you forgot the other option for Shea leaving.

He demands a trade.
- Just5

This what I fear the most!!! Pekka's set back & DP's off season killed this season before the Preds could get any traction. I can write off this year but there has to be some kind of game plan moving forward. Maybe a new voice upstairs?

It is time for a top line offensive player who carry this team on his back! This will take the pressure off the D core, the goalie, & the #grit line. I feel like this team is too uptight & every mistake is magnified due to BT's system.

Another 2 years of this mess, Weber will want to move on! He will have banked $56 mill by then. The love of money will turn to quest for the cup. You can't sugar coat it anymore!

I'm not saying he will be a Pred for life... the simple fact is, he won't be traded unless/until the Predators decide to. Weber likes living in Nashville.

Winning a cup... there is the rub. The Preds have two cornerstone pieces, Rinne and Weber... potentials in Jones and Josi... the key will be acquiring/developing some high-end offensive talent... that's where the team has struggled.

BTW... the Preds have won two series in the playoffs (Anaheim and Detroit) but who's counting.
- pmccann

That's what I don't get. They develop all these great defensive players but they haven't traded recently for young offensive talent
(minus forsberg because Washington was stupid on that trade)

I showed up to read the blog but I stayed for the shots at Garth Snow

Well number 1, your impression that Shea Weber loves Nashville is not a fact. You guys related or best friends?
- SameOld

LOL. Paul works for the Predators. He speaks with Weber all the time. Weber has also publicly commented on how much he loves Nashville. If he's blowing smoke he's doing a great job of acting sincere. The fact that he signed the contract with Philly, knowing Nashville had every intention of matching would also indicate that he's fine with being in Nashville. He just wanted to cash in on the last big pay day he could with the CBA expiring and the Flyers gave him the vehicle to do so.

"Fact 3" also isn't a fact. You don't know how the Predators are doing financially.

Actually we do. Their lease with the sports authority makes it mandatory that they disclose their finances every year. It's public. They're basically breaking even right now. So anyone claiming the team is losing money every year is basically rehashing old news from the Leipold regime and has zero knowledge of the arena lease and how beneficial it is to Powers Mgmt. aka The Preds.

"Fact 4" also isn't a fact. You're not in the room when the Preds are discussing the stability of the franchise and what is needed to be successful.

Again, Paul works for the organization. He's in the know more than you're giving him credit for. Poile has also been on the radio recently emphatically stating that he is NOT trading Weber. He's building the team around him.

I might also add that the team owners have come out and said that they not only have the money to pay Weber, but they have the money to pay him and surround him with the players needed to make a run at the cup. The fact that they haven't so far falls on Poile and Trotz, but has nothing to do with Weber or his contract.

This what I fear the most!!! Pekka's set back & DP's off season killed this season before the Preds could get any traction. I can write off this year but there has to be some kind of game plan moving forward. Maybe a new voice upstairs?

It is time for a top line offensive player who carry this team on his back! This will take the pressure off the D core, the goalie, & the #grit line. I feel like this team is too uptight & every mistake is magnified due to BT's system.

Another 2 years of this mess, Weber will want to move on! He will have banked $56 mill by then. The love of money will turn to quest for the cup. You can't sugar coat it anymore!
- slash&smash

I doubt Weber will ever demand a trade unless things spiral out of control in a downward manner. Even then, the Preds would have to be perennial losers for him to demand a trade.

As Paul pointed out, he doesn't have a NTC of any sort. He might demand to be traded from the Preds, but the Preds would be able to send him to Edmonton or Brooklyn if they want. He can ask for a trade, but he doesn't get to say where he goes. The fact that he might end up in a worse situation would most likely prevent that.

lemme get this straight: the blogger of a rumour website is complaining about... rumours?

just another day on hockeybuzz.

Is the word "Narratives" as over used in the blogger community as I think it is or is it just me? It seems like everytime I read a rant piece or people debating "Narrative" is plastered in there multiple times.

I'm not saying he will be a Pred for life... the simple fact is, he won't be traded unless/until the Predators decide to. Weber likes living in Nashville.

Winning a cup... there is the rub. The Preds have two cornerstone pieces, Rinne and Weber... potentials in Jones and Josi... the key will be acquiring/developing some high-end offensive talent... that's where the team has struggled.

BTW... the Preds have won two series in the playoffs (Anaheim and Detroit) but who's counting.
- pmccann

My bad on the one series win comment. I legitimately thought they had won just the Red Wings series.

Another question. Would the Preds trade Jones for B. Schenn and a 1st?

Also, when are the Flyers and Preds going to combine forces to form a super team? Preds D and the Flyers O would make for a really great squad.

I doubt Weber will ever demand a trade unless things spiral out of control in a downward manner. Even then, the Preds would have to be perennial losers for him to demand a trade.

As Paul pointed out, he doesn't have a NTC of any sort. He might demand to be traded from the Preds, but the Preds would be able to send him to Edmonton or Brooklyn if they want. He can ask for a trade, but he doesn't get to say where he goes. The fact that he might end up in a worse situation would most likely prevent that.
- Predaceous

I thought you and Paul were dead wrong about the No Trade Clause. I figured the Flyers offered the contract and they offer no trade clauses to almost everyone. I was surprised to see he does not have one. That is my something new for today.

I doubt Weber will ever demand a trade unless things spiral out of control in a downward manner. Even then, the Preds would have to be perennial losers for him to demand a trade.

As Paul pointed out, he doesn't have a NTC of any sort. He might demand to be traded from the Preds, but the Preds would be able to send him to Edmonton or Brooklyn if they want. He can ask for a trade, but he doesn't get to say where he goes. The fact that he might end up in a worse situation would most likely prevent that.
- Predaceous

Hold on... are you saying Holmgren actually signed some one to a contract without a NTC? I have a hard time believing that.

LOL. Paul works for the Predators. He speaks with Weber all the time. Weber has also publicly commented on how much he loves Nashville. If he's blowing smoke he's doing a great job of acting sincere. The fact that he signed the contract with Philly, knowing Nashville had every intention of matching would also indicate that he's fine with being in Nashville. He just wanted to cash in on the last big pay day he could with the CBA expiring and the Flyers gave him the vehicle to do so.



Actually we do. Their lease with the sports authority makes it mandatory that they disclose their finances every year. It's public. They're basically breaking even right now. So anyone claiming the team is losing money every year is basically rehashing old news from the Leipold regime and has zero knowledge of the arena lease and how beneficial it is to Powers Mgmt. aka The Preds.



Again, Paul works for the organization. He's in the know more than you're giving him credit for. Poile has also been on the radio recently emphatically stating that he is NOT trading Weber. He's building the team around him.

I might also add that the team owners have come out and said that they not only have the money to pay Weber, but they have the money to pay him and surround him with the players needed to make a run at the cup. The fact that they haven't so far falls on Poile and Trotz, but has nothing to do with Weber or his contract.
- Predaceous

I'm in the trade Weber camp...
but Im MORE in the keep Weber & fire Trotzy camp.....

Hold on... are you saying Holmgren actually signed some one to a contract without a NTC? I have a hard time believing that.
- Girouxsalem90

I think Holmgren did have a NMC in his version of the contract, but since the Preds matched an RFA offer sheet, they only had to match the monetary terms. Shea and his agents asked Poile to include the NMC in his contract, but Poile wisely declined. Why handcuff yourself if the RFA rules don't require it?

My bad on the one series win comment. I legitimately thought they had won just the Red Wings series.

Another question. Would the Preds trade Jones for B. Schenn and a 1st?

Also, when are the Flyers and Preds going to combine forces to form a super team? Preds D and the Flyers O would make for a really great squad.
- mickel25

There's no way the Preds trade Jones. I've never seen Poile so excited about announcing his draft pick as when he picked Jones. He all but ran to the podium and practically high-fived the staff after making the announcement. All that was missing was a legitimate happy dance.

Poile announcing Jones:











As for Weber

I thought you and Paul were dead wrong about the No Trade Clause. I figured the Flyers offered the contract and they offer no trade clauses to almost everyone. I was surprised to see he does not have one. That is my something new for today.
- mickel25

I don't think you can offer a no trade clause as part of an offer sheet. Just term and dollars. The details get worked out later. I could be wrong, but there was a reason that the NTC was not included in the offer sheet.

lemme get this straight: the blogger of a rumour website is complaining about... rumours?

just another day on hockeybuzz.
- RealityChecker

This may come as a real shock to you, but not every blogger on this site deals in rumors.

I know, it's crazy isn't it?

I just got back from Nashville on Spring Break. I legitimately don't understand the assumption that Nashville isn't a desired destination for players. We're not talking about Arizona or Winnipeg or Columbus. No offense to all the above, but Nashville is just an awesome place to live.

I just got back from Nashville on Spring Break. I legitimately don't understand the assumption that Nashville isn't a desired destination for players. We're not talking about Arizona or Winnipeg or Columbus. No offense to all the above, but Nashville is just an awesome place to live.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Thank You.
Glad you enjoyed your time here...
And yes, yes it is.

I just got back from Nashville on Spring Break. I legitimately don't understand the assumption that Nashville isn't a desired destination for players. We're not talking about Arizona or Winnipeg or Columbus. No offense to all the above, but Nashville is just an awesome place to live.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Tennessee doesn't have a state income tax either. You would think players would see that as a huge positive when looking at destinations.

This may come as a real shock to you, but not every blogger on this site deals in rumors.

I know, it's crazy isn't it?
- Predaceous

yes, i know.

some only report crazy conspiracy theories about the (canadian) media driven agenda against nashville.

I know, it's crazy isn't it?

Paul, why do you take every media report regarding Nashville as a personal slight? That's been your M.O. since you started here and it's kind of become a joke. You want to talk about arrogance? How about insisting in no uncertain terms that Weber will absolutely, without any doubt, remain in Nashville for the duration of his contract. You do this while pointing fingers at everyone else and you're probably wondering why you're not taken seriously by the mainstream media. It's because you're just a fan.

How do you think us Flyers fans feel,Paul? We have idiot beats like panotch, carchidi, then an even more clueless columnist Sam Donnelon throws his hat in the ring. It's a shame flyers fans have to deal with their trash. Luckily we meltzer her on HB to preach a little knowledge.

LOL. Paul works for the Predators. He speaks with Weber all the time. Weber has also publicly commented on how much he loves Nashville. If he's blowing smoke he's doing a great job of acting sincere. The fact that he signed the contract with Philly, knowing Nashville had every intention of matching would also indicate that he's fine with being in Nashville. He just wanted to cash in on the last big pay day he could with the CBA expiring and the Flyers gave him the vehicle to do so.
- Predaceous

I'm not saying that Weber wants out, but what I do know is that if he did, one of the last people he would tell is Paul McCann. What purpose would that serve? People need to realize that athletes lie all the time about these situations when telling the truth isn't beneficial. Seriously, what would you expect the guy to say if the team's mouthpiece asked him if he wants to leave?

soooooo,,,, what you're really saying is that you'd take Karlsson straight up for Weber????

sorry, I couldn't help myself

maybe the same guys that say that Weber wants out are the same guy Brian Murray talks about when 'they' said Spezza was being shopped 'quietly'..... he was almost as upset as you

Tennessee doesn't have a state income tax either. You would think players would see that as a huge positive when looking at destinations.
- thebradymachine

In fact, if we compare the net tax burden of Nashville/Williamson co (ie residence of note for US income) to downtown Philly, the differential is even more. Since the Philly millage is about 3 times that found in Williamson Co. (about the lowest property tax rates in TN). TN sales tax is about 10% compared to 8% in Philly, but that's nothing compared to the 7% combined state and city income tax which Tennessee doesn't have. At $14 million salary this year, he'd have to make another ~ $1,048,000 this year to make up for the loss in tax differential.

So, until he gets the itch (a la Steve Nash) to chase the cup, I think we're good....I will predict that if we don't get to a conference finals in 4-5 years, he will do a Nash and demand a trade.

I think if Nashville were having a good year this would not even be considered....but they aren't . Be it Philadelphia, Edmonton or Colorado, all these teams have the assets and a need for a defenceman of Webers stature.
I don't think it's whether or not the organization would trade him....it's whether or not they should. Should they trade from a position of strength ? Should they fill the holes they obviously have with one transaction?
Does it matter if a team can afford him or that they use the resources towards gaps they have ?
Now, as a flyer fan I would love to acquire him....and no, I don't think it would take Claude Giroux, but I get the point Paul's making. Of course Holmgren would be interested, it fills the Flyers biggest need with one transaction.....the question about A Weber trade won't be answered by Paul or Sam Chiardi or Tim Pannachio.....but rather the ownership group and the Hockey people in Nashville.....one thing is for certain....If ownership cut the bonus check this summer the debate will be over....no ownership would pay a guy 13 mil with idea of moving him out anytime soon if not ever.......good blog.