In Defence of our Defense.

I would imagine you all know by now, the Predators have matched our offer sheet, leaving us with thoughts of what could have been with Shea Weber. I've heard over the past week or so, many fans asking, well what do we do now? We have to trade and get another defender because right now our defense is no good. I, however, don't agree with those fans, as I think the Flyers defense is perfectly fine how it is, and here's why. 

The Shea Weber Situation.

I know this shouldn't come as much of a surprise to any Flyers fan, especially if you've been around any social media site in the past 4 days, but the Flyers submitted an offer sheet to Shea Weber to the tune of 14 years worth 110 million. This further supports the fact that Paul Holmgren really just sees fit to do whatever he wants, which I as a Flyers fan, am perfectly fine with. However, with only 2 days remaining, Nashville is running out of time to make a decision. I believe they shouldn't match the offer sheet, and here's why.


First of all, Shea Weber and his agent have gone to make it very clear he doesn't want to play in Nashville, so by Nashville matching the offer sheet, they would be retaining a player for 14 years, that doesn't even want to play there. Now deep down Weber must not hate Nashville all together, because by signing the offer sheet offered by the Flyers, he knows that Nashville could match it, putting him in Nashville for possibly 14 years. But, I would imagine he is hoping for them not to match. However, after a year passes, Nashville could trade him to another team and bulk up on the big return that the Predators would receive for him. Regardless though, matching the offer sheet would almost be viewed as something to do to spite Shea Weber since he said he didn't want to play there. I know failing to sign your top defensive pairing will hurt in the short term, but in the long run this would probably help the team, especially by not having a disgruntled player on the team and the potential return for letting him walk.. 


Second of all, the Predators shouldn't match the offer sheet, and take the four 1st round picks they will receive as compensation. Remember that return i talked about? Yeah this would be a pretty good deal. I know, the Flyers 1st round picks will likely be in the late first round, but that's not the point. Nashville doesn't have to keep those picks, they would be smart to use those picks in trades for other players to help rebuild their roster. Numerous beat Flyers beat writers suggested the Flyers and Predators working out a trade, sending the likes of Andrej Meszaros (I would cry) and Jakub Voracek (I would also cry) along with other possibilities. But why stop there? The Predators could explore options with other teams, looking to get some starting defensemen, along with getting some offensive firepower which the team has needed. I think if Shea Weber doesn't want to play there that badly, cut your losses, and turn around those four 1st round picks to help rebuild and reboot your roster.


Last but not least, the money aspect of this deal could crush the Predators. The Flyers are giving Shea Weber a reported 26 million in a calender year. Yeah, that's a large amount of money, apparently around 16% of what the Nashville Predators franchise is making in a year. Are you willing to pay a player 16% of your yearly income? We all know the deep pockets of Comcast and Ed Snider will have no problem paying that if Shea becomes a Flyer, but to a small market team like Nashville, this could be a big problem. The Predators just signed Pekka Rinne to a long term deal, and tying up even more money in Shea Weber could make it harder to get a supporting cast. The Flyers intentionally front loaded this contract with salary, and that could be a big factor if the Predators don't match it.


If they can't match the offer sheet, I really will feel bad for the Predators. They are a small market team that was just starting to build their fan base. They had a strong playoff run this year, and if they resigned Suter and Weber they would have been right back in the mix next year. However, sometimes it doesn't work that way for the small market teams. I truly hope that if the team loses out on Weber, they are able to bring in other players that help keep the team competitive, and in turn keep the fans that they made this past season. 


However, the thought of seeing Shea Weber in Orange in Black is too intriguing to feel that bad. The coming days will reveal his fate. 

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Welcome to Girouxsalem. A blog for Flyers fans, run by a diehard Flyers fan. Putting my input into the games they play and the stories that break. Hopefully you enjoy, and spread the word.