Most definitely - as has been proven in the past handful of seasons.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

If you put Ovechkin on the Bruins and Bergeron on the Caps what would happen? Arguing about Ovechkin is really comical.

No, not being sarcastic.

Bergeron sees a steady diet of the other team's top forwards, OV sees a steady diet of the other team's top D. Neither situation is easy to score under. Bergeron could get the same usage as OV and not even come close to scoring the same amount of goals... OV's just a machine.

Btw, why do OV and Kessel get all the heat, but Stamkos gets a pass? He's similarly weak defensively.
- Tomahawk

Ovechkin sees PP time and is a -31 at ES.

Most definitely - as has been proven in the past handful of seasons.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

If Washington trades OV for Bergeron, do the Caps win more games?

No, not being sarcastic.

Bergeron sees a steady diet of the other team's top forwards, OV sees a steady diet of the other team's top D. Neither situation is easy to score under. Bergeron could get the same usage as OV and not even come close to scoring the same amount of goals... OV's just a machine.

Btw, why do OV and Kessel get all the heat, but Stamkos gets a pass? He's similarly weak defensively.
- Tomahawk

What about Crosby? Is he some defensive stalwart? If he was he would see some PK time.

No, not being sarcastic.

Bergeron sees a steady diet of the other team's top forwards, OV sees a steady diet of the other team's top D. Neither situation is easy to score under. Bergeron could get the same usage as OV and not even come close to scoring the same amount of goals... OV's just a machine.

Btw, why do OV and Kessel get all the heat, but Stamkos gets a pass? He's similarly weak defensively.
- Tomahawk

Where exactly does the 30-40 goal difference come from that Bergeron has to make up?

How many goals would the opposition score against the team that Ovechkin is on, if he was used like Bergeron is?

No, not being sarcastic.

Bergeron sees a steady diet of the other team's top forwards, OV sees a steady diet of the other team's top D. Neither situation is easy to score under. Bergeron could get the same usage as OV and not even come close to scoring the same amount of goals... OV's just a machine.

Btw, why do OV and Kessel get all the heat, but Stamkos gets a pass? He's similarly weak defensively.
- Tomahawk

I don't think he's as weak as Ovi defensively. I don't think Kessel is as bad as Ovi defensively either.

If you graded each player's offense and defense, who would have the highest total score? (1-10)

Ovechkin 10 offense, 3 defense (generous)
Begeron 7 offense, 10 defense

If you put Ovechkin on the Bruins and Bergeron on the Caps what would happen? Arguing about Ovechkin is really comical.
- PLindbergh31

Boston wouldn't be as good as a team.

I'll take Bergeron over Ovechkin any day.

If Washington trades OV for Bergeron, do the Caps win more games?
- 77rams

Yes. Backstrom and Bergeron make up a great tandem at center.
Bruins get worse.

If you put Ovechkin on the Bruins and Bergeron on the Caps what would happen? Arguing about Ovechkin is really comical.
- PLindbergh31

The Bruins coach would only play OV limited sheltered minutes and use him on PP time, because he isn't a moron. And the Caps would probably be the better team.

If you put Ovechkin on the Bruins and Bergeron on the Caps what would happen? Arguing about Ovechkin is really comical.
- PLindbergh31

Exactly. The Bruins as a team are better, plain and simple. It's not about Ovechkin vs. whoever. It's about supporting cast. Both players would make any team better.

Exactly. The Bruins as a team are better, plain and simple. It's not about Ovechkin vs. whoever. It's about supporting cast. Both players would make any team better.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

I don't disagree with that, but the premise was about looking at individual players, not how teams are built.

Yes. Backstrom and Bergeron make up a great tandem at center.
Bruins get worse.
- PhillySportsGuy

Who's gonna bail out the Caps with all the goals OV scores?
Tom Wilson? Troy Brouwer? Ward? Chimera? Fehr? Penner?

Exactly. The Bruins as a team are better, plain and simple. It's not about Ovechkin vs. whoever. It's about supporting cast. Both players would make any team better.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Exactly. It's all about the daily argument narrative with some people.

Exactly. The Bruins as a team are better, plain and simple. It's not about Ovechkin vs. whoever. It's about supporting cast. Both players would make any team better.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

I can't think of any team that would be better with Ovechkin instead of Bergeron.

Yes. Backstrom and Bergeron make up a great tandem at center.
Bruins get worse.
- PhillySportsGuy

OV-Krejci-Iginla
Lucic-Marchand-Smith
Soderberg-Kelly-Eriksson

is worse?


Kuznetsov-Backstrom-Brouwer
Beagle-Bergeron-Johanssen
Chimera-Fehr-Ward

is better?

I don't disagree with that, but the premise was about looking at individual players, not how teams are built.
- MJL

I don't know if you can really compare the players without that context. It's peas and corn. One is arguably the best goal-scorer on the planet, the other is one of the best two-way centers.

Who's gonna bail out the Caps with all the goals OV scores?
Tom Wilson? Troy Brouwer? Ward? Chimera? Fehr? Penner?
- Yosimar89

The general idea is that the team would be better overall. They may not score as much, but they'd allow fewer goals.

Ovi is a huge part of the PP, but Backstrom is a very talented player. He could make Brower and Ward 30 goal scorers

OV-Krejci-Iginla
Lucic-Marchand-Smith
Soderberg-Kelly-Eriksson

is worse?


Kuznetsov-Backstrom-Brouwer
Beagle-Bergeron-Johanssen
Chimera-Fehr-Ward

is better?



- Tomahawk

OV-Krejci-Iginla
Lucic-Marchand-Smith
Soderberg-Kelly-Eriksson

is worse?


Kuznetsov-Backstrom-Brouwer
Beagle-Bergeron-Johanssen
Chimera-Fehr-Ward

is better?




- Tomahawk

Yup. The line of Lucic-Krecji-Iginla has been one of the best in the league this year. I don't think they'd break up that line. Even for OV

OV-Krejci-Iginla
Lucic-Marchand-Smith
Soderberg-Kelly-Eriksson

is worse?


Kuznetsov-Backstrom-Brouwer
Beagle-Bergeron-Johanssen
Chimera-Fehr-Ward

is better?




- Tomahawk

Bergeron is a pitbull. You can't put him with Beagle.

I can't think of any team that would be better with Ovechkin instead of Bergeron.
- PhillySportsGuy

How about the Blues? They have the structure, the discipline, the grit, and DEFINITELY the defensive prowess. The only knock on them can be, do they have enough goal-scorers to win a Stanley Cup?

The general idea is that the team would be better overall. They may not score as much, but they'd allow fewer goals.

Ovi is a huge part of the PP, but Backstrom is a very talented player. He could make Brower and Ward 30 goal scorers
- PhillySportsGuy

...

Let's just agree to disagree now.

...

Let's just agree to disagree now.
- Yosimar89

Brower and Ward are on pace for 24 goals each. You don't think they could get to 30 playing with Backstrom and being the focal point?

Brower and Ward are on pace for 24 goals each. You don't think they could get to 30 playing with Backstrom and being the focal point?
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think people realize how much of OV's scoring prowess is due completely to Backstrom.

I don't know if you can really compare the players without that context. It's peas and corn. One is arguably the best goal-scorer on the planet, the other is one of the best two-way centers.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

There's no question that they are very different as players. But I'll take my chances with Bergeron, who has scored 51 points, and is a +36, versus Ovechkin who has scored 69 points, and is a -31. As someone has already pointed out, that is a 67 goal swing. Now to be fair, PP goals and points have to be looked at, because Ovechkin outscores Bergeron on the PP. 34 points to 8 points. But there is a discrepancy in PP time there. There's a lot of factors involved