- Jim Diamond of the Examiner: The Predators have not said a word regarding Shea Weber’s offer sheet since they the put out a statement last Thursday.
“We have stated previously that, should a team enter into an offer sheet with Shea, our intention would be to match and retain Shea. Our ownership has provided us with the necessary resources to build a Stanley Cup-winning team. Due to the complexity of the offer sheet, we will take the appropriate time to review and evaluate it and all of its ramifications in order to make the best decision for the Predators in both the short and long-term.”
Diamond thinks the Preds are losing the PR battle, and the longer they don’t say anything, the worse the organization looks.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Predators GM David Poile and Flyers GM Paul Holmgren have spoken “just once” since the Weber offer sheet. That fuels speculation that the Predators might be thinking about a trade. There would be no need for the 2 sides to talk if they were going to match the offer. A deal could be worked out that Nashville does not match the offer. The Preds would get the 4 1st round picks, and maybe some players. The Preds have until 11:30 PM on Wednesday.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Only 1 of 6 players who have signed offers sheets, has not returned to their original team. If the Flyers don’t get Weber, will they throw a boat-load of money at Shane Doan? Go after Bobby Ryan or Rick Nash? Or maybe talk about an offer sheet for Evander Kane or P.K. Subban? The Predators could tell the Flyers they won’t sign the offer sheet for Weber in exchange for some players. They would get the 4 1st round picks, but could 2nd 2 1st rounders back for players. The Flyers could give them a list of players to pick from, maybe 2 from: Matt Read, Andrej Meszaros, Marc-Andre Bourdon, Erik Gustaffson and Nick Cousins. If the Predators would look for Sean Couturier, Luke Scheen or Brayden Schenn, Holmgren could call their bluff and hope they don’t match the offer sheet.
- John Boruk via twitter: Boruk thinks Weber will be a Flyer, and that they could end up sending Meszaros and Voracek back to the Predators.
- John Boruk via twitter: If the Predators match the offer, Boruk thinks the Flyers could stand pat. He may look to improve their blueline, maybe looking at Keith Yandle or Dan Boyle.