Preds Land the Big Fish

Predators Match $110M Deal for Weber

A summertime lacking in trades received a booster shot yesterday when the New York Rangers traded away three roster players and a first round pick to the Columbus Blue

Jackets for power forward Rick Nash. An overpayment? Likely. But the Philadelphia Flyers’ signing of Shea Weber to an offer sheet a week ago seemed to be to the final straw for the Rangers. They didn’t want to be left in the offseason dust as the only Eastern Conference powerhouse not to do something – anything – to retool, and so they finally gave into the Blue Jackets’ lofty demands.

A day later the Nashville Predators decided to keep their star defenseman. The Preds had a week to make the decision, and they took almost every minute of it – whether they were having a bake sale to get the final chunks of Weber’s cash together, or just giving the old middle finger salute to the Flyers is open to debate (personally, I believe the Predators were planning to keep Weber from the get-go and just wanted to put the Flyers in an inconvenient holding pattern for a week).

And while Philadelphia was waiting to see what Nashville would do the Rangers filled their biggest hole – scoring.

So it’s your move, Philadelphia. Other than bringing over-priced defenseman Luke Schenn into fold, the Flyers have done little of consequence this offseason. So what’s next? Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren has shown that he’s not afraid to use offer sheets – could he have his eyes set on any other restricted free agents?

The Jets’ own Evander Kane comes to mind. Dallas’ Jamie Benn is also in contract talks.

Signing a player to an offer sheet is no guarantee that he’ll be wearing a new jersey come October. Weber’s proof enough of that. If anything, an offer sheet can make contract talks easier for a team like the Jets.

Stuck arguing over a few bucks and a no movement clause? The Philadelphia Flyers will gladly overpay your player – and if you want to keep him, just pay up… and up… and up. And if the price is completely unrealistic? No problem. The NHL has worked out a fancy scheme to ensure teams are compensated when their players are poached.

A player of Kane’s ability would easily fetch a compensatory first, second and third round pick. Or Kevin Cheveldayoff could just match an offer and let Jets fans see Kane wearing their favourite jersey for another five or six years.

 Offer Sheet Breakdown