have not watched the Caps much, but even though he scored, OV seemed much more passive than I ever remember him, especially physically, until the end when the game was well out of reach. And to be fair, Mike Green and Backstrom were almost invisible, and Mcphee should know better than to trust the goaltending to 2 largely unproven netminders.

I was at the game, and thought the Caps played a great road period in the first. I think the Dupuis goal was really the killer last night...once that went in, you could almost smell the blood in the water. I don't see how Mcphee survives this.
- Emperor Filonius

I thought Ovechkin, relative to his current production/level of play, was solid last night. He had chances, just doesn't seem as adept at finishing as he once was (maybe partly a confidence issue, maybe too many miles on the body, who knows ?). Green is just woeful now - he's always been prone to the defensive zone giveaways and continues to do so, but now he is offering nothing in the offensive zone. Carlson has taken a major step back this season - he has been on the ice for an incredible number of opposition goals - he looks slow, maybe out of shape. Backstrom not doing it either. If not for Ribero, the offensive numbers for this team would be even more ridiculously bad than they are now. And perhaps the biggest issue which is contributing to their inability to be competitive is that neither goalie is coming up with a big save at a crucial moment. You pinpointed the Dupuis goal as the killer - totally agree. You could see the team was deflated and it just went off the cliff from there. Both Holtby and Neuvy are giving up multiple soft goals each game, which you obviously can't have when you are struggling to put the puck in the net.

One last factor which obviously doesn't account for the entire dropoff but is significant is the absence of Brooks Laich - he's there do-everything guy, he's the unofficial leader and he is crucial to a PK which has been laughably bad.

your star players just don't care enough and think they should be able to win games on talent minus any hard work. When Ovie was tearing up the league, he did it because he wanted the personal recognition and the personal accolades. Now it seems that since he's been there and done that, it's not all that important to him anymore.

I used to laugh when we would have this crosby vs ovie debate of who was better.

the difference is Crosby neeeeeeeeeds to win. He craves that stanley cup and all his greatness comes from his pursuit of that goal

Ovie's greatness came from a desire to show off and be recognized. Once he got used to it, his desire fell off dramatically.

Kind of like winning the lottery. For the first year it's going to be (frank)ing awesome but you eventually get used to it and if you don't have any personal goals to obtain in life, you're going to be bored eventually.
- Sheppy99

This is pretty revisionist. Ovechkin was fantastic for his first 5 seasons and was legitimately in the conversation with Crosby as to who was the best player in the world. They both played great in a 7 Game Series in the '09 playoffs which ultimately went the Pens way. Subsequent seasons have seen a severe dropoff in production by Ovechkin and thus he has exited the conversation as the best player in the world - this doesn't erase what he did those first 5 seasons, though.

How about acquiring a veteran leader like Gonchar? Past his prime, but still a great passer and smart hockey player. Plus he's Russian and a Stanley Cup champ. One year left on his contract at 5.5mil. Ottawa needs him right now but for the right offer it might work out.

Steven Hindle: Runaway Train
...
- Sven_119H

... never going back
Wrong way on a one way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

The whole make-up of the team is wrong, that falls on the shoulders of McPhee! OV seems to have lost his passion but definitely not his skill level, there's no character on that team. Major shake-up needed!

I did the math and they could add both OV and Carlsson if they dumped Samuelsson and Quincey and if Filppula and Howard don't get huge raises. Just adding Ovechkin would be easy for the Wings. They will have 18 million under the new cap for next year with Filppula, Brunner and Howard as the 3 main UFAs to keep and a couple of RFAs that likely won't be getting much of a raise since most haven't done much to deserve one yet. So yes it would be possible cap wise but i don't see Holland giving up what Washington would likely want for him.
- dcz28

Give them Franson and rid yourselves of that soon to be terrible contract. Datsyuk, assuming Ovi has a ton of respect for him, may help him grow up and understand what a leader really is.

Anderson, Michalek and a 1st for Ovechkin.

Spezza and Ovechkin would be ridiculous.

I follow the Wild, and I have not heard anyone complaining about Suter and Parise.
- acresd

We'll see. If they don't even make the playoffs In year 1 of 12 with no cap space left to improve.....
Could make for a very long decade.

Ovie sucks when he isnt on the roids huh?
- nbartley9

The trade suggestions on here are ludicrous.

The trade suggestions on here are ludicrous.
- dawgzhouse

who cares.

This is pretty revisionist. Ovechkin was fantastic for his first 5 seasons and was legitimately in the conversation with Crosby as to who was the best player in the world. They both played great in a 7 Game Series in the '09 playoffs which ultimately went the Pens way. Subsequent seasons have seen a severe dropoff in production by Ovechkin and thus he has exited the conversation as the best player in the world - this doesn't erase what he did those first 5 seasons, though.
- MadCap2008

no it does not. Ovie still has the skill but half of what made him so great was the fact that he was going to pummel people to score that next goal. He needed to score because it furthered his rock star persona. Now that he's reached the top of the mountain of stardom in the NHL, I really don't think he knows what to do anymore.

He just unfortunately does not have that same desire to win the stanley cup like say a Crosby. It is understandable. Ovechkin's identity as a hockey player growing up was not shaped by watching his heroes win the stanley cup on CBC. It was shaped by striving to be the best hockey player in the world. One could argue he reached that pinnacle so quickly that he's now lost his drive....

He's still a good hockey player with a ton of talent. But I don't think we'll ever see that dominate ovie from the first 5 years.

Washington needs to trade for a D-man and a Goalie. Rest of the team is fine.. How about targeting Halak from St. Louis and Hjalmarsson. Not really sure what you'd have to give up

Anyone wanting to trade for Ovechkin is nuts. The guy is on his way to becoming Alexei Yashin part 2.

If he was half as committed to playing in the NHL as he is to playing for Russia in the Olympics/WC he might be worth dealing for but his salary is terrible for the quality of player he's become.

People say Luongo has a terrible contract but 5.3m/yr for a world class goalie is alot better than 9.5m/yr for a sulking, brooding, floater.

This is pretty revisionist. Ovechkin was fantastic for his first 5 seasons and was legitimately in the conversation with Crosby as to who was the best player in the world. They both played great in a 7 Game Series in the '09 playoffs which ultimately went the Pens way. Subsequent seasons have seen a severe dropoff in production by Ovechkin and thus he has exited the conversation as the best player in the world - this doesn't erase what he did those first 5 seasons, though.
- MadCap2008

2010 was considered by many to be his best season of his career in reality. Missed 10 games and still was 2nd in goals and assists - would have been first by a mile (his PPG PPP were ridiculous).

That is what...3 seasons removed? How short most of these critic's memories are.

It's not as if he's been underplaying for a decade. He also ISN'T a one-man team, which I think people seem to just assume is what 'good OV' is. No-one in this league can simply just carry their team every game...the league has too much parity now.

He has been told to adapt and learn to be more team-oriented, and if you've watched his game over the seasons, you would can definitely notice it - he makes more passes than godamn shots now (which actually irritates me the most really...someone needs to just tell him to shoot as much as possible and I think Oates atleast has got that across better than Hunter).

Backstrom is the weakest link right now (and Green, but he's not expected to put up 80/90 points).

OV showed last game some of that tenacity that's been lacking in the WHOLE squad's play...I think he realizes he has to try and motivate everyone else, and in taking on these intangibles, he also limits his individual success (but he also could of easily had 4 points last game...the break-away, and that open-net post? Like WTF).

The thing that I don't understand, and this might just be the nature of the game, is that he doesn't accomplish much in the first two periods, and then in the third he comes out like a bat out of hell, and seems to succeed in putting together plays and goals.
Does he wait for the other team to tire or something?

It's just amazingly frustrating watching the Caps as a squad right now.

Washington needs to trade for a D-man and a Goalie. Rest of the team is fine.. How about targeting Halak from St. Louis and Hjalmarsson. Not really sure what you'd have to give up
- steve362

+1.

looking for caps fans input,

how highly do you guys think of Johansson? Is he considered an untouchable, or just a project who could pan out or flop (50/50)? Could he be a trade candidate at the deadline?

looking for caps fans input,

how highly do you guys think of Johansson? Is he considered an untouchable, or just a project who could pan out or flop (50/50)? Could he be a trade candidate at the deadline?

looking for caps fans input,

how highly do you guys think of Johansson? Is he considered an untouchable, or just a project who could pan out or flop (50/50)? Could he be a trade candidate at the deadline?
- TheJerseyDevil1

There was a lot of hype, and maybe he's never been really allowed to back it up, but he's definitely trade bait. IMO ofcourse...

There was a lot of hype, and maybe he's never been really allowed to back it up, but he's definitely trade bait. IMO ofcourse...
- ghostibator

interesting... appreciate the smurf rape pic btw

Mcphee hit the nail on the head with his interview the other day.

If it wasn't for some really DUMB mistakes, some retarded penalties (both at fault and bad calls) and any kind of decent goaltending, this team is easily 500.

add in primary scoring firing on all cylinders and brooks laich, and i'd say they are closer to top 5 in the conference.

If anyone is actually paying attention to the system, timely d pinches with forward coverages, offensive zone time and good cycles this team actually isnt playing horrible. D zone coverage accounts for a good amount of goals, but puck possession and more importantly keeping the puck in at the blue line are some pretty important highlights from the worst team in the league..

Ottawa was their game to lose (which they took ottawa up on their offer)

Toronto was easily two wins.

hmm that adds up to 5-5-1.

I sure wish ovechkin wasn't afraid to steamroll people. He's lost that ruthless part of his game - people aren't afraid of the 230lbs russian beast anymore. They know he's afraid of the shanaban.

Ovie is getting tons of chances. Oates needs to put him back with backstrom and brouwer, and I bet the floodgates open.

Mcphee hit the nail on the head with his interview the other day.

If it wasn't for some really DUMB mistakes, some retarded penalties (both at fault and bad calls) and any kind of decent goaltending, this team is easily 500.

add in primary scoring firing on all cylinders and brooks laich, and i'd say they are closer to top 5 in the conference.

If anyone is actually paying attention to the system, timely d pinches with forward coverages, offensive zone time and good cycles this team actually isnt playing horrible. D zone coverage accounts for a good amount of goals, but puck possession and more importantly keeping the puck in at the blue line are some pretty important highlights from the worst team in the league..

Ottawa was their game to lose (which they took ottawa up on their offer)

Toronto was easily two wins.

hmm that adds up to 5-5-1.

I sure wish ovechkin wasn't afraid to steamroll people. He's lost that ruthless part of his game - people aren't afraid of the 230lbs russian beast anymore. They know he's afraid of the shanaban.

Ovie is getting tons of chances. Oates needs to put him back with backstrom and brouwer, and I bet the floodgates open.
- blondinwrx

I think you hit the nail on the head as well my friend; they've been very very unlucky (that happens in sports). The ebbs and flows of a season are just that...to make long-reaching speculations after 10 games is sort of needless and redundant.

I mean I could say 'WOW they kicked ass tonight - turn around point!' but it's game by game. However, you can't mute talent forever.

I would like McPhee to be gone though; I think Oates will be a hero in the end.

interesting... appreciate the smurf rape pic btw
- TheJerseyDevil1

It's my siggy haha

Hey, a road win !

Ward with more points than Ovie...omfg.....