475 replies to this topic

[BostonBruinsDan1924]

Oh ya...I see Bettman bitching about these 3 VERY front loaded contracts, however, I have to give Weber credit for playing the system before these huge contratcs are gone in 3 months. Be interesting to see what happends the next 7 days.

Nashville...you're on the clock.

[Danielsm]

Only NSH has the chance to match, Weber can only be a Pred or a Flyer for the next season.

NSH cannot afford the front loaded contract Philly offered. He will be in Philly next year. At least Nashville will get some 1st rounders out of it

[Drake_Marcus]

I know this is an extreme example but let's look at the impact of 4 years of 1st round picks for teams in recent years:

Pittsburgh:
2003-- Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall, lol)
2004-- Evgeni Malkin (2nd overall)
2005-- Sidney Crosby (1st overall)
2006-- KJordan Staal (2nd overall)

Washington:
2004-- Ovechkin (1st overall)
2005-- Pokulok (14th overall, bust)
2006-- Backstrom (4th overall)
2007-- Alzner (5th overall, bluechipper)

Chicago: (03 was Seabrook at 14th overall)
2004-- Barker (3rd overall)
2005-- Skille (7th overall)
2006-- Toews (3rd overall)
2007-- Kane (1st overall)

Edmonton: (this one isn't fair because somehow they got 3 first overalls in a row, but hey it's not too far off of Pitts' situation)
2009-- Paajarvi-Svensson (10th overall)
2010-- Hall (1st overall)
2011-- Nugent-Hopkins (1st overall)
2012-- Yakupov (1st overall)
(Edmonton's firsts in 07 and 08 were Gagner and Eberle, so even if you cut out the last two years it's a significant haul)

[GoWings1905]

Luck my ass, its called the job of a GM, Im not blaming Kenny for not offering a dumb contract, Im blaming Kenny for the last few s***ty offseasons, and he signed sammy so..

I was specifically referring to Weber and Nash playing in the same division. It definitely hasn't helped the Red Wings chances of acquiring either player.

[RedWingsRox]

13 million per year for the first 4 years? My mouth dropped open...

He is a bargain in year 7 .. 2019. By then, $6m/yr will be like $3m/yr today even if he gets paid loaded up front, it'll be weird playing for $6m/yr for a stud Dman in 2019.

[Matt]

That contract is outrageous. If the new CBA doesn't fix this soon, we'll be treading baseball contracts soon. Honestly who thinks paying for one guy like that will be good for them? They won't be able to afford anyone else to help him! I wouldn't have signed it, but maybe it's just the almighty dollar working its evil again. I remember when we fought for the cup, not a $...

$7.8/year for one of the top 3 defenseman in the game isn't outrageous by any stretch. He's been a perennial Norris contender the last few years and is just now entering his prime. Contracts given out to these players shouldn't be the biggest concern -- they're paid appropriately -- it's the bloated middle-tier that's concerning (see: Ville Leino, Dennis Wideman, et al).

[Heaten]

I wonder if the NHL will come to rescue Nashville by giving them the money to pay their franchise player? Lets face it, without Weber, Nashville is nothing. They need him so they can sell tickets.

[Donaldjr2448]

Personally, I am happy the Wings haven't extended themselves in these crazy contracts. There is no way in Hell I offer a guy a 14 year deal. Just look at the Franzen deal, now we are stuck with a load that no one wants and we cannot move him. Plus, we have no idea what the new cap is gonna bring. I honestly do not understand what the Flyers and Wild are thinking. Big front loaded contracts with decades of time on them does not make sense to me.

[Echolalia]

There are a lot of interesting things going on with this situation. With such a massive front loaded contract, is it possible the league may deny it, and if they do, then what happens? Secondly, the Flyers can use Pronger's LTIR cap space to cover some of the cost of Weber's salary, but not all of it. If Pronger were to retire, the Flyers lose that gratuity and are in serious cap trouble. Pronger's contract is a +35er too, so his salary is on the books until the contract is expired or it's bought out. Also, from what some folks have investigated here, it seems that the Preds and Flyers are still capable of negotiating a trade in the 7 day period, which in light of all the above I see as the most likely outcome. If a trade occurs, is Weber still restricted to playing for the Flyers for one calandra year, or can he be traded away?

[dirtydangles]

can the league deny the contract still? i feel like they wouldn't have allowed it to be submitted in the first place. no?

[Matt]

I wonder if the NHL will come to rescue Nashville by giving them the money to pay their franchise player? Lets face it, without Weber, Nashville is nothing. They need him so they can sell tickets.

...Uh, what?

[BostonBruinsDan1924]

If Weber walks and the oweners don't do a front loaded deal, which I'm sure they wont, then I would fire the GM and ownership.

[Matt]

Personally, I am happy the Wings haven't extended themselves in these crazy contracts. There is no way in Hell I offer a guy a 14 year deal. Just look at the Franzen deal, now we are stuck with a load that no one wants and we cannot move him. Plus, we have no idea what the new cap is gonna bring. I honestly do not understand what the Flyers and Wild are thinking. Big front loaded contracts with decades of time on them does not make sense to me.

For a franchise defenseman, one of the top 3 in the entire league, and one just entering his prime I would. We're not talking Christian Erhoff here -- it's Shea Weber. It's ridiculous that Nashville even put itself in a position where he became available to other teams. They burned most of their bridges with him last summer with the arbitration ordeal.

If Weber walks and the oweners don't do a front loaded deal, which I'm sure they wont, then I would fire the GM and ownership.

How do you fire an owner, exactly?

Poile has already had this happen to him once before with Scott Stevens. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...

[dirtydangles]

holmgrem is a studf****** muffin. I was pissed at first, but god dammit the guy is a genius. This could come back to haunt him if he has his own RFAs to handle but god, the front loaded deal that was so much money up front was genius. The preds can't afford that even though the rest of the contract is affordable in terms of cap hit. This is genius. If Holland did this I'd be saying the same thing. It wasn't a "gentleman's" move but man can this guy bring talent to his team.

[The Greek]

Does the league have to approve the contract?

[frankgrimes]

How can people seriously be bitching about a great caphit for probably the nr.1 defenseman in the league? Frontloading the contract was a brilliant part from Holmgren.

Why should the NHL step in? This is exactly what happens if you are using money from franchises, who actually make money to support the wellfare clubs, but I really doub t Nashville doesn't match this, Weber is their franchise they can not afford to lose him.

[Heaten]

...Uh, what?

NHL bailout. If Nashville lose Weber, they might as well fold. If NHL loses Coyotes and Predators, then that's loss of NHL revenue, no? Would it be in the leagues best interest to bailout Nashville financially if they can't afford their franchise player?

[Z Winged Dangler]

I know this is an extreme example but let's look at the impact of 4 years of 1st round picks for teams in recent years:

Pittsburgh:
2003-- Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall, lol)
2004-- Evgeni Malkin (2nd overall)
2005-- Sidney Crosby (1st overall)
2006-- KJordan Staal (2nd overall)

Washington:
2004-- Ovechkin (1st overall)
2005-- Pokulok (14th overall, bust)
2006-- Backstrom (4th overall)
2007-- Alzner (5th overall, bluechipper)

Chicago: (03 was Seabrook at 14th overall)
2004-- Barker (3rd overall)
2005-- Skille (7th overall)
2006-- Toews (3rd overall)
2007-- Kane (1st overall)

Edmonton: (this one isn't fair because somehow they got 3 first overalls in a row, but hey it's not too far off of Pitts' situation)
2009-- Paajarvi-Svensson (10th overall)
2010-- Hall (1st overall)
2011-- Nugent-Hopkins (1st overall)
2012-- Yakupov (1st overall)
(Edmonton's firsts in 07 and 08 were Gagner and Eberle, so even if you cut out the last two years it's a significant haul)

That's sorta what i was thinking if the Preds don't match. They'll have 8 1st round picks in the next 4 years and in this "new NHL" that's a good starting point to rebuilding toward a contender. the only problem though is you see a trend that high profile players apparently don't want to play in Nashville. Radulov (dickhead), Suter, and now Weber signs with a team that with him added, even at the cost of 4 1st rounders, they are a legit contender. The Preds will have to hope that all their picks in the 1st round are good cause they're gonna need them.

[Shaman464]

I know this is an extreme example but let's look at the impact of 4 years of 1st round picks for teams in recent years:

Pittsburgh:
2003-- Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall, lol)
2004-- Evgeni Malkin (2nd overall)
2005-- Sidney Crosby (1st overall)
2006-- KJordan Staal (2nd overall)

Washington:
2004-- Ovechkin (1st overall)
2005-- Pokulok (14th overall, bust)
2006-- Backstrom (4th overall)
2007-- Alzner (5th overall, bluechipper)

Chicago: (03 was Seabrook at 14th overall)
2004-- Barker (3rd overall)
2005-- Skille (7th overall)
2006-- Toews (3rd overall)
2007-- Kane (1st overall)

Edmonton: (this one isn't fair because somehow they got 3 first overalls in a row, but hey it's not too far off of Pitts' situation)
2009-- Paajarvi-Svensson (10th overall)
2010-- Hall (1st overall)
2011-- Nugent-Hopkins (1st overall)
2012-- Yakupov (1st overall)
(Edmonton's firsts in 07 and 08 were Gagner and Eberle, so even if you cut out the last two years it's a significant haul)

IF Detroit got Weber there is no way they would be a bottom feeder team to collect those high round picks, so your point is null, look at how terrible some of our first round picks have been, McCollum is Manny Legacy 2.0, Sheahan has underachieved since being drafted, Kindl is playing like trash, the only one we have that is decent is Smith, and Weber>>>>>>>>>>>>Smith.

[Z Winged Dangler]

How can people seriously be bitching about a great caphit for probably the nr.1 defenseman in the league? Frontloading the contract was a brilliant part from Holmgren.

Why should the NHL step in? This is exactly what happens if you are using money from franchises, who actually make money to support the wellfare clubs, but I really doub t Nashville doesn't match this, Weber is their franchise they can not afford to lose him.

Good timing if you're Holmgren I guess cause the new CBA is gonna s*** can the lifetime contracts and apparently get rid of front loading and make it so your cap hit is the same every year. So i've heard... and i really hope that it happens.