[PhillyFlyers]

A little over a year ago, the Nashville Predators matched the gigantic 14 year $110 million offer sheet for defenseman Shea Weber from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Looking back through the advantage of hindsight, we can ask whether or not it was the right move for the franchise. A year later, it seems like it was not.

Nashville posted a 16-23-9 record last season, missed the playoffs, and finished dead last in their division. They were the second worst team in their conference points wise finishing ahead of only Colorado.

Nashville paid Weber a total of $27 million last season. Forbes valued the entire Predators franchise at $167 million which means, last season, Weber took up a full 16% of the entire value of the franchise by himself.

In addition, his cap hit also hinders Nashville's ability to address other areas of weakness. Considering that had Nashville decided to let the Flyers have Weber, they could have received 4 first round draft choices to help them rebuild. If they decided to work out a trade, they could have received a boatload of talent for him.

Now, thanks to the NHL's Cap Advantage Recapture System in the new CBA, Nashville is now hindered even trading him away.

In the simplest explanation, it holds teams accountable for front-loaded contracts that are in excess of six years. If for a given year you are paying a player $14 million in salary and/or bonuses, but his cap hit is only $6 million, you are benefiting from a “cap advantage” of $8 million in that season. This system is designed to make you accountable for those “savings” should the player retire early and not fulfill his entire contract.

Simply put, if Weber decides to retire before his contract expires, Nashville will be put into a financial hell.

At this point, I cannot see the advantage of Nashville keeping Weber. They didn't come close to making the playoffs last year with him. In fact, they were downright horrible. He hinders their ability to address other areas of need financially, and if he decides to retire early, they pay the price for matching the contract.

At this point, as a Flyers fan, I have to thank Nashville for matching the offer sheet. At this point, the risks outweigh the benefits.

[NavsPicks]

and Philly still sucks. Your point?

[PhillyFlyers]

and Philly still sucks. Your point?

We still suck? How?

[SamDiamond]

We still suck? How?

They finished 10th out of 15 teams, what would you call that?

[PhillyFlyers]

They finished 10th out of 15 teams, what would you call that?

So we're still the same team and the same results will happen this year? Fukk out.

[SamDiamond]

So we're still the same team and the same results will happen this year? Fukk out.

Of course not.

But does this "improvement" only occur in teams from Philadelphia, or do other teams get better just because it's a new year?

[PhillyFlyers]

Of course not.

But does this "improvement" only occur in teams from Philadelphia, or do other teams get better just because it's a new year?

Teams also get worse. We don't stand still. We are definitely better than last season and I fully expect to make the playoffs this year.

[kmdubya]

Looking back through the advantage of hindsight, we can ask whether or not it was the right move for the franchise. A year later, it seems like it was not.

Maybe if an actual full hockey season had passed, you could make some goofball assumption based on one year.

But it was a compressed season.

How's the goalie situation in Philly?

[PhillyFlyers]

Maybe if an actual full hockey season had passed, you could make some goofball assumption based on one year.

But it was a compressed season.

How's the goalie situation in Philly?

Whether the season was compressed or not does not matter in this case.

He drains them financially. If he retires early, they could potentially be required to pay over $26 million to the NHL for the Cap Recapture penalty and that must be a full, one-time payment.

That also makes it a HUGE risk for anyone wanting to trade for him which also means he hinders their ability to trade him because now that risk becomes theirs. It also hurts because this also affects his trade value.

There is no way any team is going to risk the financial hell his cap recapture penalty will cost them without Nashville having to lower their demands for him.

They were stupid for matching the offer sheet. They were stupid for not working out a trade with the Flyers because they could have got a boatload of talent for him. Much more than they are going to get for him now.

I'm glad the Flyers didn't get him at this point. I would be furious at Holmgren if he put us in this situation.

As for the goalie situation here, it's we'll see type of situation. Mason played very well for us when we got him last season but who knows if that will happen again over a full season?

We did get Emery who everyone is assuming will fight for the starter's job. Out of Bryz, Mason, and Emery there is no question that Bryz is the most talented of the three when he's on his game.

He was a problem though. His play dropped off as the year progressed and there were rumors that he was a problem in the locker room as well. It was rumored that he and Giroux got in each other's face at one point and had to be separated.

The real question I have is why did Holmgren decide to extend Timonen for another year at a $6 million cap hit. He was atrocious defensively for us last year and he's pushing 40 so he's not going to get better at this point.