The Hockey News: Mike Brophy's blog: THN.com Blog: Caps should shop Ovechkin

THN.com Blog: Caps should shop Ovechkin

The Caps could get a great return if they traded Alex Ovechkin.

Mike Brophy
2007-12-17 12:41:17

It is generally assumed Alex Ovechkin will sign with the Washington Capitals and remain with the team that drafted him first overall in 2004. Even if another team signed him to an offer sheet next summer, assuming he doesn’t agree to an extension before then, the Capitals would match the offer regardless of the cost.

But what if Ovechkin doesn’t want to play in Washington any longer? What if the young superstar tells the Caps he’d prefer to play someplace a little more cosmopolitan than Washington? You know, it could happen.

And frankly, I think Caps GM George McPhee should, at the very least, explore the possibility of trading the 22-year-old sniper. Now, the notion of trading such a gifted young player might seem preposterous to some, but really it shouldn’t. Imagine the offers McPhee might field if he let it be known Ovechkin was available as trade bait.

Let’s face it, with Ovechkin in their lineup, the Capitals have shown no signs of being a playoff team. There are no guarantees re-signing Ovechkin will make the Capitals a successful franchise. In fact, if history has taught us anything, moving a young star just might be the best medicine for a struggling team.

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Consider the Colorado Avalanche. When the franchise was still located in Quebec, Eric Lindros put a gun to the team’s head, demanding a trade. The Nordiques considered a few options and ultimately traded Lindros for a package that included Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, a first round draft pick and $15 million. (Another offer of Doug Weight, Tony Amonte, Alex Kovalev, John Vanbiesbrouck, three first round draft picks and $12 million was tendered by the New York Rangers.)

We all know the results of that trade – Colorado won two Stanley Cups and the Flyers won squat.

It’s hard to say what the Capitals could expect in a trade for Ovechkin, but my guess is, even in a salary cap world, there would be a number of teams that would put together an impressive package to get him. And my guess is the Capitals would then be a heck of a lot closer to being a contender than they are now.

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COMMENTS (39)

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konstantinov16 Posted
(2009-04-30 07:54:59)

WOW, you really nailed that one, huh?

Brian Habel Posted
(2009-04-30 06:16:07)

Spot on. Who wants the best player, anyway?

MFC Posted
(2009-04-30 06:16:05)

"Let’s face it, with Ovechkin in their lineup, the Capitals have shown no signs of being a playoff team. There are no guarantees re-signing Ovechkin will make the Capitals a successful franchise. In fact, if history has taught us anything, moving a young star just might be the best medicine for a struggling team." So, anyone got a big old plate of Crow?

Brian Kemp Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:47)

There is no way the Capitals should trade Ovechkin. Whatever they would get in return would be offset by the lack of the leagues most marketable player. They would suffer at the gate for it. As far as the comments on the south not having attendance problems, that's kind of ridiculous. Florida, Atlanta and Phoenix can't draw for anything, Nashville kepps threatening to move due to low ticket sales, and Tampa, Anaheim and Carolina are the las three Cup-winning teams. L.A. doesnt draw like they used to. Comparing attendance to Chicago is just plain laughable, since their owner thought a good marketing strategy was to not pay for talent and not let anyone see the games. Edmonton has the smallest arena in the league, so comparisons there are deceptive. The south does have attendance issues, hockey will always be more popular in the north, deal with it. Also, it's latitude, not longitude.

Ryan Mendes Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:19)

It would be really interesting to find out what the Caps are going to do with Ovechkin. Whether they trade him or not, it is a huge risk. If they trade him then they have a better overall team, but they still wouldn't be a contender. They wouldn't be a contender because he is their future, and no matter what other team he goes to, he is going to make them better because they probably have a good player to centre him. If they don't trade him, it's a waiting game to develop more talent to actually help him out. I believe they shpuld trade Nylander at the trade deadline to a team like Montreal, or even to a team in the West like Minnesota or Dallas. That way, they don't have to wait as long to find talent.they could get maybe a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick, considering Nylander isn't really that good. If they include Kozlov, they might actually have a chance at a first round pick. But nothing is for sure. We will have to wait and see what the Caps will do, and how it will turn out.

Greg Schmidt Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:16)

Mike. Normally I like what you say, and can agree with most of it. In this one, you're off base. As you wrote this, the Caps have begun to move north in the standing. There is a new coach that has the guys thinking positively for a change. They've beaten NJ, NY, Philly, gave Detroit a run for the money and came out with a point. You don't start jettisoning your franchise player (unless it's Jagr) when the team is starting to get it together. If they were not doing better, then I'd consider it. I'd probably have to move if I were GMGM and actually did trade him. He wouldn't be able to show his face in DC, and probably wouldn't need a reason to, because he'd probably be fired on the spot.

Vinnie Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:14)

Yes, I think that the Caps should trade Ovechkin to the Tampa Bay Lightning for their 1st round draft pick. Maybe even get the 2nd one thrown in, if they can.

Terry Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:08)

Eric Cooney, your right on! People need to pay attention to statistics. I have been in Raleigh 17 years (Freakin Great City and GREAT Sports Town, every team: pro, semi-pro, every university (Carolina, NC State, Duke) and minor league has won a championship). Hockey in Carolina is the best professional sport and the fans hear are tremendous (ie loudest fans in hockey and great team supporters - NOBODY tail gates like US). I have reluctantly watched (3) Detroit games this year, too many empty seats in the lower bowl (nobody moves to Detroit). Raleigh is growing at a rediculous pace ("100" people a day moving to this area), "The Triangle" deserves the Canes and the exposure (great atmosphere at the RBC Center and getting better every year) and will be able to support another pro team in the near future (bring on the NFL). Oh yes, "Bring Ovechkin to Raleigh (where he was drafted in 2004)"

Vince Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:08)

I think trading Ovechkin would be the last straw for the Caps indifferent fan base. Horrible idea. considering the Caps have zero coverage in the local media we reallly don't hear much about whether he is frustrated that the Caps haven't lived up to Leonsis' "the rebuild is over" remark. I haven't read anything this year suggesting OA is unhappy. I think that when free agent time comes Ovie will be locked up. He's worth a truckload of money and Leonsis is going to give it to him.

nick karr Posted
(2009-04-30 05:57:07)

yeah right...why didn't brophy suggest the pens start shopping crosby after their bad start or iginla be shipped off after the flames looked like a bust early this year or wait i think luongo went from a team who never makes the playoffs to a team that now struggles to score maybe he's next..gime a break mike. There are not to many players like OV who play the game with such enthusiasm on and off the ice, he's so good to the fans and could teach a few things to the other players about appreciating the chance to be a nhler. Washington needs Ov to bring in the fans, i know i would rather watch one evening of OV than a weeks worth of 3/4's of the rest of the league. Leonsis and Mcphee know they have something special to build around and like all intelligent gms and owners consistent good teams take time..ask the present day unsuccessful rangers or Leafs. oh yeah mike, I think ottawa should of traded heatley when they started to stink it up for 7 straight fames... yeah right.