My understanding of the arbitration rule is that if the team files for arbitration as the Preds did, they have to accept the ruling. They cannot "pass". Weber will be signed to either a one or two year deal within the next 34 hours.
He asked for a one year deal this morning at some crazy number near 8 million. The Predators countered with 4.7 mil. They are miles apart, but the ruling will probably be a one year deal for close to 6.5. That is my uneducated guess, 6.35 is right in the middle, but I think Shea can point to some comparable players salaries and get a touch more than that.
Much more importantly, I believe that Weber is not scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next off season. In fact, he is not eligible for unrestricted status until after the 2012-13 season. That is two summers away.
A possible scenario that might change that would be for Weber to get a one year deal this summer and file for arbitration himself next summer. The ruling could then be denied by the Preds and Shea would then become an unrestricted free agent next summer... of course, chances of all of those things coming to pass are probably slim to none.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Weber on the Wings... but I don't see it happening anytime soon (or at all, if the Predators organization has any hockey sense whatsoever). The guy is a future multiple Norris trophy winner and a game changer.
