• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Nashville Predators

Can the Nashville Predators Win Without Shea Weber?

By Dan Mount April 1st, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

That’s the question floating around for the last three games after Shea Weber suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury. Players are always dinged up this time of year, and he may be back soon. However, renewed interest from an old suitor brings up a huge issue on whether the team can win without him.

Effects of the Weber Injury

Nashville Predators General Manager Dave Poile told The Tennessean that Weber (along with injured forward James Neal) would be ready for the playoffs. The duo could return as early as Saturday’s game versus the Dallas Stars.

Preds general manager David Poile said Tuesday he hopes that forward James Neal (upper body) and defenseman Shea Weber (lower body) both have a chance to play as early as Saturday against Dallas, and that both “absolutely” should be ready for the playoffs.

The return of Weber and Neal is reassuring, but what happens if he is re-injured? While that may be a devastating prospect, it may be something the team has to think about. Can Nashville actually win games without him?

RELATED: Predators Prevail Against Adversity, Clinch Playoff Spot

Nashville did overcome the loss of Weber and clinched a playoff spot defeating former coach Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals. However, the Preds have suffered back-to-back losses to the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks.

The Preds did score two power-play goals, but didn’t convert on a five-minute power play after Alexandre Burrows was ejected. There’s no doubt that the Predators would’ve loved to have Weber’s cannon of a slap shot to keep the Canucks honest.

(John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

(Shea Weber- John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Weber also plays against the top forward lines, and they have given up four goals a game in the three games that he’s been missing. It was against solid offenses like Washington, Calgary and Vancouver, but this is the level of competition that will be in the postseason.

RELATED: Shea Weber, the New Norris Trophy Frontrunner

Flyers Courting Weber Again

The Philadelphia Flyers tried courting Shea Weber in the summer of 2012 and signed him to an offer sheet. However, Nashville quickly matched the gaudy 14-year, $110-million contract.

It seems that the Flyers could once again be making a play for the hard-shooting blueliner. The Edmonton Journal speculated about this.

The Preds could easily get centre Brayden Schenn or Sean Couturier in a Weber deal, a winger such as Matt Read, who is much better than his current scoring drought, a first-rounder, and most importantly Philly has depth in high-end defence prospects (Travis Sanheim, Samuel Morin, Robert Hagg and Shayne Gostisbehere) to move.

Trading Shea Weber could open up plenty of salary cap space for the club to pursue a forward that could bolster their inconsistent scoring. Weber is owed $40 million over the next three years, and the Predators do boast one of the better defense groups. This could be the chance to give Seth Jones a more prominent role as a top defenseman.

(Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

(Could Seth Jones get a bigger role if the Predators move Shea Weber? – Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

RELATED: Nashville Predators D Shows Its Versatility

The Verdict

The chance to move Shea Weber for multiple parts is always tempting, but the deal would have to knock the management’s socks off before moving him. Weber is the face of the franchise and does so many things for this team.

Weber has been through the playoff wars and is an annual Norris Trophy candidate. I think Dave Poile will think long and hard before pulling the trigger on such a blockbuster deal.

Subscribe to our Predators stories to get email updates every time a new story is published.

Dan Mount is a Nashville Predators staff writer for The Hockey Writers. You can follow him on Twitter, @DanMountSports.

  • Tags
  • Seth Jones
  • Shea Weber
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 9:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ K’Andre Miller an Early Bright Spot on Defense

Jan 24th 9:45 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres’ Bottom-Six Forward Woes Continue

Jan 24th 9:25 AM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Donato Looking Good Early

Jan 24th 9:15 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Can Make Quinn Hughes the Team’s Cornerstone

Jan 24th 9:05 AM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Jets’ Trade For Dubois Controversial, But Has Potential to Pay Off

Jan 24th 8:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers Have Been Plagued by Weak Prospect Development

Jan 24th 8:45 AM
NHL Goaltending

Sabres’ GM Adams Needs to Turn the Tables on Goaltending Front

Jan 24th 8:35 AM
Boston Bruins

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 24

Jan 23rd 8:00 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Thrilled To Bring Laine, Roslovic On Board

Jan 23rd 6:58 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Price Still Has Room to Improve Early in 2020-21

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information