James Tanner: Trading Backstrom or Wilson

Trading Backstrom would be a mistake of epic proportion. If the newer NHL has shown anything is that quality center depth can be more valuable than even a stacked d-core. He's cost-controlled for two more years. Moving a guy like Backstrom will never get you the return you SHOULD get.

Wilson on the other hand? My personal feelings aside, his role is much easier to replace than Backstrom. You may not get the same mold as Wilson, but much easier to get an effective winger than a legit #1 center playing #2.

Tanner was very much opposed to the Oshie signing, but if he didn't like that he's going to HATE what Wilson is probably about to get paid. That's nothing against the Caps. Wilson's perceived value and weak market will get him a severe overpayment. He's probably going to get in the $4 to $5M range when he's realistically worth about $3.5M.

If I were the Caps I'd look for another team in a situation with an RFA they'd like to move because they're looking for a different type of forward and see if there's a fit.

EDIT:
Other notable RFA's yet to be re-signed..

Larkin
Stone
Zucker

I'm not saying that's a one-for-one trade you can make, but maybe their respective teams are looking for a culture change.

These Caps articles makes o sense, makes you think a Pens fan is the blogger. Every word is usually negative about the caps or their players and now this garbage- Trade a HOF Center in Backstrom or a high energy, power forward, modern day Lucic? Uh no. Yes Im sure its taking some time to figure out the numbers but whether its a bridge deal for 2-3 years or what they want a long term 5 year deal itll get done, but at what number? And that number will be likely between 3.5mil and 4mil the value of high energy power forwards per year.

And as for Caps being top heavy etc thats just garbage too, Returning the same team that won last year with few exceptions, super strong down the middle Kuzy,Backy(hof caliber players) that stack up v Anybody including Crosby&Malkin, Eller on 3rd line, 2 shutdown Dpairs w/ Nisky/Orlov,Kemony,Carlson, hof caliber Goalie Holtby, loads of firepower, OV,Oshie,Vrana,Burakovsky etc. So its not just top heavy

If the window is now then it's probably a terrible idea to trade one of the games best centermen.

Trading either makes no sense.

Backs is one of the cornerstone players of the Caps. You simply don't trade those guys unless you 100% have too. Plus Backs and Ovi go together like Peanut butter and Jam. Get rid of one and you might as well get rid of the other.

Wilson, as much as I agree that he was a 4th liner, look how well he played in the playoffs, teams noticed when he was on the ice. I think you use the fact that he was a 4th liner in negotiations to get a better deal.

IMO, you don't get rid of either, you keep them long term and try to keep building your team for more cups. They've proven they can do it.

Backstrom is a top-10 center in the NHL. You don't trade that.

Trade Wilson, he's overrated. He's good when he's not being a douche, but he's severely overrated.

Trading Backstrom would be a mistake of epic proportion. If the newer NHL has shown anything is that quality center depth can be more valuable than even a stacked d-core. He's cost-controlled for two more years. Moving a guy like Backstrom will never get you the return you SHOULD get.

Wilson on the other hand? My personal feelings aside, his role is much easier to replace than Backstrom. You may not get the same mold as Wilson, but much easier to get an effective winger than a legit #1 center playing #2.

Tanner was very much opposed to the Oshie signing, but if he didn't like that he's going to HATE what Wilson is probably about to get paid. That's nothing against the Caps. Wilson's perceived value and weak market will get him a severe overpayment. He's probably going to get in the $4 to $5M range when he's realistically worth about $3.5M.

If I were the Caps I'd look for another team in a situation with an RFA they'd like to move because they're looking for a different type of forward and see if there's a fit.

EDIT:
Other notable RFA's yet to be re-signed..

Larkin (not for trade)
Stone
Zucker

I'm not saying that's a one-for-one trade you can make, but maybe their respective teams are looking for a culture change.
- Rinosaur

Fixed that for you.

Just the idea of trading Backstrom is stupid. Thats like Pens trading Malkin, or 1 Bolts trading Kucherov. Theres only 2-3 teams in the nhl and its the same teams Pens,Caps,Bolts that have 2 maybe 3 or 4 HOF generational players and you dont trade them. Its why they stay on top. Obviously, Crosby&Malkin, and MAF before the draft, though hes on back 9, Letang you would think. Caps obviously OV,Backy, Kuzy(still young in his career but his hof talent is obvious after postseason and big number regular seasons) and Holtby most Wins over last 4-5 years, vezina, playoff numbers and now SC so hes hof track. Bolts with Stamkos,Hedman and Kucherov.
You dont move those guys

Backstrom is a top-10 center in the NHL. You don't trade that.

Trade Wilson, he's overrated. He's good when he's not being a douche, but he's severely overrated.
- j.boyd919

Well, how else are you going to get the right 4th liners. GEEZ

Quotes not working, but Larkin, Stone and Zucker are all 10 x Tom Wilson, if the Caps could make a move in that direction, for one of those guys, that'd be sweet.

If the window is now then it's probably a terrible idea to trade one of the games best centermen.
- Njuice

He's 30 years old and you could probably get a really good package for him. I don't think it's a bad idea at all. The Capitals have to realistically assess themselves as a borderline playoff team that got lucky, so if they return with their current team, they're not going have much chance of winning.

Jimmy since Wilson isn’t much of a player as you say and other gms see this as well what kind of value in a trade do you think he has right now ?

What teams do you think would want him and what do you propose they give up? Look fwd to your response. Have a blessed day.

Backstrom is a top-10 center in the NHL. You don't trade that.

Trade Wilson, he's overrated. He's good when he's not being a douche, but he's severely overrated.
- j.boyd919

Top C in the NHL - McDavid, Matthews, Crosby, Malkin, Tavares, Stamkos, Bergeron, MacKinnon and Kopitar.

I don't think you can dispute that top 9.

Draisatil, Segiun, Schiefle, Barkov, Kuznetsov and Eichel are all guys I'd rank ahead of Backstrom.

At best he's in the bottom half of the top twenty with Getzlaf and Kadri. That's still really good, but he's not as good as he used to be.

Last year it was Caps won't make the playoffs the the GM should be fired. Result=Stanley Cup! This year they can't compete, they aren't good at identifying bottom 6 players, and on and on. Wash, rinse, repeat. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Jimmy since Wilson isn’t much of a player as you say and other gms see this as well what kind of value in a trade do you think he has right now ?

What teams do you think would want him and what do you propose they give up? Look fwd to your response. Have a blessed day.
- rinaldo

Players like Tom Wilson are routinely overvalued in the NHL so I think you could probably make smart trade.

Top C in the NHL - McDavid, Matthews, Crosby, Malkin, Tavares, Stamkos, Bergeron, MacKinnon and Kopitar.

I don't think you can dispute that top 9.

Draisatil, Segiun, Schiefle, Barkov, Kuznetsov and Eichel are all guys I'd rank ahead of Backstrom.

At best he's in the bottom half of the top twenty with Getzlaf and Kadri. That's still really good, but he's not as good as he used to be.
- james_tanner1

Tavares is now top 4 let alone top C in the NHL?
Amazing how he has jumped up that ladder for you it was just a year or so ago he was overrated and slow. Always good for a laugh thanks.

Tavares is now top 4 let alone top C in the NHL?
Amazing how he has jumped up that ladder for you it was just a year or so ago he was overrated and slow. Always good for a laugh thanks.
- Cptmjl

I never once said Tavares is slow or overrated. If anything, the stats say he's a top five player in the NHL, not just a centre. Over the last three years, I think he's third in average goals against replacement, at the top with Crosby and McDavid.,

Last year it was Caps won't make the playoffs the the GM should be fired. Result=Stanley Cup! This year they can't compete, they aren't good at identifying bottom 6 players, and on and on. Wash, rinse, repeat. Wash, rinse, repeat.
- MJL

Last year the Caps shoudn't have made the playoffs based on their stats. Their GM was terrible and deserved to be fired. This year, I'm not going to fall into the trap of overrating them just because they won. They're still a borderline playoff team who could use an upgrade at GM.

Lmao... this guy is seriously delusional.

Top line Centers 1, McDavid, 2 Mckinnon, 3, Crosby, 4 Kopitar, 5 Kuzy, 6, Mathews, 7, Malkin, 8, Stamkos, 9 Backstrom, 10 Tavares

Bergeron, overrated, Barkov, Eichel, Seguin, Draistl, Scheifle 2nd tier Centers.. do some winning please. These guys exit in the 1st-2nd round and get a pass not from me.. also some are defensive specialist (Bergeron) not a superstar 90-100 point scorer

Last year the Caps shoudn't have made the playoffs based on their stats. Their GM was terrible and deserved to be fired. This year, I'm not going to fall into the trap of overrating them just because they won. They're still a borderline playoff team who could use an upgrade at GM.
- james_tanner1

All of the above is complete nonsense. The only stat that truly matters is wins and loses. You ignore the facts in favor of fantasy. The GM that you state deserved to be fired built a Stanley Cup winning team.

I won't fall into the trap of overrating them because they won! Do you have any clue as to how absurd that statement is?

This is just more direct evidence of how much you truly don't understand the stats you worship!

This statement by you of "The only way this top-heavy team can compete again next year is if they get back a good package of players for Wilson or Backstrom, their only tradable players. " has been bookmarked for future reference.

James Tanner? What are you looking at? Caps didnt deserve to make playoffs last year? Fire the gm? You are clueless and are losing cred if you had any before. Let me guess a sabrmetrics slurper? Oh the took fewest shots in nhl or didnt possess puck enough yada yada? Watch with your eyeballs. They clearly had a plan to take the better shot from more inside instead of firing 50 shots from outside and losing like years past. Also blocking out defensive and cashing in on turnovers. Use your eyeballs not a spreadsheet

Players like Tom Wilson are routinely overvalued in the NHL so I think you could probably make smart trade.
- james_tanner1

Well
Give ur opinion as u didn’t answer my question.

Over valued by bloggers who don’t like physical hockey imo

Backstrom to Montreal please! Lol

Wins and losses are indeed the only stats that matter.
But they are not the best stat for predicting future success.

Wins and losses are indeed the only stats that matter.
But they are not the best stat for predicting future success.
- TartanBill

What are Washington's stats in the future going to be?