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Flyers make bold move to get Weber

Looks like the Flyers are going to make a big splash in the free agent market afterall.

Late Wednesday night, Darren Dreger of TSN reported that Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber, a restricted free agent, had signed a 14-year offer sheet with the Flyers for more than $100 million.The Predators would have a week to match the offer from the Flyers.The blockbuster move for the 26-year-old All-Star defenseman would rank right up there with some of the biggest deals the Flyers have ever pulled off.Weber, a rugged 6-4, 232-pound defenseman known for his phsical play in front of the net, would go a long way toward filling the void on the Flyers' blue line created by the loss of Chris Pronger, who missed almost all of last season with concussion problems.Last year Weber, the Predators' captain, played in 78 games, posting 19 goals and 30 assists for a plus-15 on the plus-minus ratio. He also racked up 30 penalty minutes.Weber has been a steady force on defense for the Predators, racking up more than 40 points in each of the last four seasons. He's a two-time first team NHL All-Star and a perennial candidate for the Norris Trophy, given to the league's top defenseman.The Flyers currently have about $12.7 million clear under the salary cap. That does not include the nearly $5 million owed to Pronger, which could be moved to the injured list.It is believed that the offer sheet is being structured in a way that would make it very tough for the Predators to match, including a lot of signing bonuses up front.The ball, or puck, is now in the Predators' rink. They must decide if they want to match the Flyers offer.