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

Glad you enjoyed your visit to Nashville. Nashville is a great city to live and work in.

Unfortunately, I believe there are two real reasons why Nashville cannot attract the top goal-scoring players needed to be competitive:
1) Nashville is not high on the media visibility radar. Players will not get the recognition they so often deserve or crave. As much as I hate to bring this name up, Ryan Suter was never going to be mentioned in Norris Trophy discussions as long as he played in Shea Weber's shadow. Predators fans have always known how good a player Suter is, but Weber has the more coveted size, physicality and devastating slap shot that is highlight reel worthy. It took leaving Nashville for Minnesota for the rest of the league to notice Suter.
2) Offensively talented forwards are not going to come to Nashville via free agency because of the defense first system that Trotz preaches. As a fan I know I am sick of the system choking the offensive creativity out of the forwards but it is play Trotz' system or sit in the press box. I'm sure Trotz watched the Canadians win Gold in Sochi with their defense first style and uses it to prove his "Defense wins Championships" mantra. Teams can't win championships on the wrong end of a 1-0 game.

Glad you enjoyed your visit to Nashville. Nashville is a great city to live and work in.

Unfortunately, I believe there are two real reasons why Nashville cannot attract the top goal-scoring players needed to be competitive:
1) Nashville is not high on the media visibility radar. Players will not get the recognition they so often deserve or crave. As much as I hate to bring this name up, Ryan Suter was never going to be mentioned in Norris Trophy discussions as long as he played in Shea Weber's shadow. Predators fans have always known how good a player Suter is, but Weber has the more coveted size, physicality and devastating slap shot that is highlight reel worthy. It took leaving Nashville for Minnesota for the rest of the league to notice Suter.
2) Offensively talented forwards are not going to come to Nashville via free agency because of the defense first system that Trotz preaches. As a fan I know I am sick of the system choking the offensive creativity out of the forwards but it is play Trotz' system or sit in the press box. I'm sure Trotz watched the Canadians win Gold in Sochi with their defense first style and uses it to prove his "Defense wins Championships" mantra. Teams can't win championships on the wrong end of a 1-0 game.
- PredfaninNash

I think a city like Nashville would be enticing to a player....great young core of D....top notch goalie....beautiful place to live....

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?
- Jeffmt

Ok, outside of publicly stating it, it's been mentioned more than once, in Paul's blog and in these comments; If Weber truly didn't want to be here, he wouldn't have signed that offer sheet. Nashville made it known, well before the offer sheet came into play, that if any offer sheet were given they would match. Weber knew this. The fact that he signed it means he's perfectly fine playing for Nashville. Otherwise he had one year left on his contract. All he had to do was ride it out, and he would have gotten his UFA status. Free to walk, just like Suter, if he wasn't traded beforehand.

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?
- RealityChecker

It's totally crazy, like the way people imagine all the conspiracies about how Bettman is totally against Canada, and they get all mad when you point out how much they're tin foil hatting, only to have them go out and accuse anyone pointing out inaccuracies in Canadian or any mainstream media reporting regarding Nashville as nothing more than a conspiracy theory about how those media outlets are against Nashville.

It's sooooo crazy what hypocrites people are 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.
- Jeffmt

Bang on.

I love living around Nashville, fun place to be. Its a hoot seeing Red Wing fans out number the Preds fans at times too.

So Weber in a trade would be for, (according to Paul)?

Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, a couple of first round draft picks and a lifetime supply of cheesesteaks from either Pat’s or Geno’s"?

huh?

Seriously?

Giroux plus???

I respect him for wanting to stay in Nashville, but the facts are, Weber needs both Trotz & Poile gone to ever fully succeed with the Preds. As we all know, Trotz' time & his grind it out style of play have been around long enough & need to be replaced with something new & fresh...enough of bringing the same old grinders in and letting the offensive production suffer while Pekka continues to stand on his head for the team.

For the fans sake, I hope they make the changes that have been needed for some time.

I love living around Nashville, fun place to be. Its a hoot seeing Red Wing fans out number the Preds fans at times too.
- YzermanIsTheMan

How sweet was that last playoff series against the Wings? Loved outplaying them, and the fact Lidstrom played his last game (losing) on our ice.

I respect him for wanting to stay in Nashville, but the facts are, Weber needs both Trotz & Poile gone to ever fully succeed with the Preds. As we all know, Trotz' time & his grind it out style of play have been around long enough & need to be replaced with some new & fresh...enough of bringing the same old grinders in and letting the offensive production suffer while Pekka continues to stand on his head for the team.

For the fans sake, I hope they make the changes that have been needed for some time.
- Hockeytown4life

Bang on. Not only Weber needs Trotz & Poile gone, but the whole franchise does. No big name FA is ever going to land in Nashville with the system they play. Heck, we have to overpay 3rd and 4th liners just to come here as it is. And the excuse it's small market Nashville and no one will come here isn't it either.

How sweet was that last playoff series against the Wings? Loved outplaying them, and the fact Lidstrom played his last game (losing) on our ice.
- predsfan97

Very true, it was a good series win for the Preds. I just couldn't believe the Preds fought so hard in round 1 vs the Wings, and then couldn't get it together in round 2 vs. Phoenix, didn't make any sense. Was rooting for them to make a deep run if they were gonna beat us, ya know?

Very true, it was a good series win for the Preds. I just couldn't believe the Preds fought so hard in round 1 vs the Wings, and then couldn't get it together in round 2 vs. Phoenix, didn't make any sense. Was rooting for them to make a deep run if they were gonna beat us, ya know?
- Hockeytown4life

Unfortunately Radulov broke curfew, Poile and Trotz suspended him and Andrei Kostitsyn not 1 but 2 games and momentum was lost. Really thought they would go to final 4 that year.

Unfortunately Radulov broke curfew, Poile and Trotz suspended him and Andrei Kostitsyn not 1 but 2 games and momentum was lost. Really thought they would go to final 4 that year.
- predsfan97

Ah yes, I had quite forgotten about that instance.

Scary situation in Dallas. Get well Rich!

It's totally crazy, like the way people imagine all the conspiracies about how Bettman is totally against Canada, and they get all mad when you point out how much they're tin foil hatting, only to have them go out and accuse anyone pointing out inaccuracies in Canadian or any mainstream media reporting regarding Nashville as nothing more than a conspiracy theory about how those media outlets are against Nashville.

It's sooooo crazy what hypocrites people are isn't it?
- Predaceous

Wow. You really sound angry. Why are you guys so defensive?

I really enjoyed this blog. I think you bring up quite a few valid points. That being said, unless Nashville becomes a legit cup contender in the next 3-5 years, I don't see him staying put.

His cap hit Is not a bad number at all for today's cap. Think what that will mean 3-5 years from now. I know that means all the more reason to keep him, but if in five years Weber is still one of (if not) the best D-man in the league, and Nashville is struggling to make the playoffs for the past couple seasons, someone WILL offer 'Hershel Walker to the Vikings' deal. There are going to be a number of GMs who will mortgage their entire future to add a world beater of a D-man at a weak 2nd solid 3rd defensman's price... Especially when theirs seven more years after that.

Just because he's not for sale doesn't mean he can't be bought...

Just because he's not for sale doesn't mean he can't be bought...
- PuckAndSticks

Best quote on this thread... and very good conversation.

Thanks for engaging gang!

Don't even bring up Suter, Jones has already replaced him.
He has been forgotten in Nashville.

I agree with Paul, this Weber trade talk is just stupid.
- up-n-ya

Tell them up-n-ya. Stupid is as stupid does.

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

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

"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.
- SameOld

And you are, who? Why don't you tell us what is happening and the stability of the franchise MR. KNOW IT ALL.

I had a great post, but the website screwed up as I was posting it, so here's a quick gist of what the post was.

Nashville is not making the playoffs this year. And with the competition in the west being as fierce as it is, it's likely that with the current roster they have they will be fighting tooth and nail for a wild card spot for the next number of years. With Nashville being one of the lowest revenue generating teams, and basically losing money every year it's crucial for this team to make the playoffs. If ownership feels that this team is not good enough to make the playoffs, then they may want to make some moves to decrease payroll to offset this loss. Ownership may find Weber's signing bonuses (I think it's 13 million each year for the next couple of years, and then it's 8 million for a couple of years, on top of his salary) a hard pill to swallow, and may favor moving the contract for more manageable contracts. I'm not saying that this is going to happen, or that the Preds should do it, but with money conscious teams like the Preds, it's not inconceivable that this may happen.
- BruHAWK

Boy you clowns in Canada sure are smart. You know everything that is going on the states money wise. When was the last time a Canadian team won a Stanley Cup, huh?

Boy you clowns in Canada sure are smart. You know everything that is going on the states money wise. When was the last time a Canadian team won a Stanley Cup, huh?
- porterw1

easy there fella,
knock Canada all you want, but we produce the best hockey players in the world. Look at ANY Stanley Cup Roster and its ALLWAYS filled with Canadians.
as far as the US economy, any smart canadian knows its very important to our economy that the US Economy is strong...so to me its great that the economy south of the border is on the upswing.

So...who is Weber inexplicably losing the Norris to this year?

So...who is Weber inexplicably losing the Norris to this year?
- YouAreTheGovt

I would say Karlsson, Keith & Pietrangelo are gonna be the frontrunners. Suter may get some play if Minny makes some noise. And of course, Chara is aging, so they may do like they did with Lidstrom a few years back & give it to Zdeno for old times' sake! Weber won't even be a Norris finalist this year - even though this may be his best season from some perspectives.

Look, I can argue on here all day long about the merits of Weber. But the writers who pick this award look at the stat board more than anything else. They are gonna see Karlsson's huge point totals, or the super-high +/- for Keith & Pietrangelo...and that's where the votes will go. It's been that way for a LONG time. It's been very rare that the Norris has been awarded to a player scoring less than 55-60 points (excepted in shortened seasons). Sadly for Weber, because he plays on such an offensively challenged team, it's going to be rare for him to get to 60+ points, if he ever does. As far as % of his team's offense...he ranks right up there with the top D-men.

If the GM's voted on the award, it would be different. If you gave most GM's one pick of any player for a D-man to start their franchise from scratch...a large number of them would choose Weber. But the writers either don't look that deeply at the award, or they don't care about "all-around" play.

If you take the Norris candidates' point totals and look at them as a percentage of their teams' offense - you get a clear picture of how important Weber is.

Player % of Team Goals % of Team Points

Weber 9.6% 8.5%
Karlsson 9.2% 10.5%
Suter 3.8% 7.4%
Pietrangelo 2.8% 5.8%
Keith 1.3% 7.5%
Doughty 4.9% 6.6%
Chara 6.9% 4.6%

If I was a hockey writer, I would consider this. Weber & Karlsson are the tops in the league in each category. That looks like a pretty even split to me. So how would I break the tie? Look at intangibles. Time on Ice. Short-handed time, etc. That's where Weber stands out over Karlsson. But just because Duncan Keith has 50 points, doesn't mean he's anywhere near the best offensive defenseman...much less the "all around" type. He's scored 50 points on a team that has 220+ goals. How hard is that?

Scary situation in Dallas. Get well Rich!
- slash&smash[/quote
Yes it was. Hope Rich is ok!