The Predators have decided to match the 14-year, $110 million offer sheet given to the defenseman by the Flyers last week. The team announced the decision to enter into the largest contract in franchise history in a news release Tuesday afternoon.
According to the release, the decision was made by all parts of the Predators organization, including ownership, hockey operations and business operations. The club decided to match the offer based on three questions, which were detailed in the release and can be seen below.
"Was Shea Weber the individual that this franchise wanted to lead our team, a team that would compete for the Stanley Cup every year, for the next 14 years?
"Would matching the offer sheet be in the best long-term interest of the team and organization?
"Would a decision not to match the offer sheet send a negative message to current Predators players and other NHL organizations, a message that the Predators would only go so far to protect its best players and be pushed around by teams with 'deep pockets?' "
The organization felt the answer to all of those questions was "yes," and thus the team's captain is now in line to stick around in Nashville for the next 14 years.
Sorry, Flyers fans.
