Kevin McGran
Sports Reporter
2 Comments
Shea Weber is staying in Nashville.
In what the team is calling the most important hockey transaction in franchise history, the Nashville Predators on Tuesday matched the 14-year, $110-million offer sheet between their captain and the Philadelphia Flyers.
The move ensures Weber will remain with the franchise for the next 14 years, the team said.
Under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement which expires Sept. 15 the Predators will not be allowed to trade Weber for one year. Webers contract does not include a no-movement clause.
The move has huge repercussions around the league. Fans in Nashville can feel reassured that their team is serious about remaining a contender after agreeing to the largest contract in franchise history.
It means the Philadelphia Flyers wont be nearly as powerful as the rest of the East might have feared as the rebuild of the its blue line continues without Weber.
It means the NHL may have some explaining to do to both the NHL Players Association and fans about crying poor and the need for drastic changes to the CBA and a potential lockout when small- and mid-market teams like Nashville, Carolina and Minnesota have contributed to some of the biggest-ticket contracts this summer.
It could also create some awkward moments in the Nashville since Weber showed a desire to leave the team by signing as a restricted free agent with another club.
The Predators could have accepted four first-round draft picks from Philadelphia but chose to keep Weber.
The organization spent the last several days analyzing all aspects of the offer sheet, from economic implications to the impact on the team hockey operations puts on the ice, the team said in a release.
Most importantly was the reaction to whatever decision the organization reached and the impact it would have on our fans, sponsors and marketing partners. We wanted to insure that our decision reflected not just the feelings of these groups but also conveys a strong message to them that our actions would speak for us and demonstrate our commitment to them. It was absolutely essential that they understand and believe that we are doing everything possible to ice a Stanley Cup competing team each and every season.
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