Hearsay: Flyers, Predators talk Weber trade

An NHL source with knowledge of the situation told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday night that Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his Nashville counterpart, David Poile, have talked “just once” since restricted free-agent Shea Weber signed a 14-year, $110 million contract with Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The newspaper believes that fuels speculation that Nashville is thinking about sending Weber, arguably the league best all-around defenseman, to the Flyers in a trade.

If Nashville was going to match the offer, there would be no need for Poile to confer with Holmgren.

Should the small-market Predators match, they will retain the 6-foot-4, 232-pound Weber. The contract is front-loaded and includes $27 million in the first calendar year.

If Nashville does not match, Weber becomes a Flyer and the Predators receive Philadelphia’s next four No. 1 draft picks.

There is also a chance that both sides work out a trade in exchange for Nashville agreeing not to match the offer sheet. In that scenario, the Flyers would send the Predators the four first-round picks, then might get some back if they dealt Nashville some players.

Other than that one conversation between Holmgren and Poile, “it’s been strangely quiet,” the source said.

The Predators have until 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday before they have to make a decision on whether to sign the offer sheet.

Neither of Weber’s agents returned phone calls Sunday.

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