Gettin AO Outta DC

[YoungGuns1340 1]

So far all of the big trade talk is missing something, espically the suggested deal involving the Ducks. You are all forgetting AO's potential salary. No question he could ask for and easily get league max. However, minimally he gets $8 per. The Ducks wouldn't be able to fit him in under the cap unless they sent a big contract back to Washington, ala Prongger, Bert, or Scotty. I don't think there is any senario that AO gets traded.

Even if AO demanded to be traded, I just can't see the Caps dealing him. Outside of Crosby, there isn't a player in the NHL that I would trade him for. On the flip side, I don't see too many GM's that would be in the position (cap-wise) to acquire AO who would have the pieces to make the deal work.

When a player demands a contract, you trade him. You may not do it instantaneously, but forcing a player to stay when he statedly doesnt want to is bad for the team, the locker room, and the organization.

Undoubtedly, the Caps would find a deal somewhere. Kane or Toews + Seabrook or Keith + ? would get the Caps listening. St. Louis + an extended Boyle + a high-level prospect wouldnt be too bad. Unfortunately for GMs, a player demanding a trade puts you in a position where you have to deal for the best package offered...which may not be the best package overall.

[Kp-Wings 3]

When a player demands a contract, you trade him. You may not do it instantaneously, but forcing a player to stay when he statedly doesnt want to is bad for the team, the locker room, and the organization.

Undoubtedly, the Caps would find a deal somewhere. Kane or Toews + Seabrook or Keith + ? would get the Caps listening. St. Louis + an extended Boyle + a high-level prospect wouldnt be too bad. Unfortunately for GMs, a player demanding a trade puts you in a position where you have to deal for the best package offered...which may not be the best package overall.

If the Capitals trade Ovechkin they'll never do it with a divisonal rival. In fact, it's a stretch they'd even trade him to someone in the East. They'd probably trade him to a team in the Western Conference.

The Anahiem scenario makes sence. The Capitals would be getting an All-Star defenseman in Chris Pronger, something that they haven't had in a player of his calibre since... erm... I'd go as far back as Rod Langway. Their best defenseman right now are Tom Poti and Brian Pothier. Not to take away from either of them (Pothier in particular, because he's become a very solid defenseman) but these guys aren't the #1 franchise defenseman that most teams have. They have some other guys up front that can produce, like Nylander, Kozlov, Semin, and Backstrom, and if they ever get their prospects to start developing as hoped (most notably Eric Fehr and Boyd Gordon) they'll be in good shape without Ovechkin. Plus, they'd possibly be getting someone like Perry or Bobby Ryan out of that deal from Anaheim, which gives them a huge amount of scoring depth.

A trade like that makes a lot of sense, especially if Niedermayer comes back. A point could be made of the trade not happening because Burke is extremely anti-European (almost to a Don Cherry level), but this is Ovechkin we're talking about. I think he'd put aside his political views and what not to aquire a player of his magnitude, if it ever comes that close to happening.

Edited November 27, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

When a player demands a contract, you trade him. You may not do it instantaneously, but forcing a player to stay when he statedly doesnt want to is bad for the team, the locker room, and the organization.

Undoubtedly, the Caps would find a deal somewhere. Kane or Toews + Seabrook or Keith + ? would get the Caps listening. St. Louis + an extended Boyle + a high-level prospect wouldnt be too bad. Unfortunately for GMs, a player demanding a trade puts you in a position where you have to deal for the best package offered...which may not be the best package overall.

When a player demand a contract you trade him? I'm not sure what you mean by that, I'm assuming you meant that when a player demands to be traded, you trade him? Just because AO might demand a trade (I still have a hard time seeing him do that anytime soon, he loves DC), things can be worked out. Making the player stay isn't always bad for the organization. No doubt it isn't the best case scenario, but again, things can be worked out.

I don't doubt that the Caps would get offers from other teams. However, you are forgetting a few things. First and foremost, the salary cap. AO is going to get top dollar. With the Lightning already pushed against the cap, trading St. Louis and Boyle wouldn't actually do much in the way of clearing Cap space, and filling holes that the Lightning have. Not to mention the Lightning don't have much in the way of 'high level prospects'. I'm not saying that they couldn't fit AO under the cap in that deal, but they couldn't fit a quality starting goaltender (their biggest hole) and AO under the cap. As far as Chicago is concerned, there is no way they trade Towes, Kane, Seabrook, and more for AO. Not gunna happen. That sounds like something JFJ would try to pull off in Toronto.

If the Capitals trade Ovechkin they'll never do it with a divisonal rival. In fact, it's a stretch they'd even trade him to someone in the East. They'd probably trade him to a team in the Western Conference.

The Anahiem scenario makes sence. The Capitals would be getting an All-Star defenseman in Chris Pronger, something that they haven't had in a player of his calibre since... erm... I'd go as far back as Rod Langway. Their best defenseman right now are Tom Poti and Brian Pothier. Not to take away from either of them (Pothier in particular, because he's become a very solid defenseman) but these guys aren't the #1 franchise defenseman that most teams have. They have some other guys up front that can produce, like Nylander, Kozlov, Semin, and Backstrom, and if they ever get their prospects to start developing as hoped (most notably Eric Fehr and Boyd Gordon) they'll be in good shape without Ovechkin. Plus, they'd possibly be getting someone like Perry or Bobby Ryan out of that deal from Anaheim, which gives them a huge amount of scoring depth.

A trade like that makes a lot of sense, especially if Niedermayer comes back. A point could be made of the trade not happening because Burke is extremely anti-European (almost to a Don Cherry level), but this is Ovechkin we're talking about. I think he'd put aside his political views and what not to aquire a player of his magnitude, if it ever comes that close to happening.

It does make sense it every respect except the salary cap. The Ducks wouldn't have enough room to re-sign AO.

Not to mention the are going to retire #8 next season....

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

This is kind of off topic, but I just read this on TSN:

On players, such as Alexander Ovechkin, amongst others, going onto the ice before pre-game warmup in their running shoes to play with the puck: The league is concerned about the practice and has indicated to the GMs it would prefer it not to happen.

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=223720

He goes onto the ice in running shoes to play with the puck??

That's an odd pre-game ritual.

[Earthhuman 8]

Just as a reminder, Gonchar was Washington's last allstar defenseman.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

He never chose to play in DC so much as he chose to play in the NHL rather than remain in Russia after the lockout.

The Caps did nothing to earn Ovechkin other than being lousy in 2003-04 before then winning the Draft lottery to leapfrog both the 29th-overall Blackhawks and 30th-overall Penguins. That got them the first pick in what has become essentially a two-player draft, with Evgeni Malkin going second to Pittsburgh.

No one would write that about the Penguins- a team that managed to accumulate fantastic players through sheer patheticness. I mean honesly- if any team blows that hard for so long they're pretty retarded if they can't manage to hobble fists full of top 2 draft picks into a team.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

This is kind of off topic, but I just read this on TSN:

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=223720

He goes onto the ice in running shoes to play with the puck??

That's an odd pre-game ritual.

It may sound odd, but enough guys are doing it to make the NHL say something about it. I knew AO and Crosby did it. But the NHL saying something about it makes me wonder who else does it. I could see Kovalchuk, and Heatly doing it.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

It may sound odd, but enough guys are doing it to make the NHL say something about it. I knew AO and Crosby did it. But the NHL saying something about it makes me wonder who else does it. I could see Kovalchuk, and Heatly doing it.

Weird. I've never seen that.

It's one thing to kick around a soccerball in the hallways, but I don't get kicking a puck around on the ice in sneakers when you're a hockey player.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Just as a reminder, Gonchar was Washington's last allstar defenseman.

That he may have been, but he was never the true #1 franchise defenseman like some guys are/were. His defensive liabilities prevented that.

Not taking anything away from Gonchar, but I don't think of him as one of those players. I guess that's just my mindset of a true franchise defenseman. Gonchar is a good player, but he's not a franchise defenseman. Playing in the All-Star game doesn't really make him that.

Just my opinion, imo.

Edited November 28, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[sibiriak 84]

That he may have been, but he was never the true #1 franchise defenseman like some teams have. His defensive liabilities prevented that.

Not taking anything away from Gonchar, but I don't think of him as one of those players. I guess that's just my mindset of a true franchise defenseman. Gonchar is a good player, but he's not a franchise defenseman. Playing in the All-Star game doesn't really make him that.

Just my opinion, imo.

Compared to the Caps current D, Gonchar was, like, Lidstrom

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

Weird. I've never seen that.

It's one thing to kick around a soccerball in the hallways, but I don't get kicking a puck around on the ice in sneakers when you're a hockey player.

A buddy and I always goof around with a puck before games. Picking it up off the ice with both forehand and backhand sides of the stick, throwing it up and catching it, tossing it to each other. But we always have skates on.

[hawkupaloogie 0]

A buddy and I always goof around with a puck before games. Picking it up off the ice with both forehand and backhand sides of the stick, throwing it up and catching it, tossing it to each other. But we always have skates on.

i've seen some of the guys on northern's team do this before games. they'll take a couple laps around the rink first, then go out on the ice and work on basic stick handling and accuracy shooting, then kick around a soccer ball off the ice. i figure it's just easier to keep the shoes on. there was a few times where i was helping with silent auctions (setting up and whatnot), and i'd be there 4 hours before the game, and they'd be in flipflops on the ice, just playing with the puck. it's probably more common than you'd think.

[Doggy 130]

I'd be shocked if the Caps didn't become a contender within the next 3 years. I imagine AO would be of similar viewpoint and would be happy to ride the tough days out because soon he'll have more high draft teammates.

And if it does NOT happen and the Caps remain pathetic - he won't be far from UFA status and can go wherever. No offer sheets necessary.

Edited November 29, 2007 by Doggy

[SweWings 45]

I'd be shocked if the Caps didn't become a contender within the next 3 years. I imagine AO would be of similar viewpoint and would be happy to ride the tough days out because soon he'll have more high draft teammates.

Backstrom is coming up. I mean he's not exactly rookie of the year but he'll develop quickly. But the problem for the Caps right now isn't really the offense from their forwards but better defenders, better defensive forwards and a future goaltender.

And if it does NOT happen and the Caps remain pathetic - he won't be far from UFA status and can go wherever. No offer sheets necessary.

And he'll be a class act for staying with the Caps as long as he did.