Weber Situation Illustrates Problem With R-Free Agency

Defenseman Shea Weber

Yesterday the Nashville Predators matched the 14-year, $110 million offer sheet that their captain, RFA defenseman Shea Weber, signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. If the Predators did not match the offer sheet, than Weber would be moving to Philly as we speak, and more than likely going there as the replacement for Chris Pronger. Pronger started this year as the captain of the Flyers, but suffered many injuries during the season, including a concussion that sidelined him from December on. Many suspect that Pronger, who won a Cup with Anaheim in 2007, is more or less done with his professional hockey career. 

Pronger is a big, strong, physical defenseman who has an absolute cannon from the point, and does a very good job of clearing opposing players from in front of Philly's net. When the Flyers stole him Anaheim in June of 2009, he was regarded as a perfect fit on the talented Broad Street team's roster. He was a great player on the ice, doing everything that the organization brought him in to do. As well as doing that, he was also a leader on the ice and in the locker room for some of the Flyers younger players. He taught them what it meant to be a pro, how to handle the rigors of an 82 game schedule, and gave them tips on how to make their games better.

That is essentially what Philly would be getting with Shea Weber, only in a much younger (Weber is 26 while Pronger is 37) player. Weber is not as big as Pronger (6' 4" compared to Pronger's 6' 6"), but he is just as strong. He also possesses a much harder shot than Pronger does [he was clocked at 106mph at the 2012 All-Star Skills Competition (I was there!)], and can also rack up more points than Pronger can. 

Nashville was often regarded as a team that is able to survive in the ultra-competitive (with the exception of the Columbus Blue Jackets) Central Division because of the play of its "Big Three". Shea Weber, defenseman Ryan Suter, and goaltender Pekka Rinne kept the team afloat, and without them the franchise would be reduced to nothingness. Nashville was in danger of loosing all three of those players, until they signed Rinne to a 7-year contract earlier this year. However, that still left their two franchise defenseman to be dealt with (Suter was a UFA on July 1st). The Predators did everything in their power to keep their core intact, but eventually lost Suter to a 13-year, $98 million contract to the Minnesota Wild on July 4th. With the departure of his linemate, Weber looked to move on from Tennessee's capital, so he signed with Philly. Then the Preds matched the offer, locking him up for long term. Therein lies the problem.

"Locking him up long term" is a good phrase to describe the situation with Weber and the Predators. He signed a contract to get out of Nashville and go play in Philly, but now is forced to stay and play for the yellow-jersey organization. Usually when a person wants to play for a certain team but is forced to play somewhere else, he isn't all too joyful. And we all know that an NHL arena is not a place where you can just go through the motions because you have too and win games or compete for a championship. If Weber is angered that he has to play for the Predators and he gives even a sliver less that 110%, Nashville will have a hard time being Stanley Cup contenders. 

If this happens, neither the team nor its captain will be satisfied, and we could end up with an NHL version of the Dwight Howard situation. That is why the Shea Weber situation is much more complicated than people see it to be, and why restricted free agency needs to be changed.

The Rangers Tribune Applicattion Paper

            The New York Rangers 2011-12 season was an emotional roller coaster for the fans of the Boys in Blue. They came into the season with a fresh new face in veteran forward Brad Richards who, along with third year sniper Marian Gaborik, was expected to produce more offense for a team that was buoyed by goaltender Henrik Lundqvist for the past few seasons. That much was expected, but it’s safe to say not many people were expecting the kind of success that would ensue in the months following the signing of Richards.

            Derek Boogaard was a fan favorite in the Big Apple. He was not an offensive force, but nobody took liberties with the Rangers, because they knew they would have to answer to him. On May 13, he was suddenly gone. He was found dead due to a fatal combination of painkillers and alcohol. The fans lost a favorite player, and the team lost a teammate, and a friend. It was a tough time for the organization, and they wore his number 94 on the back of their helmets this season as tribute.

            The season started out awful, with no wins on the team’s season opening European tour (part of NHL Premiere). They then played a game at the Nassau Coliseum against the hated New York Islanders. They lost the game, and then boarded a flight to Vancouver, where they won their first game of the season (a 4-0 shutout of the Canucks).

            The Rangers had great success throughout the regular season. Highlights included a come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the Winter Classic, three players representing the team in the All-Star festivities in Ottawa (Lundqvist, Gaborik, and defenseman Dan Girardi), a first place finish in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, making it to the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Lundqvist winning the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender.

            As stated in the previous paragraph, the Rangers finished in first in the East, meaning they faced the eighth seeded Ottawa Senators in the first round. The Blueshirts fell behind 3-2 in the series, but won two straight games, including a 2-1 game 7 thriller, to advance to the next round against the Washington Capitals (who eliminated the defending champion Boston Bruins).

            The Rangers took game one of the series, with Chris Kreider (signed before the playoffs started) again stunning viewers with his slap shot goal. The series was back and forth, with each team alternating wins. The Rangers took game 7 (again by a score of 2-1), which set up a match with the hated New Jersey Devils.

            The Rangers again started their series of strong, with a 3-0 shutout victory at Madison Square Garden. The Devs took game two, and then the Rangers pulled out another 3-0 win in game three, this time in Newark. Despite being up in the series two games to one, the Rangers lost to the cross-river foes. The Devils took the next three games, and capped off the series with an OT goal by rookie Adam Henrique in game 6 to send the Rangers home, and the New Jersey based team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

            Rangers GM Glen Sather made some impressive moves in the off-season. One key piece of the team, power forward Brandon Prust, left due to the fact that he wanted more then the team was willing to pay him, but Sather replaced him (at least the toughness part) by stealing Michael Haley from the Isles. None of the moves that Sather made could compare to grabbing the biggest name on the trading block. One July 23^rd, Sather shipped Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a draft pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for power forward Rick Nash, and Steve Delilsle. The Rangers are looking to add Phoenix captain Shane Doan via free agency, which would add more talent to a roster that is already holding the “team to beat” name.

            I am expecting nothing short of a Stanley Cup Finals berth for the Rangers in 2012-13. They made it to the conference finals this past year, but will only be better this time around. Even without Rick Nash, the Rangers would be a better team. Player would have more experience, and a majority of the roster is just now entering their prime. Not to mention players like Kreider, Stepan, and McDonagh already have people knowing that they are future stars in the league.

            With the addition of Nash, the Rangers seem to be the favorites, barring injuries, for the need to plan a victory parade come June. He should nicely address the team’s need for a more physical presence down low, and he can bring some life to an offense that was bone-dry in the postseason.