Monday's notes: Are GM's around the NHL waiting on Suter & Weber?
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 19, 2011 10:22 AM EST
in Nashville Predators News
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PrintThis morning's hockey notes revive a troubling question for Nashville Predators fans - will Shea Weber & Ryan Suter sign contract extensions with the team soon, and if not, should general manager David Poile explore options on the trade market? Beginning January 1st, the window opens for Weber to sign a new deal, and Suter has been eligible to do so since July 1.
Until we see definitive action on this front, speculation will run rampant, and this morning, our league-wide notes kick off with perspective from the CBC's Elliotte Friedman on how this issue may be causing GM's around the league to hold up on making other moves...
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Suter & Weber
This realy sucks that neither one of thse guy have been signed. Just enforces the Preds image around the league as a bunch of penny pinchers. These guys are the type of players you build around to win a SC! Preds fans have answered and fill the arena or close most nights. If the owners can’t pay these guys what they’re worth why are we even a NHL market?
It's not a 1way street.
6 & 20 have to want to be here long term, and that’s about more than money I fear.
I’ve got a feeling that Weber is going to be signed early in January. They had time to cool down. They threw the money at Peks to show they are serious. Suter has had all this time, so I think he’ll be traded at the trade deadline.
At this point, I’ll take that. I hope you are right.
As much as I would love for us to be the type of franchise that can sign all our big players and then add a sniper, we’re not. It is going to be interesting if the building stays full and we remain a team that grows talent for others. What will the spin on that be?
I just worry about who will be in the top pairing if we lose one or the other....
I’m not sure how well our d will survive with the loss of Weber or Suter. They struggle at times now with them.
by Herzausstein on Dec 19, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
The Preds can trot out all the spin they want, were not going to believe it.
No more excuses, pay up or get the hell out of the NHL.
by virgil trucks on Dec 19, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
“Get the hell out of the NHL?”
TROLL ALERT!
by LuvthePreds on Dec 19, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Penny pinchers? After Rinne’s contract?
by LuvthePreds on Dec 19, 2011 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
People worry too much what other team’s fans view us as. We are a small market and have been that way since existance. The only way to squash that is to continue to build on our fanbase, rock out Bridgestone, and make it into a bigger market. I am optimistic we get 1 of the 2 signed and would be happy with either to be honest. I think Weber needs a stronger D pairing to shine moreso than Suter needs.
Suter and Weber
All I know is you can compete and win from the back end and without these two guys the Preds are sunk. When the Ducks won the SC they had both Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer and Gigure in net. 2 dominating defenseman and a stud goalie – at that time. Those Devils teams a few years back had Scott Stevens, Niedermayer and Martin Brodeur. This formula at least allows you to compete year in year out.
by virgil trucks on Dec 19, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
The media is chumming the water
and the sharks (not that specific NHL team necessarily) are circling. If we lose both of these guys, which I almost expect given the lack of movement on either of them to this point, stick a fork in this team ever being considered a serious cup contender.
We can't even talk to Weber right now technically, right?
because of the arbitration?
by Preds of State on Dec 19, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
And I always laugh when....
I remember Poile saying after Weber’s arbitration that they had good discussions, but couldn’t agree on length, salary, or term. So in other words, they couldn’t agree on anything whatsoever, lol. It was literally absurd to have to take our captain to arbitration.
Taking him to arbitration wasn't a terrible idea
the offer sheets could have been ridiculous. But I still think of that asinine quote from Poile every time people say we can let Suter walk because Weber will sign.
I think
Weber’s had one foot out the door for awhile…
The ownership/Poile didn’t exactly do anything to belay his concerns by going out and getting any help on offense. This past summer was a disaster.
I personally think we will lose both of them.
I think that Weber and Suter both told Poile that they would re-sign if an effort was made to make this team into a SC contender. This was not done in the offseason, and now that the season has started I am not sure what we have as trade bait except Weber and Suter. Both these guys want to have a legitimate chance to win a SC and they will leave if the owners and GM of the Preds are not going to keep their promise to them and to the fans.
I hope not, but he should shop them both at the deadline then and rake in all the picks or good prospects to rebuild into a few seasons from now.
That’s a good idea but the thing is if they are not going to pay these 2 guys or cannot match their request what makes us think that they will do it for any other “superstar” we may draft.
Losing both of them would be the most devastating thing that could happen to the Predators. I hope we don’t lose both of them, but I fully expect to only see one of them back next season. Poile better make something happen and put this team in the best situation to win now or hope the ownership steps up and spends close to the cap.
others to pay
what will we pay wilson who is an rfa? tootoo is an ufa? sk74 will probably be replaced by a young ads player which will save money.
when do Legwand's and Erat's ridiculous contracts come off the payroll?
more cost savings there
Wilson could get 2-3 million a year.
For how long, I don’t know. With Tootoo, 1-2 million could be right for what he does every night.
$$$$$$
my guess is the reason Suter and Weber aren’t signed is because their agents are asking for $9M a year and Poile wants both at $7M. Agents and GM’s dont bargain like I do at a garage sale, they both want to maximize for their own end, in this case, the agents want Poile to spend more and the owners wants Polie to spend as little as possible. Free agency really is killing all sports in this regard.
Preds gave Peks 7 mil a year……I’m sure both Suter and Weber have been offered similiar deals. My fear is they are satisfied with the money aspect, but wonder if it leaves anything to sign other talent, given we operate on a budget not quite to the cap.
Apparantly, neither is offering a home town discount.
My hockey team is better than your hockey team
"A budget not quite to the cap".
I think we can safely say this is the understatement of the season. :D
Thinking thru all the ramifications and possibilities here, the best thing Poile could do right now is to acquire a legit offensive player. A: it would show both Weber and Suter that we’re serious about being a Cup contender and B: it would allow for more flexible trade options if it becomes apparent that either or both of them want to leave anyway. If you have the scorer you need, you could then dangle one or both of those two for high draft picks/prospects. A team looking to win a Cup this season is unlikely to part with a player key to them being successful in the 1st place, so picks and prospects would be more easily obtained. On the other hand, teams out of the playoff hunt aren’t going to give up key assests for a player who likley won’t re-sign with them after this season.
Besides all that, if this is the last season we might have Weber and Suter together here, may as well go for the Cup while you have the chance.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 19, 2011 7:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Preds have plenty of room in the cap. They have acquired extra picks.
Grizzled I agree with you. Use some of our acquired draft picks (I think we have 9 or something at this point) to bring in a top scorer. Leading up to the deadline would be the time to get something done.
Why do we have to have this story every month or so? Slow news day? Do you think that they have brought on ownership partners and signed Rinne just to let their other 2 stars walk with nothing in return? I know it is the nature of message boards for people to freak out, but it still amazes me how many assume the worst. Many don’t realize that Weber CAN’T sign until Jan 1. Maybe Suter is waiting to see if Weber signs. Legwand and Erat are in their highest salary years this year, their salaries go down from this year on.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
My thoughts exactly...
Go for a scorer, for all the reasons you said, even if it’s just a rental player. We need a point a game guy, and no prospect, draft pick, or middling player is off limits. Trade the entirety of the Admirals if you have to, but Poile needs to make a move. The Ducks are struggling. If they keep struggling, maybe Selanne wouldn’t mind playing his last season in Music City? And if Bobby Ryan goes on the trading block, we have to make a move.
Another thing to consider about all this is that if Suter and/or Weber do leave for greener pastures, we then would have a lot of money to work with on the UFA market. That’s why trading either of them for elite talent in return, which would be difficult in any case due other teams not knowing if they could sign either of them and other teams ability to just wait till they’re UFA’s if they think they have a good shot at signing them as free agents, isn’t necessarily the way to go anyway. Getting a few top round draft picks and a top prospect could work out if we also use that freed up money on an elite player or two.
Not the ideal scenarios, but you always have to be prepared for plan B.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 20, 2011 1:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
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