While the thought of Ryan Suter leaving the Nashville Predators wasn't too shocking to some in the hockey world, it certainly came as a surprise to one of the people who knew him best - his now-former defence partner.
Nashville blueliner Shea Weber, whose status as a restricted free agent is already making headlines this summer, thought Minnesota's new $98 million man would stay with the Predators and build on last season's success.
"He's still in disbelief," Weber's agent Kevin Epp of Titan Sports Management, told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com on Thursday. "They were so close this year in terms of the team's chances. They really had a shot. Shea believed there was a good chance that Ryan would stay there. So right now, Shea is still processing this news."
Weber, who turns 27 next month, is already the subject of offseason speculation on whether the Predators will re-sign him or trade him. But according to Epp, no such decision has been made either way.
"We're not in any hurry," he said. "There's no deadline to this. We'll take our time and figure out the right thing to do."
