In news that is sure to disappoint Philadelphia Flyers fans, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile told reporters Wednesday that Shea Weber, his captain and No. 1 defenseman, is not on the trade market.
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Weber has 12 years and $82 million remaining on the contract he signed in 2012 with the Flyers via an offer sheet that was matched by the Predators. Given the Predators’ struggles over the last few years and lack of elite talent on their NHL roster, trade rumors are constantly surrounding Weber.
It’s not hard to see why, either. The 28-year-old arguably is the best defenseman in the NHL and has been nominated for the Norris Trophy three times, including this season. He dominates defensively, provides consistent scoring production and excels on special teams. Weber does it all, and every team covets a D-man with his skill set.
Despite Weber’s immense importance to the team, Nashville might be better off trading him to acquire multiple players and/or draft picks that can be used to address the weaknesses on its roster.
But Poile has been consistent over the last two years in saying that Weber is not available, but that probably won’t stop teams from calling to see if they can change his mind. Weber doesn’t have a no-move or no-trade clause in his contract, which would help the Predators receive the best possible return if they ever entertained the idea of trading him.
