IMO, they have to choose between one. Poiles been given the green light to throw whatever money he can at Weber to keep him there. Theres no doubt in my mind, regardless of whatever their budget might be internally (which won't be the to the cap, but shouldn't be 10+ mill under it like this season either) that they will keep Weber.

Keeping Suter is going to be the issue. It can certainly be done. Look at Chicago. Although they spend to the cap, they have quite a few big ticket players.

But I don't think Suter stays if he wants 7+ mill. 6? Yes. 6.5? I think thats the max Nashvilles gotta spend. You can't give Suter 7. You cant have 21 million tied up between two Dmen and a goalie, IMO anyway. It'll be tough as it is giving suter 6. 7 is probably out of the question.
- mochoson

Nashville already has $33 million under contract for next season. That doesn't include Weber, Suter, Kostitsyn, or Colin Wilson.

If you give Weber $8 million and Suter $6 million, that puts them at $47 million -- which is very close to what they spend each year. They would have to dump a contract in order to re-sign RFA's Kostitsyn and Colin Wilson.

That doesn't even get you into the category of adding more talent. You're actually losing talent at that point.

They're going to have to end up choosing one or risk having two unhappy players on long-term contracts.

Thats what I think is going to happen. Their going to sign these guys to big, long term deals that shorten the cap hit. That's actually probably what they have been attempting to do.

Its not that neither want to stay there. They both are presumably very happy with spending their entire careers there. But they likely want to know that this team will do all that it can to stay competitive year in and year out and go that extra mile to win the Stanley Cup, especially if their going to commit for 10+ years each.
- mochoson

Again, Does Weber feel they have what it takes? Does Weber want to commit to the Nashville Predators?

You'd love Kentucky then...wait what are your feelings on Bourbon?
- Lexington Flyer

It has been established that bourbon is my beverage of choice!

EDIT:I love to read.. my friends tease me
- jak521

Absolutely. I was the nerdiest. I'm still pretty nerdy. I had a very brief less nerdy phase in my late 20s.

Nashville already has $33 million under contract for next season. That doesn't include Weber, Suter, Kostitsyn, or Colin Wilson.

If you give Weber $8 million and Suter $6 million, that puts them at $47 million -- which is very close to what they spend each year. They would have to dump a contract in order to re-sign RFA's Kostitsyn and Colin Wilson.

That doesn't even get you into the category of adding more talent. You're actually losing talent at that point.

They're going to have to end up choosing one or risk having two unhappy players on long-term contracts.
- bradleyc4

I think Nashville is going to sign Weber. Suter on the other hand will have his rights traded at the draft or will hit the free agent market.

pretty sure it was 8-4. i'm guessing brian hayward, at least for part of it. can't imagine he got tagged for 8 goals.
- hammarby31

Feburary 17, 1986

Flyers 8, Jets 4

9 - PHI : Ron Sutter 11 (Tim Kerr, Rich Sutter) (EV) 15:38
10 - PHI : Ron Sutter 12 (Rich Sutter) (EV) 15:53

Brian Hayward (L) 18 saves on 23 shots - 40:00 mins
Daniel Berthiaume 13 saves on 16 shots - 20:00 mins

looks like the bandit got torched by sutter; the 2nd was probably the breakaway goal right after the first as i see it was unassisted.

btw, tim kerr scored his 42nd goal that night. bob froese played the first 2 periods before being yanked as well, for darren jensen, although i'm not sure why b/c he only gave up 2 goals. probably got hurt.

Feburary 1, 1986

Flyers 8, Jets 4

9 - PHI : Ron Sutter 11 (Tim Kerr, Rich Sutter) (EV) 15:38
10 - PHI : Ron Sutter 12 (Rich Sutter) (EV) 15:53

Brian Hayward (L) 18 saves on 23 shots - 40:00 mins
Daniel Berthiaume 13 saves on 16 shots - 20:00 mins

looks like the bandit got torched by sutter; the 2nd was probably the breakaway goal right after the first as i see it was unassisted.

btw, tim kerr scored his 42nd goal that night. bob froese played the first 2 periods before being yanked as well, for darren jensen, although i'm not sure why b/c he only gave up 2 goals. probably got hurt.
- hammarby31

Well Mike Keenan was the coach back then. Probably didn't like the 2 goals and yanked him.

The Chicago Black Hawks are the prime example of a bottom feeding team that got better in every single area of the game. I'm not taking any credit away from Weber but Suter obviously compliments Weber the same way Seabrooke has complimented Keith in the past. So where is the offense for the Preds? Where are they going to get it from with the type of budge they have? It's not at all crazy to suggest Weber could get traded, whether it's today or sometime before July 2013 (I feel he's an off season move). The rest of the world seems to be suggesting he'll get traded but for all I know Weber could be signing on the dotted line as we speak. I just feel he'll end up with another team before July 2013 but obviously that's just a guess.
- Schenn2shine

Nashville is 12th in the league in total offense.. just trailing the Rangers.

Well Mike Keenan was the coach back then. Probably didn't like the 2 goals and yanked him.
- hockeylover

it took him a long time to get mad, then, because the 2 goals he allowed were in the first period.

Nashville already has $33 million under contract for next season. That doesn't include Weber, Suter, Kostitsyn, or Colin Wilson.

If you give Weber $8 million and Suter $6 million, that puts them at $47 million -- which is very close to what they spend each year. They would have to dump a contract in order to re-sign RFA's Kostitsyn and Colin Wilson.

That doesn't even get you into the category of adding more talent. You're actually losing talent at that point.

They're going to have to end up choosing one or risk having two unhappy players on long-term contracts.
- bradleyc4

Thats why I think they will trade Suter after the season.. Draft table deal.

Nashville is 12th in the league in total offense.. just trailing the Rangers.
- jak521

Can they not improve or should Weber be expected to be their lead scorer for years to come?

I think Nashville is going to sign Weber. Suter on the other hand will have his rights traded at the draft or will hit the free agent market.
- stveshdy

If you're not going to keep Suter beyond this season, I think you have to trade him at the deadline. Even though he's going to be a FA at the end of the year, he could net you a highly coveted prospect, young player and/or high end draft pick.

Tough pill to swallow for the fans, but it's best long-term for the franchise.

guys, ive been roenick97 this whole time
- Crimsoninja

You're not fooling me, YO-EL!!!

If you're not going to keep Suter beyond this season, I think you have to trade him at the deadline. Even though he's going to be a FA at the end of the year, he could net you a highly coveted prospect, young player and/or high end draft pick.

Tough pill to swallow for the fans, but it's best long-term for the franchise.
- bradleyc4

I would deal him at the deadline but nashville will have a hard time selling that to their fans when the team is contending for a title.

You're not fooling me, YO-EL!!!
- Flyskippy

*revs engine of mid-life crisis corvette*

*revs engine of mid-life crisis corvette*
- Crimsoninja

Don't forget to leave room in the car for NYI

If you're not going to keep Suter beyond this season, I think you have to trade him at the deadline. Even though he's going to be a FA at the end of the year, he could net you a highly coveted prospect, young player and/or high end draft pick.

Tough pill to swallow for the fans, but it's best long-term for the franchise.
- bradleyc4

I've agreed with everything you've said up until now. I'm sure the Preds want something for Suter but they're in the playoffs and Suter is a big reason why. I think both guys are off season types of moves. Suter in 2012, Weber in 2013.

Can they not improve or should Weber be expected to be their lead scorer for years to come?
- Schenn2shine

Weber should definitely be expected to be one of their leading scorers for years to come.... They will certainly continue to improve. They got a bunch of kids running the show on offense right now.

FTR.. Weber has never lead the team in scoring at the end of a season.. In fact.. he has never even been in the top 2 on the team in scoring at the end of a season..

If you're not going to keep Suter beyond this season, I think you have to trade him at the deadline. Even though he's going to be a FA at the end of the year, he could net you a highly coveted prospect, young player and/or high end draft pick.

Tough pill to swallow for the fans, but it's best long-term for the franchise.
- bradleyc4

I agree with you.. its the smartest option they have. It is also the hardest decision to make, especially with how they have played so far this year.

I've agreed with everything you've said up until now. I'm sure the Preds want something for Suter but they're in the playoffs and Suter is a big reason why. I think both guys are off season types of moves. Suter in 2012, Weber in 2013.
- Schenn2shine

See this is what confuses me. Are you saying you think they will both be moved and both in the respective off-seasons?

Weber should definitely be expected to be one of their leading scorers for years to come.... They will certainly continue to improve. They got a bunch of kids running the show on offense right now.

FTR.. Weber has never lead the team in scoring at the end of a season.. In fact.. he has never even been in the top 2 on the team in scoring at the end of a season..
- jak521

I didn't ask if Weber should be one of their leading scorer for years to come, I asked if he should be their lead scorer for years to come.

See this is what confuses me. Are you saying you think they will both be moved and both in the respective off-seasons?
- jak521

Yes.

Yes.
- Schenn2shine

So you think they will traded Suter this offseason and Weber next offseason?

I didn't ask if Weber should be one of their leading scorer for years to come, I asked if he should be their lead scorer for years to come.
- Schenn2shine

Are you serious right now?

Feburary 17, 1986

Flyers 8, Jets 4

9 - PHI : Ron Sutter 11 (Tim Kerr, Rich Sutter) (EV) 15:38
10 - PHI : Ron Sutter 12 (Rich Sutter) (EV) 15:53

Brian Hayward (L) 18 saves on 23 shots - 40:00 mins
Daniel Berthiaume 13 saves on 16 shots - 20:00 mins

looks like the bandit got torched by sutter; the 2nd was probably the breakaway goal right after the first as i see it was unassisted.

btw, tim kerr scored his 42nd goal that night. bob froese played the first 2 periods before being yanked as well, for darren jensen, although i'm not sure why b/c he only gave up 2 goals. probably got hurt.
- hammarby31