Ovechkin was playing with injury in playoffs and WHC

[Huntingwhale]

Thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by moon

Does that mean Holtby, Backstrom, Green, Brouwer, Alzner etc. all have broken feet as well?

It isn't like AO was a one man team or came close to pulling a Tavares and single handidly raising his game to take his team to the play-offs.

In 13 games in April he had 14 goals and the Caps won 11 games.

10 goals and 19 points in 16 games in March and the Caps got points in 12.

Conversely, 1 win in 7 games in January and he had 2 goals and 3 points.

6 goals and 6 wins in 12 games in February.

Pretty clear what turned around the Caps season imo.

Also pretty clear why they bowed out in the first round

Both answers are the same.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Makarov

A (admittedly superficial) glance at the relevant statistics makes it look like one player on this list did more heavy lifting than the others.

Well good thing that stats aren't the only thing used to evaluate hockey players.

[Deelow]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

No chance Ovechkin goes anywhere.

And I bet he went to the WHC because it's a really big deal over there, obviously in NA guys are looking for every reason possible to get out of it but over there it's huge.

I'm pretty sure there were about 19 fans in the building to watch Ovechkin play last night...in a hockey country too. I wouldn't call this tournament huge to anyone but the country that's hosting it.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Isn't the Blues internal budget like $54 million or something?

If so, how do they justify gutting their roster to stick Ovechkin in there at nearly 1/5 of their total budget?

I don't ...

... I think he's a great fit for that team, I don't keep track of teams spending habits, nor do I have any idea if the Blues would make a pitch if Ovi were to become available.

I certainly wouldn't 'gut' the team to get him, I don't think its wise for any good team to do so. LA wasn't 'gutted' for Gretzky, so it can be done.

If I were STL, I'd be looking to move a lot of my younger pieces, like Schwartz and Tasasenko...maybe one of the D like Shattenkirk... For a package of Ovi plus some lesser players.

I'd throw in Chris Stewart as well.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

He went to WHC because Russia needs to show well leading up to Sochi.
Caps aren't trading him because he's a very good/great player who, believe it or not, is yet to hit his prime!

But if they did..... Imagine the return!!!

I'd give up 3 1st round picks plus Brodie plus baertschi!

I wouldn't make that trade.. That puts the Flames right back into very familiar territory though, that's for sure ... Ride out Ovi's prime as a 1-man team... Hopefully the Flames have learned that lesson.

[Travis Munroe]

Ovechkin will never be traded out of Wsh unless its a iggy move.
They need to build around him as selfish as it sounds. They knew/know what kind of player he is so bring in some other elite talent and build around him. Guys like Ribiero were great for a different line. Erat was a bust, Green needed to be traded last year IMO, Holtby is the guy of your future.
Could Datsyuk be pried from Det for whats left of his career? He is a top back checker, great C and would go well with Ovechkin IMO

[PlayfulGenius]

Datsyuk is a great idea for WSH... that might have been easier had DET lost to ANA.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

He went to WHC because Russia needs to show well leading up to Sochi.
Caps aren't trading him because he's a very good/great player who, believe it or not, is yet to hit his prime!

But if they did..... Imagine the return!!!

I'd give up 3 1st round picks plus Brodie plus baertschi!

That would be the worst trade since Gilmour, setting the organization back at least 5 years.

And I hate to break it to you but he has most definitely hit his prime. Goal scorers peak in production between 23 and 27. After 27, they usually only have a couple more seasons at their peak levels.

Ovi at $10M for the next 8 years (he'll be 35 in the last year of the deal) is no bargain at all... I wouldn't give up 2 first rounders, never mind the ridiculous price you listed.

His contract is going to be a real burden in 2 or 3 years and a complete nightmare soon after that.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That would be the worst trade since Gilmour, setting the organization back at least 5 years.

And I hate to break it to you but he has most definitely hit his prime. Goal scorers peak in production between 23 and 27. After 27, they usually only have a couple more seasons at their peak levels.

Ovi at $10M for the next 8 years (he'll be 35 in the last year of the deal) is no bargain at all... I wouldn't give up 2 first rounders, never mind the ridiculous price you listed.

His contract is going to be a real burden in 2 or 3 years and a complete nightmare soon after that.

Understand your point, but I still disagree. The only problem I would have with acquiring him is that (assuming it would take as much or less than what I would offer) I still don't think that the management in place for this team is the one I would want to surround him with a team.

It would be Jarome 2.0/Leftwing!

But that said, the mandate was playoffs. Next year. And flames ownership would jump at it.

But whether u would make this trade or not, this would be the package it would take to GET him. U could offer one or two less pieces, but This is what it would take to get him.

To be clear, I was suggesting Calgary's 3 firsts + Baertschi + Brodie

[trackercowe]

lol, some of you guys are too funny. Some teams would probably offer ten first rounders for a player like Ovechkin. He would instantly set up a franchise as a contender, and probably sell out all season tickets in a matter of days. The only player in the league who you can say with a certainty that is better than Ovi is Crosby, and he's not as durable.

I agree he wouldn't work here, so it wouldn't make any sense, but you better believe teams like Philly, Toronto, Montreal, New York, and Detroit without an internal cap would give up pretty much anything for a player of Ovechkin's stature.

When was the last time a player of Ovechkin's caliber was actually traded in his prime anyway? Gretzky is honestly the last one I can think of. Thornton might count as well, but even though he was a top player in the league, he was older and still not as good as Ovechkin.

Oh and Washington would be insane to deal Ovechkin for anything other than a huge overpayment. He's the only real reason the team is relevant, and sells out most games. Without him the Capitals would be an afterthought in Washington, and relapse back to the dark days when all they had was Peter Bondra.

Edit: Oh and 10 first rounders is an exaggeration obviously, but he'd get more in return than three first rounders and Brodie/Backlund.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Thornton might count as well, but even though he was a top player in the league, he was older and still not as good as Ovechkin.

Thornton was 26 when he was traded. Ovechkin is 27 now, and will be 28 before the start of next season.

Apropos of nothing, Gretzky was 27 when he was traded to the Kings.

[dying4acup]

The point question of my original post was "imagine the return if he was available".

Clearly, at least some, agree how high it would be.

In addition, if he was Canadian, playing with a hairline fracture, and still playing for his country after his team was eliminated in 7 games, terms like "hero" and "warrior" would be thrown around.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

In addition, if he was Canadian, playing with a hairline fracture, and still playing for his country after his team was eliminated in 7 games, terms like "hero" and "warrior" would be thrown around.

Canadians don't really care about the World Hockey Championships.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I'd give up 3 1st round picks plus Brodie plus baertschi!

I wouldn't. That's too steep of a price. I would at most move 3 first round picks (one of which is the Penguins' 1st and the other two being next year's and the one following that) plus Baertschi.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

lol, some of you guys are too funny. Some teams would probably offer ten first rounders for a player like Ovechkin. He would instantly set up a franchise as a contender, and probably sell out all season tickets in a matter of days. The only player in the league who you can say with a certainty that is better than Ovi is Crosby, and he's not as durable.

I agree he wouldn't work here, so it wouldn't make any sense, but you better believe teams like Philly, Toronto, Montreal, New York, and Detroit without an internal cap would give up pretty much anything for a player of Ovechkin's stature.

When was the last time a player of Ovechkin's caliber was actually traded in his prime anyway? Gretzky is honestly the last one I can think of. Thornton might count as well, but even though he was a top player in the league, he was older and still not as good as Ovechkin.

Oh and Washington would be insane to deal Ovechkin for anything other than a huge overpayment. He's the only real reason the team is relevant, and sells out most games. Without him the Capitals would be an afterthought in Washington, and relapse back to the dark days when all they had was Peter Bondra.

Edit: Oh and 10 first rounders is an exaggeration obviously, but he'd get more in return than three first rounders and Brodie/Backlund.

If selling tickets were the goal, acquiring Ovechkin would be a good idea.

If building a winner were the goal, these proposals would be suicide.

But whatever, knock yourselves out. Don't be surprised when not a single GM in the league makes any kind of a similar proposal, however.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Makarov

3 Alex Ovechkin WSH L 48 32 24 56 +2

16 Nicklas Backstrom WSH C 48 8 40 48 +8

17 John Tavares NYI C 48 28 19 47 -2

.. Troy Brouwer WSH R 47 19 14 33 -5

.. Mike Green WSH D 35 12 14 26 -3


A (admittedly superficial) glance at the relevant statistics makes it look like one player on this list did more heavy lifting than the others.

Are moulson (and boyes and streit) stats irrelevant? Not saying I disagree, but its a week argument...