Quick Hits: The Weber Saga Meets The Sharp Dressed Man

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 4, 2011 6:24 AM CDT in Quick Hits

Patrick Sharp signed a contract extension yesterday. 5 years with a $5.9 million cap hit. He'll be the third highest paid player on the team behind Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, making more than both Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. The contract goes into effect for the 2013 season and the Blackhawks now have 17 players under contract for that year with roughly $57 million already locked up. Good contract or another front office blunder by Stan Bowman and crew? [Second City Hockey]
In case you didn't hear, Shea Weber won his arbitration case and he won big time. The Norris nominee got $7.5 million from the arbitrator for next season, the most any arbitration case has ever been awarded. He will be a restricted free agent again next summer. As I tweeted yesterday, the big winner of this ruling at the moment is Drew Doughty who can now possibly justify his outrageous demands. What effect do you think this ruling has on the Red Wings' prospects of re-signing both Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart and picking up a top defenseman to take Lidstrom's spot when he retires? [On The Forecheck]
Greg Wyshynski believes that if the Predators are not contending for the Cup next season, they will lose Weber. I agree 100% and also believe that the Weber dealings have possibly lost them both Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne, who were reportedly waiting to see how the Preds handled Weber before doing anything. [Puck Daddy]
Helene St. James has another player preview up, this time it is Niklas Kronwall. Helene believes Kronwall can offset the loss of Brian Rafalski. [Detroit Free Press]
The Wings may have signed Ian White away from the Sharks, but they will not play next season without a White on their team. They signed Colin White yesterday to a 1 year, $1 million deal. I really cannot argue with such a deal, especially for a player on the tail-end of his prime with more than a decade's worth of experience with the Devils. [Fear The Fin]
Don't believe the Winnipeg Jets jerseys floating around, they have not been leaked. [Icethetics]
Nikolay Zherdev is heading back to the KHL [SB Nation]
Lighthouse Hockey has a good breakdown of what Tuesday's failed vote means for the Islanders. [Lighthouse Hockey]
Late Addition: Rob Discher at TPL has an absolutely excellent write up on the whole Shea Weber situation. As many of you are hoping, he's most definitely on the Weber-to-Detroit bandwagon. [The Production Line]

In my wildest dreams…and in the mind of a man who loves to torture the numbers…the gentle feathering of that contract landing on Shea’s lap is the sound of a door opening for Ken Holland.

One man, one year with a $7.5 million salary. One team, one GM with $5.8 million in space and a handful of movable parts.

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Weber

TPL did a pretty good write up. They seem to be guessing that Shea isn’t gonna want to play in Nashville much longer. It’s a funny and good read… http://theproductionline.us/sheas-7-5-mil-cry-for-help/

Get your Al the Octopus

byjenniferleigh.etsy.com/

by Josh Howard on Aug 4, 2011 6:59 AM CDT reply actions

Good catch. I neglected to check TPL this morning. I’ll go add their story now. It is definitely a good read.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 4, 2011 7:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Good.. and funny. I only caught it because they put it up on facebook. I’m loving these quick hits. Keep up the good work!

Get your Al the Octopus

byjenniferleigh.etsy.com/

by Josh Howard on Aug 4, 2011 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree with you on the Quick Hits

At this time of year, they are vital to my continuing mental health, as is this whole site. I probably spend way too much time here while I’m at work.

by zfan16 on Aug 4, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

YEP, completely agree with this statement.

by Hornecker on Aug 4, 2011 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed on the Predators' situation

The Weber deal gives them this season to decide whether they’re going to break the bank to keep the three most important pieces to their defense together or whether they’re going to sell again, like is in their history. Nashville is going to be a good team with a good shot at making the playoffs every year possibly even if they lost two of these guys, but it has to be getting absolutely maddening for that fanbase to see them put together teams that you know could have an incredible shot at winning the cup if they’d only add another couple of pieces.

I don’t know what the timetable is, but if Rinne and/or Suter haven’t signed an extension (or agreed to one in private) by February, somebody’s likely going on the trading block regardless of Nashville’s place in the standings. The gamble of losing any of those three to free agency (Weber’s RFA status notwithstanding) is likely going to be much bigger than the gamble that they’ll make it into or past the conference finals.

by J.J. from Kansas on Aug 4, 2011 7:11 AM CDT reply actions

Spot on

Except I don’t think the fates of Suter and Rinne are up to the Predators any more. Before the summer, those two’s future would be determined by what was done with Weber and if the Predators could put together a contending team. After yesterday… I think it is obvious that the Predators don’t want to pay and do not want to contend. The status quo shifted, and now they have two star UFAs, a perennial Vezina finalist for years to come and possible Norris finalist, who are in the driver’s seats. There will be a huge market for both of them come next summer and it seems unlikely the Predators will pony up for what they are worth. The Weber fallout likely has George McPhee jumping for joy at the prospects of getting Rinne next summer if they can clear the space.

In essence, the Predators shot themselves in the foot. Or, more appropriately, hit themselves over the head with their own guitar.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 4, 2011 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

In essence, the Predators shot themselves in the foot. Or, more appropriately, hit themselves over the head with their own guitar.

Hahaha

I just hope that knowing the two teams won’t be division rivals after this year is enough for David Poile to let Holland have a shot at picking over their roster.

I know it’s hard-hearted, but I’m not a Predators fan. Screw those guys.

by J.J. from Kansas on Aug 4, 2011 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I won't say they are gone yet

Stranger things have happened, and I could see a scenario where Suter signs a lucrative deal during the season and then Weber re-ups for an extended period of time.

The odd man out is Rinne. The Preds have Lindback who was more than capable in his short time as the starter last year, and they just drafted a goalie with their first pick this year. I think they understand losing Rinne is inevitable, and they’d rather have a pair of stud d-men than one good goalie.

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Aug 4, 2011 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions

One thing wrong with your comment

lucrative

The Preds do not pay big and they will have to if they want to keep Suter. Negotiations for Weber were reportedly hovering around $5.8-6.2 million cap hit and their biggest squabble was over the length of the deal. Unless it was a Kovietract and he would be making $8-10 million for the first 5 years, I think Weber is worth more than a $6 million cap hit. Nashville was hoping for a hometown discount and they really underrated their star here. Unless they have some major change in heart and finances, I do not expect them to pay up for Suter who is worth (at this point in time, in my mind) between $5 million and $6 million. Who knows what another year of development for both him and Rinne will do. They are both looking at potentially huge deals next summer, especially since the defensive market will be weak again (not as bad as this year, but not great either) and Rinne is one of the most coveted goalies in the league.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 4, 2011 8:02 AM CDT up reply actions

There's the rub

What was the term of the deal that Weber wanted, and what was Poile offering? For all we know, Weber could have wanted a 12-year mega deal that the Preds did not want to hamstring their budget.

The interesting thing to look at here is that the entire current NHL roster of defensemen for the Preds will be free agents after this season except for Kevin Klein. What the Preds plan on doing is going to be directly related to how they perform this year, because there’s a possibility they could turn over half of their roster if it looks like they are not going to contend for a Cup.

Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you and J.J. that the likelihood of the Preds retaining all 3 of their big guns is slim. But I also thought the Blackhawks would have to blow up their roster by trading away their stars or losing players like Sharp, Keith and Seabrook, and they have managed to sign all of them (at inflated prices, but that’s another story). I realize that would require Nashville to spend higher than they ever have, but the possibility exists, and I hate dealing in absolutes.

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Aug 4, 2011 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Definitely agree that Rinne is likely the odd-man out.

With Lindback in the organization and them having taken a goalie in the draft, it just seems like Rinne is the most expendable (in a market where goaltender salaries are still low).

Dirk Hoag did a write-up about playing hockey “The Predator Way” and how playing defense-first with a poor offense hasn’t really gotten them anywhere. Toward the end of the article, he somewhat suggests that the Preds’ defensive corps is a bit of a risky proposition. They will generally always have a good defense with just how they draft and develop, but it looks pretty clear that they can afford to give up their starting goalie easier than they can afford to give up either guy on their top pair.

I wonder if Weber will stay if Rinne goes though?

by J.J. from Kansas on Aug 4, 2011 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Meant to link the article.

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2011/7/20/2284018/nashville-predators-stanley-cup

by J.J. from Kansas on Aug 4, 2011 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I think he does

He’s been through the ringer with different goalies before this. He’s seen Dan Ellis, Chris Mason and Rinne, and he saw that Lindback has the potential to be a good one. Plus there’s the kid (which I’m too lazy to look up) they drafted this year with their first pick, which I think is a sign that they’re willing to part with Rinne if he becomes too expensive.

The key to Weber is Suter. That’s his defense partner and, from all account, they are really good friends off the ice. If he goes, then I could see Weber leaving.

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Aug 4, 2011 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Stuart and Kronwall

I don’t think the Weber ruling affects them as much as it does other FA like Suter, Myers and others next year.

Neither one of them is, by themselves, an anchor on defense. Kronwall has the potential to get there, but given his age and injury history, he’s not going to have huge money thrown at him. He’ll likely get around $5-6M per season on a 3 year deal. If he had shown that he’s closer to being Lidstrom 2.0 by this point of his career, it would be a different story.

Stuart does not have the offensive tools to make the big bucks, but he’ll get a good offer from the Wings. My concern with him will always be whether he wants to be closer to his family on the west coast and wonder whether that will make him leave. But he’s flourished in Detroit unlike any other city he’s been in, and I think he stays.

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Aug 4, 2011 7:49 AM CDT reply actions

I think Stuie likes not being #1

He was the 3rd player chosen in the draft, and by that standard, didn’t live up to “expectations”. Two teams tried to make him the #1 guy and it really didn’t work. So he comes to Detroit in a trade a few years ago, doesn’t have all the expectations and bam-zoom, he fits – for the first time in his career.

He’ll get a good offer, and he’ll be happy playing as the #3 guy on a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations every year.

And we’re glad to have him too.

by Kendal on Aug 4, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs