Courtesy: Nashville PredatorsNASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The Nashville Predators are considering matching the reported 14-year, $100 million offer sheet signed by the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Shea Weber.
In a statement late Thursday morning, Predators General Manager David Poile said Nashville has one week to match Philadelphia's offer or lose the three-time All-Star.
"We have stated previously that, should a team enter into an offer sheet with Shea, our intention would be to match and retain Shea," the statement read.
"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," Poile continued.
Poile said the team would release no further comment on the situation until a decision is made within the next seven days.
Weber has been a Predator for the last seven seasons and made $7.5 million last year.
TSN, the ESPN of Canada, reported that the offer sheet was for 14 years and more than $100 million.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed early Thursday that the Flyers did sign Weber to an offer sheet. He gave no further details.
If the Predators decline to match the offer, they would receive a package of four first-round draft picks from the Flyers as compensation.
Nashville already lost free-agent defenseman Ryan Suter earlier this summer when the All-Star signed a 13-year deal worth $98 million.
