Wednesday afternoon notes: Shea's on center stage

by Dirk Hoag on Jul 20, 2011 5:21 PM EDT in Nashville Predators News

The news this morning about Shea Weber's agent using the word "stalemate" to describe the current state of negotiations has caught the hockey world's attention, as not only does it introduce a little drama around the biggest name on the free agent market at the moment, but it also leads to pivotal questions about the Predators' future. Sam kicked off the debate over which of the Big 3 should be traded if one had to be moved a few weeks ago, and The Predatorial got it rolling again yesterday based on the latest developments.

Follow after the jump as two major national blogs weigh in on the issue, with one of them recruiting a bunch of us locals to offer opinion. We've also got more RFA's signing contracts to avoid arbitration, the birth of a new Preds blog, and a whole lot more...

Nashville Predators News

Predators roundtable: Which one of Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne is most expendable? | ProHockeyTalk
Thanks to James for inviting myself along with a selection of other Preds bloggers to chime in on what is perhaps the hottest hypothetical question of the summer in Smashville.

What will happen to Nashville’s Big 3: Weber, Suter, Rinne? - Puck Daddy
Greg Wyshynski also jumps into the conversation.

Three Minutes With (Preds prospect edition): Vic Bartley… | Section 303
Bartley sounds excited for a second chance at making it in North America, and should be able to provide some leadership in Milwaukee.

Big Picture Sports: To All Who Come To This Happy Place: Welcome.
...and another Predators fan gets bit by the blogging bug. Give Zack a hearty hello.

Nashville’s options - Predators Insider
There may be cash available in the budget, but the free agency options are vanishing, writes Josh Cooper.

Around the NHL

George McPhee: ‘We like Semin because he can score goals’ - Capitals Insider
The Washington GM tries to shoot down trade rumors.

Teddy Purcell and the tale of the two-year deal - Raw Charge
The Lightning agreed to a new contract with the winger shortly before their arbitration hearing was set to start.

Korpikoski Signs 2 Year Deal Before Arbitration Hearing - Five For Howling
...and the Coyotes lock up Lauri Korpikoski to avoid arbitration as well, for $3.6 million across two seasons.

Wings Sign Ty Conklin - Winging It In Motown
After Chris Osgood's retirement, this was pretty much expected.

Jeff Carter, James Wisniewski and avoiding the misery of losing - Puck Daddy
Can the Blue Jackets' shiny new acquisitions turn around that team's on-ice fortunes?

Big signing bonuses becoming NHL's new norm - The Globe and Mail
Teams are finding an interesting way to load up near-term cash in some of their contracts.

Yakupov aims to be NHL's first Tatar superstar - NHL.com
Cool stuff about the first NHL hopeful from the Republic of Tatarstan, who is playing Canadian junior for the Sarnia Sting.

Patrick Lalime Should Be Hall Of Fame Bound, Too - SBNation.com
Does Chris Osgood have a rival for the 2014 Hall of Fame class?

Know Your Enemy: Northwest Division Off-Season Analysis Part 1: FA/Trades. - Hockey Wilderness
Can anyone challenge Vancouver's dominance here in 2011-12?

How Will the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2011-2012 Defence Shape Up? | The Hockey Writers
Interesting speculation about where Cody Franson will fit on the Toronto defense.

Ducks sign Mark Bell… yes that Mark Bell - Houses of the Hockey
This is a head-scratcher. Bell has been over in Switzerland the last two years.

Shannon on NHL: Darkness and light - sportsnet.ca
John Shannon riffs on Charles Dickens to recap the major stories from the summer so far.

WHL: NCAA rules a net loss for Laplante - Buzzing The Net
Wow, playing just one period in an exhibition junior game will apparently cost a goaltender at least a year of college hockey eligibility.

NFL concussion lawsuit: Ottis Anderson, Rodney Hampton, Mark Duper among group suing league over concussions. - Slate.com
While saying that the NFL has covered up concussion data for 90 years sounds a bit sensational, this legal approach could add considerably to the push to reduce head injuries in contact sports, including hockey.

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Comments

so. the national media has finally latched itself onto this story. time for Poile to get off his…butt… and sign the boy. then immediately go into damage control about everyone leaving Nashville for greener pastures due to financial difficulties. The quote about the cap continuing to increase rings very true.

by Shawn Kehoe on Jul 20, 2011 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

Let’s see, we’ve got Dirk, Sam and Gbear in the trade Rinne camp if one of the big 3 needs to be moved………that’s an impressive array of hockey minds right there! I know CAustin would agree. ;D

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 20, 2011 8:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Why, why, why do you hate me so?

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 20, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s not hate, it’s tough love! :)

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 20, 2011 8:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We can always count on papa Grizzledbear

Puck And Punk blog: The only music with enough heart for hockey.
Follow me on twitter:@3DLink

by 3DLink on Jul 20, 2011 9:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Et tu, 3D?

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 20, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

If you can’t count on a bear, who can you count on? :)

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 20, 2011 11:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Bears eat beets.

Fact.

There's only two kinds of teams in the NHL: Predators and prey.

by Predanooga on Jul 21, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Bears are omnivours, so we eat everything. :D

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 21, 2011 12:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

On another note.........

Has anyone ever heard Poile or Trotz say “I like (fill in player name) because he can score goals”? Hmmm, can’t seem to remember…………

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 20, 2011 8:07 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

The initial caption I wrote for that link was “stunning concept here”…

Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and HockeyGearHQ, a site devoted to news, reviews, and deals on hockey equipment and accessories. Catch me on Twitter, or join OTF on Facebook!

by Dirk Hoag on Jul 20, 2011 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually I don’t think either of them have ever used “like” and “score goals” in the same sentence.

"Next time someone tells you Nashville’s not a hockey town, tell ‘em to come try some of the home cookin’." - TSN Broadcaster

by Go_Titans_Preds_USC on Jul 20, 2011 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Patience

Shea’s agent knows what he’s doing. He doesn’t have to talk to Josh. He doesn’t have to say stalemate. He’s working the media a bit, putting some pressure on Poile, turning up the heat before arbitration. Negotiating in a way. … I’m still believing the big guy when he says he wants to play here. Just have to wait, I guess. Will hold off of numbering my new jersey until this plays out.

by el pucko on Jul 20, 2011 9:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

And in the meantime while he negotiates through the media he’s creating anger towards his client from a restless fanbase as is indicated by some of the posts I’ve seen here and elsewhere.

by Predaceous on Jul 20, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah that’s the trade-off. But fans fall in line when the deal is done, and if it doesn’t get done, many will blame management for letting the big one get away.

by el pucko on Jul 20, 2011 10:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Agreed

It’s almost creating an “Us vs Shea” mentality before we even know for sure. I’m trying my hardest not to get emotional over this lack of progress until we know for sure one way or the other.

by kypredsfan on Jul 21, 2011 3:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Speak for yourself

I read the words “Shea wants to be a Predator” in that quote. I’m not angry at Shea at all and I don’t think he’s done anything untoward. To quote the incredibly patient Erik Erlendsson “It’s a process.” I hope something gets worked out before arbitration, and the odds are that it will, but if it doesn’t, that doesn’t make Shea a villain out to destroy the team.

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 21, 2011 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know which is driving me crazier...

the fact that Shea hasn’t been signed yet or all the scenarios spouted here that have me in my foxhole, eyelids taped open, finger on the trigger.

by bandman on Jul 20, 2011 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

I know which is making me crazier.

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 21, 2011 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Folks we need to keep something else in mind. This agent of Shea’s is new to his job. Remember just before all this began Shea announced that he fired his big agency and went with a much smaller one so I suspect that this is the first huge client that they have had and a bit of learning the ropes of the process is happening as well. So I am not worried at all. I would be shocked if this needs to go in front of an arbitrator at all. Gamesmanship is being played.

by Wendy H on Jul 20, 2011 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

I think he has been an agent for other, non-hockey, sports professionals, though.

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Jul 21, 2011 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

No he’s not new … Bousquet was Scott Niedermayer’s agent

by Dave_is_a_killer on Jul 21, 2011 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

And Don Meehan’s done the same thing in the Stamkos and Doughty negotiations. Bosquet (or however his name is spelled) is not doing anything wrong here. He’s just trying to get the best deal for his client.

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 21, 2011 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Future is fine.. keep them all.. do the math

Do the math …the Preds have plenty of room to keep all three. I believe the 2010 salary fro the preds was around 50 mil. about 7 mil over the 2010 floor. With the 2011 floor set at 48.3 mil you could say using the same logic that the Preds will spend around 55 mil in salaries.
Pay Shea 6.5, Suter 6 and Reinne 6 That leaves 36.5 for the remainder
Erat , Legwand, Fisher and Hornqv .Get 16.2… still got 20.3 to go
Sergie gets 3, Wilson 2.5 Tootoo 1.5 and BamBam gets 2 that leaves 11.3
then we get Klien at 1.3 and Blum gets a bump to 2 and then 2 rookie dman at 3
That leaves 5 mil The Giant gets a bump to 1.5 and we have 3.5 left over.
OReilly, Spalling, Halischuck and Bergfors come in at 4.4 so we ar ea bit over.
We put legwand on Waivers.. we get lucky and somebody claims him and we get 3.75 in return and clear his 4.5 with 7.35 left we pick up a Power forward for around 6 or 7 and still stay within the 2011 budget for 2012

by donald hackett on Jul 21, 2011 12:58 AM EDT reply actions