Paul McCann: Radio Silence

I say they work out a trade for the picks going back to Philly for roster players in the end.

My question is this....Weber suffered from a concussion late last season. While it wasn't a major set back for him like Lombardi's was, will this leave the Predators or Flyers vulnerable? Is this huge contract insurable against a major concussion? Can the Preds risk that kind of money if it's not?

Homer says you will take the 4 picks and you will f'n like it.

Homer says you will take the 4 picks and you will f'n like it.

With the mega-payout to Weber in the beginning of the contract, are the Preds limited in the improvements they can make in the rest of the roster to the point that we are in a holding pattern until the unknown cap affords some room to acquire upgraded players. If so, isn't it compareable to letting him go and build through 8 firsts in 4 years? Can we get better any quicker one way or the other?

Only 2 options....

1. Match it

2. Dont match - get the 4 picks - trade the 4 picks back to PHI for Schenn, Schenn, Couturier & pick

Make an offer for Franson
Sign Wilson
Fisher is "C" with an extension
Make Gill & Leggy "A"
Sign Colaiacovo

$26 MILLION in 1 year is nuts for this team.

My question is this....Weber suffered from a concussion late last season. While it wasn't a major set back for him like Lombardi's was, will this leave the Predators or Flyers vulnerable? Is this huge contract insurable against a major concussion? Can the Preds risk that kind of money if it's not?
- PredfanDan

Insurance.

Good balanced report. I think Poile has played this very well. I believe first and foremost he is a hockey man. He is in the unique position, if he gets the green light from the ownership to do a hockey deal or match (whatever is the best for the team). If he phones Holmgren tomorrow and says can you give me something better than my matching, I think he will like what Holmgren would agree to.

High School hockey in Md TN has gotten as big as it's going to get, imo. There is no ice available (at reasonable times) to accommodate the practice and game schedules for more than 17 or 18 teams. You may have 4 or 5 kids on a roster that are passionate enough to practice at 10:30 on a Thursday night in Franklin or maybe 5:00 Sunday evening but for the most part your not going to get teams taking those times, and that's about all there is. There are also issues with player eligibility and roster limitations that are being imposed by GNASH, USA Hockey and trying to follow TSSAA guidelines even though it's not a TSSAA sanctioned sport. HS hockey in TN has a lot of challenges.

There are some really devoted parents and administrators that want to keep it growing but there are some serious challenges to address to keep HS hockey viable.

2. Dont match - get the 4 picks - trade the 4 picks back to PHI for Schenn, Schenn, Couturier & pick


That will not happen

Only 2 options....

2. Dont match - get the 4 picks - trade the 4 picks back to PHI for Schenn, Schenn, Couturier & pick


- buelleo

I don't know much of anything, but I am certain this would not happen.

Thanks for the good read, Paul.

I say they work out a trade for the picks going back to Philly for roster players in the end.
- LeftCoaster

If I'm a Preds fan my question should not be will they match, but should they match. Burek was not in Nashville during the current ownership, but everyone who follows this league knows that last year was the first year this same ownership group did not put millions into this franchise. Will ownership then be able to fill out their roster while paying Weber 27 mill this year? Even if they keep Weber they then have to now spend that much more just to keep with up with everyone else. Are they prepared to do that? With their drafting abilities this team could rebuild in a year or two and be back stronger than they are today.

You need long playoff runs in order to be successful in this league. Where is the guarantee that will happen this year? Even with Weber they still have not addressed replacing Suter. With both of those in the lineup last year they still did not light the world on fire in the playoffs. What changes other than the maturation of some nice young players will push this team to the next level? Goose and Gill were in the post season last year.

Matching simply does not make sense. Not to mention the risk of the Preds ownership having to pay Weber even if there is no league at the start of the season.

If ego drives them to match much in the same way it did for Buff with Vanek then this will be a disastrous mistake in a growing, but still shaky hockey market. If they do not match they will be able to get 4 first rounders or something like 2 first rounder’s plus Mesz,, Vorecek and possibly an above average young dman with potential like Gustafson or Borbon. Not a bad return. Schenn or Court will simply not be available.

The alternative very well could have been losing Weber for nothing unless Poile had the courage and backing to move him at the deadline. That did not happen last year and it cost them Suter. The same thing happening this year with Weber would obviously be far more disastrous. In a twisted way the Flyers have done Nashville a favor here.

2. Dont match - get the 4 picks - trade the 4 picks back to PHI for Schenn, Schenn, Couturier & pick


That will not happen
- dav12389

This is a pipe dream. The Flyers would balk at Couturier alone.

I absolutely agree with Paul that the wild speculation in the media is amusing considering both camps are being absolutely tight-lipped.

But I also find it amusing that Paul finds the only cogent articles to be the ones that support the Predators keeping Weber. In my mind, they're ALL total guesswork. It could go either way.

Only 2 options....

1. Match it

2. Dont match - get the 4 picks - trade the 4 picks back to PHI for Schenn, Schenn, Couturier & pick

Make an offer for Franson
Sign Wilson
Fisher is "C" with an extension
Make Gill & Leggy "A"
Sign Colaiacovo

$26 MILLION in 1 year is nuts for this team.
- buelleo

$25 million for 1 year can break Nashville and Philly knows it just over 36 hrs till this is all over ..... waiting sucks

I absolutely agree with Paul that the wild speculation in the media is amusing considering both camps are being absolutely tight-lipped.

But I also find it amusing that Paul finds the only cogent articles to be the ones that support the Predators keeping Weber. In my mind, they're ALL total guesswork. It could go either way.
- lifexkills

This is an underlying theme in most of his blogs (i.e. MSM are morons unless they write something that is in line with his viewpoint).

I don't know much of anything, but I am certain this would not happen.
- brubacca

Which is why any trade with Philadelphia will be looked upon as a loss for Nashville. They have to match.

Which is why any trade with Philadelphia will be looked upon as a loss for Nashville. They have to match.
- Predaceous

Hope you are right, both because I would like to see Nashville make a statement to it's fans and on behalf of small market teams AND I don't want Weber in the Eastern Conference

Which is why any trade with Philadelphia will be looked upon as a loss for Nashville. They have to match.
- Predaceous

What % will my season tickets go up next year?????

If I'm a Preds fan my question should not be will they match, but should they match. Burek was not in Nashville during the current ownership, but everyone who follows this league knows that last year was the first year this same ownership group did not put millions into this franchise. Will ownership then be able to fill out their roster while paying Weber 27 mill this year? Even if they keep Weber they then have to now spend that much more just to keep with up with everyone else. Are they prepared to do that? With their drafting abilities this team could rebuild in a year or two and be back stronger than they are today.

--snipped--
- acmilano3

Preds fans know that those millions that the owners put into this team weren't millions that they HAD to put in. It was millions that they CHOSE to put it. Things like buying back del Biaggio's shares and arena improvements. Where the hockey operations are concerned the team is about breaking even.

As for whether they have the money or not... there's this:



The money is there. I'm sure they're taking the time they need to go through the contract details and line up the $13M that is due to Weber the moment they match. If they're going to have to hand over that $13M it makes more sense to drag it out until the last day.

Which is why any trade with Philadelphia will be looked upon as a loss for Nashville. They have to match.
- Predaceous

Not if they do better than what Columbus just accepted.

Voracek, Mez, Read, 2 first sounds pretty damn good, maybe too good.

I think the original offer was closer to Read, Mez, Bourdon, and 2 first. I prefer that of course.

Good read.....

If it is true that ownership and all its deciples are meeting today then I would think Poile wants to match and wants approval...or atleast explain what he wants to do. BIG, BIG move for your Preds. No use in speculating because it ain't my money....and it is a lot of money....

No point in talking to Holmgren unless he has too or Weber for that matter....Im sure they know where everyone stands.
They had trade talks on the Wednesday....Im sure it's purely a $ issue.

My Gut is they go all in....( but again it ain't my Millions)

What % will my season tickets go up next year?????
- buelleo

No more than they would have gone up anyway. They still have to spend money on the roster. They still have to reach the cap floor. They said they were planning on being a cap team. This doesn't change any of that. It's just another tool. They'll need to be a little creative with other contracts, but so what? So some guys get a bit less now and see their money gradually increase as Weber's dollars start to come down. Not all of their contracts are going to be like Rinne's where it's a straight amount over the term of the deal.

Btw, you don't give a rock-head like Legwand the 'A'. You give it to Erat.