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Flyers sign Weber to 14-year, $110m offer sheet

Jul 20, 2012 05:39 AM

Shea Weber is on the brink of becoming the dominant blue-line force the Flyers desperately need.

Weber signed a staggering offer sheet with Philadelphia and the restricted free agent could be a week away from bolting the Nashville Predators. A person with knowledge of the decision says the Flyers signed Weber to a 14-year offer sheet worth $110 million.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed Thursday the Flyers signed Weber to an offer sheet but gave no further details. The Predators issued a statement late Thursday morning confirming they had received the Flyers’ offer sheet, which gives the team seven days to match the deal or let the defenseman go.

‘‘We have stated previously that, should a team enter into an offer sheet with Shea, our intention would be to match and retain Shea,’’ Predators general manager David Poile said. “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.’’

Weber, 26, is the Predators’ captain and played on a $7.5 million arbitrator’s award last season. He had 19 goals and 49 points along the way.

Nashville already lost free agent defenseman Ryan Suter to Minnesota this summer, and losing Weber would be an unexpected blow to a defense-first team that had 104 points last season, took the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Weber would fix a lot of problems for a Flyers team that allowed 44 goals in just 11 postseason games. He is a three-time All Star who helped Canada win gold in the 2010 Olympics.



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