they wont throw good money after bas especially when they have twelve contracts coming up next year. Just saying. I kinda wish wilson puts his money where his mouth is so this whole cluster(frank) can be over. I dont really care if we loose weber.
- Philly1980

i dont really care either. just happy he is not in nyc or pitts.

i am on a mission to find facts from a fan base that thinks expenses are paid by butterflies and marshmellow clouds.

They offered it. The Preds did not and still have not matched.

The Sabres matched the Vanek sheet in minutes.

If its as easy as everyone thinks to come up with this money then why have they not matched it yet, so they can move on to players like Doan or signing Wilson and Blum.

Why wait? How does that help Nashville here?

They also knew this was coming. I will gaurantee Homer expressed to Poile this was coming. Poile and the Flyers org go a long way back. There is a ton of respect there.
- acmilano3

I have no idea what Nashville is going to do, but one explanation could be that Nashville wants to wait until the last minute to match as an "F-U" to Philly, who have watched the Rags trade for Nash and might see Doan/Ryan land elsewhere while awaiting a decision on Weber.