No way. Long term contracts are a CBA issue anyway so there's no point in making an example of one deal. And the Kovalchuk rule doesn't apply to Weber.
- S Kaspar Rollins

If its 26 mill upfront, it sure does.....

Why would he retire? Might as well collect that paycheck. Also, I'm not aware of any penalty for using the LTIR credit, you just have to account for the cap hit in the summer.
- BulliesPhan87

If you retired with a 35+ contract you get the money.

Too many people on here missing too many facts. As a passionate news watching Predators fanatic, let me fill you in.

Fact 1: Poile said they'd match any offer sheet.

Fact 2: Poile said it's the goal of the franchise to keep Shea Weber as the cornerstone.

Fact 3: Shea Weber wants to continue playing in Nashville.

Fact 4: The Predators are 15 million dollars under the cap floor.

Fact 5: Poile has said they will be a cap team this year. In other words, they have 30 million dollars to spend.

Fact 6: Since the Kovulchuk contract, the NHL has created a few rules about front loaded contracts. The math doesn't work out for the contract to allow for the front loading of 26 million. I'm not going to explain the rule here. Look it up yourself.

Now, knowing all that...Weber is happy to sign this deal because it's a great contract for him and it forces Nashville's hand to give him the deal he wants. Who wouldn't want this deal? It makes David Poile and all of Smashville happy, because Shea Weber will now be signed long-term as a Predator. Also, they're not going to trade him!

It will all unfold in the next few days. If I'm wrong, I'll be surprised. Heck, I admit I was wrong about Suter.

Lastly, I don't like the length of the contract. Anything could happen. He could end up being the next Pronger and his career fizzles due to injuries. Too big a cap hit for too long. Well, hopefully it will work out okay long-term.

In the end, the offer sheet is great news to Pred Nation!
- TerryB

unless the preds don't match....

Lastly, I don't like the length of the contract. Anything could happen. He could end up being the next Pronger and his career fizzles due to injuries. Too big a cap hit for too long. Well, hopefully it will work out okay long-term.
- TerryB

Good post.

Huge difference between Weber and Pronger contracts is their age.

If you retired with a 35+ contract you get the money.
- Pomegrant

Can council cite precedent? The only 35+ rule I know of is that retiring doesn't remove the cap hit.

ah. nope, not my fault you're not prepared. been logged in and on 5-second auto-refresh for the last 40 minutes.

LOSER
- LOLKessel

Oh the irony

Tavares
Kovalchuk

- Danformo

ah i know. just talking about the fire power between the 3 teams.

not leaving out the stars on NJ or NYI. Tavares and Kovy are both great players.

For all of you saying that Nashville will match the offer.........

I don't see how they possibly can, especially if all the money is up front. This isn't a salary cap issue. It's a budget issue. Nashville would basically have to play with Weber, Renne and a bunch of third and fourth line players for several years. Barry Trotz is good but that would really be pushing it.
- todstiles

they pretty much have been, just with suter too

i see them matching

If its 26 mill upfront, it sure does.....
- chompsey

Havent looked up Kovy rule in awhile but I thought it had a specific age where it began, is Weber old enough to qualify?

And as a penguins fan I hope the penguins trade the preds 4 firsts and match it themselves that would heat up the rivalry
- Genev21

Players can NOT be traded after an offer sheet has been signed. Weber will be a Flyer or a Predator next season.

If you retired with a 35+ contract you get the money.
- Pomegrant

No, the money just counts against the team's cap. If Pronger retired tomorrow, he wouldn't get another cent from Philly. He probably has insurance, but the Flyers wouldn't have to pay him if he retired, just carry the cap hit

You can't keep a player on the LTIR if they are not actually injured. Also, I believe there are penalties at some point for having too much money on the LTIR. If Pronger is really done and retires, the cap hit stays. What then?
- Pomegrant

if pronger retires, does he loose all the coin from the remaining contract? YUP!

he'll be place on ltir.

Players can NOT be traded after an offer sheet has been signed. Weber will be a Flyer or a Predator next season.
- Jsaquella

Goosebumps.

Havent looked up Kovy rule in awhile but I thought it had a specific age where it began, is Weber old enough to qualify?
- S Kaspar Rollins

The point being is that its 14 years (which makes Weber 41) and 26 mill up front - clear cap circumvention especially considering GM's know contracts will be capped in the new CBA....

either way, I love the deal as a pens fan. If the flyers get weber, they lose out on a significant part of the future. and if they don;t think nashville comes at them when their youngins are rfa... think again... they will have picks to spare also, this is another one of those contracts that could look awful in a few years. if they don;t get weber... similer situation. they just made an enemy of one of the shrewest gm's in the game. look out philly

Players can NOT be traded after an offer sheet has been signed. Weber will be a Flyer or a Predator next season.
- Jsaquella

Ah damn well I still think the preds match anyway.

Just what I was saying....
- chompsey

The $26mm would include a signing bonus, which counts towards the cap hit, but not as actual salary. See the contracts Parise and Suter just signed.

Good for Holmgren. He might not always make the right calls but man he's got balls. I saw the figure at 109m for 14 years (aav 7.78m), with one of those years possibly 26m. Yowzer!

this is gonna be a long week.

Sooo, we had a lockout because the owner's thought the players were making too much and being greedy... introduce salary cap only to raise it 6 million... 14 year contract. brutal. the nhl has really become a joke.

5 years should be maximum contract
No averaging cap hit
Signing or additional bonus's are included in cap hit

The nhlpa has to realize these contracts are only good for a select few players and actually negatively affect the majority.

Havent looked up Kovy rule in awhile but I thought it had a specific age where it began, is Weber old enough to qualify?
- S Kaspar Rollins

The Kovy rule applies if the contract runs past the player's 40th.

The point being is that its 14 years (which makes Weber 41) and 26 mill up front - clear cap circumvention especially considering GM's know contracts will be capped in the new CBA....
- chompsey

Cap circumvention is well defined since the Kovalchuk deal. It's possible to offer the $26mm under the rules of a signing bonus, and have the money drop each year to stay in compliance

@DarrenDreger:
Its going to be fascinating to see financial terms of Weber's offer sheet. Hearing in one calendar year, he could make $26 mil.

not a chance the preds match.
- tomburton99

Preds have to get to the cap floor so they will match and then they will then trade Weber next year. Philly have to give up a few folks now to complete the trade if they want him now.

No, the money just counts against the team's cap. If Pronger retired tomorrow, he wouldn't get another cent from Philly. He probably has insurance, but the Flyers wouldn't have to pay him if he retired, just carry the cap hit
- Jsaquella

Flyers have a number of young players, with cap friendly numbers. They should be able to carry that hit, as well as Prongers. It wouldn't surprise me, to see the Preds make a deal with Philly, to get some of their young prospects, maybe the Schenn brothers, another roster player and a draft pick. That would help Philly with their cap issues, for the short term. Until the CBA is procured, then anything is possible.

The $26mm would include a signing bonus, which counts towards the cap hit, but not as actual salary. See the contracts Parise and Suter just signed.
- Jsaquella

I see Bettman not looking favorably on this one for many reasons 1) length of deal 2) money up front to circumvent the cap 3) the fact that the NHL would like to cap length of contracts 4) his personal stake in seeing Nashville survive

The league will veto......