On The Eve of the New Season: North of the Border Editio

How 'bout you just don't protect him and let the Las Vegas Knights take his salary on?

Sure you lose the trade value, but you don't take the salary cap hit.

Julian, wrote:

godsshoeshine wrote:
i could see the caps doing something stupid and trading ovie in the next couple of years.

You mean the ten million dollar cap hit for the next four seasons that just scored 33+36 and is going to be 32 at the start of next season? "Stupid" is a weird adjective to use. Backstrom is out-pointing him over the last 4 seasons aggregate.

There is a definite possibility the cap flexibility afforded by off loading him and getting a young top-6 forward back can help the young core (of which Ovechkin is not) extend their window for several seasons. Or if you want to go win now, do something nuts like trade for Subban straight up. You're telling me Subban doesn't put that team minus-OV closer to a cup?

Of course Backstrom gets more points, he's a center. His job is to spread the puck around. I don't see how trading Ovi helps this team. Pretty sure any team in the NHL would gladly take him.

I've seen blame thrown everywhere. I'll be surprised if Trotz comes back next season. 3 years of the same old same old. Insane. Build around Backstrom and Burakovsky. Heh.

vansmack wrote:
How 'bout you just don't protect him and let the Las Vegas Knights take his salary on?

Sure you lose the trade value, but you don't take the salary cap hit.

pretty sure he has a no movement clause

godsshoeshine wrote:
pretty sure he has a no movement clause

He does not.  No-trade yes  (limited; 10-team no-trade list), but not a no-movement clause.

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/no_trade_list.html

godsshoeshine wrote:
you presume that the caps would pull of a trade without retaining salary and actually make a good trade. i do not

That's not the same as the concept of trading OV is stupid just because someone could do it in a dumb way. That's sort of like saying the invention of the automobile was dumb because someone might crash.

vansmack wrote:
How 'bout you just don't protect him and let the Las Vegas Knights take his salary on?

That's intriguing.

Julian, wrote:

godsshoeshine wrote:
you presume that the caps would pull of a trade without retaining salary and actually make a good trade. i do not

That's not the same as the concept of trading OV is stupid just because someone could do it in a dumb way. That's sort of like saying the invention of the automobile was dumb because someone might crash.

agreed. sorry you inferred that i meant it that way

You (not you personally godsshoeshine, the general you) are telling me both teams wouldn't jump at:

Capitals
William Nylander
Connor BrownJames Van Riemsdyk or Tyler Bozak
A Prospect
A 1st Round Pick

Maple Leafs
Ovechkin
A 3rd Round Pick

Maple Leafs jump into legit Cup contention right away, pair the last 3-4 elite years of Ovechkin with Matthews, Kadri, van Riemsdyk or Bozak, Brown et al.

Caps get younger (and acquire guys who will be RFAs in next negotiations), shed 8.54.8mil in cap space (hello Shattenkirk and Oshie potentially returning), extend the window of the team overall.

There are trades to be made.

EDIT: Looking at Capfriendly, I thought Maple Leafs were more fungible on cap space. Probably have to send Van Riemsdyk or Bozak back instead of Brown and both have modified NTCs (I can't imagine Caps would be one of the teams specified on either).

Not sure I would want Shattenkirk returning at this point.

Julian, wrote:

vansmack wrote:
How 'bout you just don't protect him and let the Las Vegas Knights take his salary on?

That's intriguing.

Not even my favorite idea, though I like it a lot.  How about this one: Protect Ovechkin, then trade him to Vegas, who doesn't have a salary cap.  Surely you will get something from a number of teams who couldn't put together a one-on-one trade with the Caps, and presumably a better collection of talent (of course salary cap would still apply to DC). 

Julian, wrote:
EDIT: Looking at Capfriendly, I thought Maple Leafs were more fungible on cap space. Probably have to send Van Riemsdyk or Bozak back instead of Brown and both have modified NTCs (I can't imagine Caps would be one of the teams specified on either).

Funny.  I was doing this research, got distracted, came back to finish it on my lunch and said, "there's no way Jules could have not seen this."  When I went back to recheck the names I had written down, I saw your edits.  Nice work - I was coming to a similar conclusion. 

vansmack wrote:

Julian, wrote:
EDIT: Looking at Capfriendly, I thought Maple Leafs were more fungible on cap space. Probably have to send Van Riemsdyk or Bozak back instead of Brown and both have modified NTCs (I can't imagine Caps would be one of the teams specified on either).

Funny.  I was doing this research, got distracted, came back to finish it on my lunch and said, "there's no way Jules could have not seen this."  When I went back to recheck the names I had written down, I saw your edits.  Nice work - I was coming to a similar conclusion. 

Yeah. If I were the Caps and I was offered the Van Riemsdyk option of that (and OV was open to waiving his NTC), I'd have to consider that strongly.

Julian, wrote: (and OV was open to waiving his NTC)

Ovechkin submits a list of 10 teams to which he would refuse a trade prior to each season.  I can't imagine Toronto is on that list.

vansmack wrote:

Julian, wrote: (and OV was open to waiving his NTC)

Ovechkin submits a list of 10 teams to which he would refuse a trade prior to each season.  I can't imagine Toronto is on that list.

Even better. I like this game.

Smackie's 10 Team no trade list for 2016-17:

Arizona, Minnesota, Washington, Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Colorado, Carolina, Columbus

vansmack wrote:
Smackie's 10 Team no trade list for 2016-17:

Arizona, Minnesota, Washington, Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Colorado, Carolina, Columbus

You'd rather play for Detroit than Tampa or Columbus? Have you seen that steaming pile of crap?

Also Minnesota is indefensible. Fanbase is amazing, team is quite good.

cbus would be on my list; no way i'd play for torts even though he looks like my uncle

agreed that tampa is crazy. smackie loves the strip clubs for one

godsshoeshine wrote:
cbus would be on my list; no way i'd play for torts even though he looks like my uncle

I forgot about Torts. Totally fair inclusion.

godsshoeshine wrote:
agreed that tampa is crazy. smackie loves the strip clubs for one

My Mother-in-law spends the majority of the hockey season in Tampa.  She's great, but sorry fella's, that's just not workable.

Julian, wrote:
Also Minnesota is indefensible. Fanbase is amazing, team is quite good.

There is no way, less than 24 hours after breaking the Boudreau curse, I'm going anywhere near that guy.

OH yeah… been meaning to post this for a few days. LOLCaps.

Go Pens!