As long as Suter and Rinne approach Poile in a timely fashion to begin negotiations, the Preds are fine. I'll be so mad at them if they wait until the last minute to call Poile to start the discussions.
Canucks fan here. This is an honest question and not an attempt to bait anyone. I'm simply proposing one scenario here.
Let's assume for a second that Shea Weber's primary interest is in winning a Stanley Cup, as so many of his Team Canada compatriots have done (Elliot Friedman made this point in an article yesterday). If he wants to be on a legitimate contender, how would he feel about Nashville's off-season thus far? After having their best post-season showing in history, they've proceeded to let Joel Ward walk, traded Franson, traded another prospect just so they could dump Lombardi's contract, and took Weber to arbitration. I don't see much that inspires confidence there.
The Predators are an intelligently run organization, but at this point they're basically the Tampa Bay Rays of the NHL. If they want to take that next step they either need a change in ownership or a change in ownership philosophy. Even if they pulled off a miracle and managed to re-sign Suter before he bolts for Detroit and re-sign Rinne, they're still at best a wash with the team from last season.
I feel for you guys. I saw a ton of passion in your city during the playoffs this year. But I get the feeling Weber sees the writing on the wall and is trying to get out of Nashville with as little damage to his image as possible.
I am not a Hawkes fan! Have been a Preds fan since 2001. Have been to many games and a partial season ticket holder when I was living in Nashville. Since moving to Illinois I have tried to go to as many games in St Louis and Chicago as I can when the Preds are playing. Just trying to understand why/how other teams can afford to do the things we can't and I don't like it!
I am a loyal Preds fan! It is just disheartening when losing/not signing good players for our team!
Im sure the Bruins felt this way after trading Thornton.
but it doesnt always work out that way.
If Shea wants to stay but is just being cautios, then fine, lets win big this year and hopefully he stays.
But if he wants out, lets get a really good return for him. yes it'll push our "window" back a little bit but it wont be our complete undoing.
The Bruins trading Thornton was an unmitigated disaster. The return was freaking Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau.
The only saving grace from that trade was that it freed up cap space for two well-placed UFA signings -- Zdeno Chara for $7.5m per year and Marc Savard for $5m per year (and note, those signings were several years ago, when the cap was tens of millions of dollars less).
Had Boston failed to make two of the best UFA signings in recent memory during the subsequent offseason, the Thornton trade would be reviled as one of the worst in history. Luckily, their success masks the stench.
I work with a buddy that is a Blackhawks fan and I just looked a CapGeek for the Hawks. How are they able to sign Kane, Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, and Seabrook to long term contracts for less than 6.3 m/yr (Kane & Toews). Why are we not able to sign Top 6 talent to contracts like this? ie Webber, Suter or any other top 6 player. Makes me wonder!
Weber and Suter WERE signed to contracts under $6.3M. Those contracts for Toews and Kane were their 2nd contracts. Weber and Suter already signed their 2nd contracts. Usually, the 2nd contract is for a lower price, then the 3rd/4th contract is the big payday. Weber and Suter both signed for $4.5M and $3.5M so I'd say we got a pretty good deal. It would have been nice to get an extra year or two, but that was probably a player decision.
How were Chicago able to acquire such great offensive players? They drafted them with a couple of their multiple high draft picks because they were terrible for many many years. Sadly, this is how many teams get good these days. Be terrible, get high draft picks, become cup contenders.
If there is an underlying desire to leave the team then anything and everything not lined up exactly as Weber sees it will be taken as a major slight. If that desire exists Poile couldn't have done anything anyway. If that desire was created because Poile filed for arbitration then filing would be the mistake, but the ONLY thing I've seen that says Weber was angry about Poile filing is that it took away Weber's chance at signing an offer sheet. If that is true, that means Weber wanted to leave before Poile filed. In that case, Weber was simply being dishonest the entire time.
What's the point of Poile clearing all that cap space if he already knew that Weber was pissed and likely didn't want to stay here? I don't get it. Everything that we were told...and Poile's actions in dumping salary...said that things were on track. Then something changed...
The Bruins trading Thornton was an unmitigated disaster. The return was freaking Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau.
The only saving grace from that trade was that it freed up cap space for two well-placed UFA signings -- Zdeno Chara for $7.5m per year and Marc Savard for $5m per year (and note, those signings were several years ago, when the cap was tens of millions of dollars less).
this is my point. not so much that we get a great return from weber but that it possibly forces poile in a different direction, which might end up eventually being better.
Can we have him in Detroit... It won't belong before we aren't even in your conference so what's the harm haha... Filppula seems down your ally since he is a defensive minded forward lol....
What's the point of Poile clearing all that cap space if he already knew that Weber was pissed and likely didn't want to stay here? I don't get it. Everything that we were told...and Poile's actions in dumping salary...said that things were on track. Then something changed...
That's why I don't believe the idea that Weber was mad at Poile simply for filing. Either something happened in negotiations, or Weber wanted a short term deal all along. The reasons for that could vary, but I'd imagine if he wanted out he would have told that to Poile, signed a short term deal, and been traded. One more likely reason is that he wants to see if the team can become more competitive before he commits long term.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KevyD
(* My post from another thread... *)
He got a lot. I think the LA Kings just wet themselves.
**
If Weber wanted to go home (B.C. boy), what would everyone here think was a fair trade (Vancouver - Nashville) for your stud defenseman?
Who would you want in return?
Kesler.
Vancouver and Nashville don't make good trading partners. Vancouver doesn't need more defensemen. They need bottom six depth and a winger to play with Kesler. To get Weber, we want Kesler. There is a problem...
How about Cory Schneider, Cody Hodgson, and Chris Tanev for Weber?
Cory Schneider is young and cheap and good. Cody Hodgson has a TON of potential and Tanev is a good young defenseman.
Three inexpensive quality players for the Caveman!
We don't need Schneider, or Tanev. Basically it's Kesler for Weber straight up, which won't happen, Edler+ which is more realistic, or Hodgson+++ which would be dumb for us.
How about Cory Schneider, Cody Hodgson, and Chris Tanev for Weber?
Cory Schneider is young and cheap and good. Cody Hodgson has a TON of potential and Tanev is a good young defenseman.
Three inexpensive quality players for the Caveman!
No thanks. Schneider might be good, but he plays back up to Rinne here. Bad centerpiece. Hodgson does have a ton of potential, but our team wants to win. We cannot replace Weber with potential and expect to do anything but lose. I'm not even sure Tanev would be our best defensive prospect.
Do all Canucks fans get together and throw together the exact same players in all deals? All I see on these boards is Schneider + Hodgson.
I'm sure the Predators are jumping at the chance to get a young goalie because they lack them and also want to pick the player they passed over in the draft.
