Over the holiday weekend two weeks ago, pucksandbooks played a “what if” game concerning the future of Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. In the post, he suggests that “should the Caps and Ovechkin arrive at an impasse in new deal discussions, excruciatingly painful though it may be, a deal with the Kings could make sense.”
The suggestion sparked some lively debate as more than 30 comments were left along with others that had to be deleted due to violation of the OFB Comment Policy. It may have even planted an idea in an answer to a question concerning Ovechkin on John Buccigross’ latest Mother of All Mailbags on ESPN.com.
Hey John,
Whenever I watch [Alexander] Ovechkin, I see that he looks really mad that he’s in Washington. Where do you think he will end up next season, assuming he doesn’t re-sign (which I doubt)?
Jeff
Philadelphia
[Buccigross]: Alexander Ovechkin isn’t going anywhere. Probably. He is a restricted free agent and the Capitals would match any offer. I’m sure Oilers GM Kevin Lowe is preparing a 45-year, $421.7 million offer sheet as we speak. Would the Capitals ever considering trading Ovechkin? Well, if No. 8 pushed the matter and wanted to play in a market, like say, Los Angeles, then something could be done there.
The Kings have enough young talent, and potentially the overall No. 1 pick, that the Capitals could make a deal there and potentially make their team better. Would the Kings trade goalie prospect Jonathan Bernier, Jack Johnson, and Michael Cammalleri and their No. 1 pick for Ovechkin, the Caps’ first pick, a top defensive prospect and perhaps a character guy like Chris Clark, or a framework similar to that? Putting prospect Karl Alzner along with Johnson in front of a prospect like Bernier could reap huge dividends. The NHL is a “defense first” league and it will remain that way. You need to be a good defensive team with great goaltending to win playoff rounds, and while the Caps have played well recently, can you picture them winning a playoff series any time soon?
The trade sounds like a lot for the Kings to give up, but having a star in the Los Angeles market is vital for the Kings. Put Anze Kopitar with Ovechkin and any upright mammal and you have a No. 1 line. Dustin Brown can play with Alexander Frolov and maybe Patrick O’Sullivan on the second line. The third and fourth lines can be constructed with young players and veteran free agents. The major issue is giving up a goalie prospect like Bernier. Goalies are always tough to gauge. How many “can’t miss” goalies have we seen fizzle out? Being bold results in championships. Maybe the Capitals, multiple assets away from being a playoff force, are pondering such a bold move involving their star player who appears to be looking to max out his earning potential.
14 Comments
Yet one more example of the MSM being affected by the blogosphere. Go get ‘em OFB!
I love how playing in Washington is viewed as a black hole for maxing out earning potential. Did anyone check the balance sheets around here? This isn’t Des Moines. Money is not an issue, win some Cups.
I still don’t understand why everyone wants Bernier so much. He’s no further along in his development than Neuvirth or Varlamov, and while he’s certainly better than either of them, he’s not that much better.
Let me see if I get this…
Jonathan Bernier
Jack Johnson
and Michael Cammalleri
No. 1 pick
–for–
Alex Ovechkin
the Caps’ first pick
a top defensive prospect (like who?…Mike Green?…Karl Alzner??)
and perhaps a character guy like Chris Clark
..and the Kings are the ones seen as giving up a lot in this deal?
Hey Gustafsson, I though you guys were on our side. You know, the journalists who aren’t always looking for the cheap headline. You must be terribly proud of yourselves that you can start rumors and watch them spread just like the MSM. Congratulations on joining the pantheon of Larry Brooks and Bruce Garrioch
b.orr4,
The point of this post was not to create/spread a rumour, but to suggest that perhaps a highly visible member of ESPN may read this blog. Nothing more.
In defense of the original post, pucksandbooks said:
I don’t believe pucksandbooks was trying to start a rumour, but rather to say “If an impasse should occur, what kinds of things might management do.” That’s much different than saying “this is what is happening.”
With all due respect, and I do mean that because I enjoy most of what you guys do, if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, it’s a duck. Pucksandbooks may have been couching his original article as speculation, but by offering possible scenarios for Ovechkin leaving he had to know that the numerous Washington haters would seize on his words as further validation that Ovechkin will bolt the Caps. Alex has said repeatedly he want to be here, McPhee and Leonsis have also said repeatedly that Alex will be a Cap for a long time. So why do we have to speculate that he could be traded until we have some concrete evidence that something is amiss in the contract talks? Isn’t that the more responsible approach? Frankly, if there’s any RFA the Caps could lose, it’s Mike Green.
I think we should all just direct our venom at the one true idiot here - the guy in Philly who somehow has determined that Alex Ovechkin looks really mad to be in D.C. when he plays (apparently for all the watching of Ovechkin this guy’s done, he’s never seen him score a goal)
I’ll have to agree as well. I love coming to this blog, but the Ovechkin idea is and was, still couched the goal of being able to stir up discussion.
that’s more than acceptable, and that’s a writer’s right to do so. However, lets not try and hide that part of it.
In defense of the Blog, such articles are what blogging is all about. I didnt realize how serious the “Ovy Situation” COULD get, but thought there was a thoughtful and intersting take on what options the Caps could have if he were to not come to a deal. It gave me something to look forward to other then “Ovy’s gone the franchise is done.” Lets not forget the Lindros situation (which pucksandbooks mentioned in the previous article) where all those great players went to the Avs. Now there wasnt the same attachment that DC has with Ovy, but still good to see there is another option. Blogging is for one(s) to be able to express themselves and this is exactly what was done in a creative and thoughtful way. If you want “REAL” news go to the Post or whatever you may read. But I enjoy the thoughtful looks at possible situations that this blog and others bring to the table in combination with up to date news that the MSM only covers. Thanks OFB
IF, and I stress IF, such a trade were to occur, methinks it would be Bernier, Johnson, Cammilleri and either two first round picks or Frolov for Ovechkin. I don’t think that the Caps would be sending anyone else along for the ride. And you think GMGM’s phone is burning up with calls from Denver now that Sakic and Smyth are out? I’m not saying that Ovechkin is the subject of these calls, just wondering what sort of discussions may be occuring. (Good-bye Nylander?)
If this is how Ovechkin plays when he’s mad, might I suggest learning some Russian phrases that insult his parentage?
I was going to remain out of this fray and allow Gus to enjoy a bit of being the Sean Avery of Blogging for a bit — where’s the fun in being a lightning rod hog? — but then Friday night wine started to settle in.
For what it’s worth, I received email messages today from three bloggers — one of whom might accurately be identified as receiving more hits for his site than anyone in Sports New Media history — alerting me to what they perceived to be a “thievery” of OFB filing taking place. But all that matters here, I think, is what I think. And I think this: I love Bucchi. He’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but I wish there were about 200 more of him working at ESPN. He’s welcome to read and be inspired here as he may or may not see fit.
I will conclude with this thought: had he written on Dec. 25 what he did today and had I written what I did on Dec. 25 and instead published it here today, I have a fair premonition on what the reaction would have been.
I too love Bucci, mainly because he is hockey-centric working for a company of hockey haters. That takes guts.
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