Weber and more. Beginnings of a plan. Values?

Here's the problem, I don't know why people keep forgetting this, Weber has peaked! He isn't going to get any better! Actually, he's going to get worse! Why you're trading a young elite forward for him I will never know.

Weber is 8 years younger than Chara. In the last 8 years or so of his career, Chara has won the Norris, the Stanley Cup, and been named a Norris finalist multiple other times, most recently in 2014.
Yeah. Once Weber passes 35, he may be a lesser player. He'll probably still be a top pairing D for a couple of years after that.

Time for the Oilers to take a new approach. Invest where it is needed instead of spinning their tires.

That's a terrible investment though. An aging defenseman for a young, up and coming team makes no sense.

Well, I agree with Nick. And I'll counter your Chara comparison. He was acquired for nothing....he was a UFA. He has signed multiple contracts which the Bruins. He didn't have 8.5 years left on a deal that takes him to the age of 40. A more logical team would be Sekera making 5.5m for the next 3.5 year for Weber, but even then I don't think the Oilers do it.

The truth is the game is getting younger. The minute you hit 28 you are a declining or aging asset. People will have a preconceived notion of how a perfect team should be built and generally it won't be with any impact players over 30 unless they are guys like Crosby for example who bucks that trend.

The less cliche truth is Weber is a beast and would make an already good team even better. People use declining to hasty. Yeah sure he won't be as good as his tip top shape in 2013 but that doesn't mean literally every year after he's decreasing 15% capability....... Weber could play out the rest of his big years of his contract as a really good player. That doesn't matter to some. They'd rather not potentially win a cup but build the "right way" and i don't necessarily disagree with it.

I think a couple major hurdles stop MTL from being able to get full value back on Weber. Can he somewhat guarantee that he won't play out the rest of his contract? Did he fully expect to retire a few years before the end of his contract? If so and we who aren't in the "know", somehow knew that, you'd see a big change in perception of Weber.

7.8M for a top pairing dman like Weber isn't that much anymore. There will be some players who aren't as good as Weber is now making almost the same as Weber so the actual cap hit isn't the problem. Its the term. 9 years is a long time and no can understate that. But for example, someone knew Weber will retire early, all of sudden Weber's contract goes from 7.8M for 9 years to let's say 5-6 years.

I guarantee you there will be teams lining up to sign Weber this off season for 7.8M for 5-6 years.

The other cat in the bag is the recapture penalty if Weber does retire. If this is actually true and possible, like really really. Then this is a huge dagger to hold above Nashville's head. One aspect that they would force them to pay for Weber's rights when he retires handsomely. Given the alternative will them being kicked in the nuts with a 20M+ cap recapture penalty.