Fan In Van

Ovechkin in MTL?

Christmas, a time of sharing and giving, can also be a time that separates the Haves and Have-nots. But in the case of Alexander Ovechkin, it’s a case of “Hab”-nots.

Jack Todd of Montreal’s Gazette went out and declared that Ovechkin in rouge, blanc et bleu isn’t completely out of the question. Here’s what he had to say on Russian Rocket V.2:

All it will take is, oh, $120 million over 15 years and a slew of first-round picks. Or the Canadiens can go another route: If the Capitals are reasonably certain they’re bound to lose Ovechkin, the Habs might be able to swing a multi-player deal, offering Washington any player on the roster not named Carey Price. The Canadiens get Ovechkin, while the Caps get a balanced lineup capable of winning hockey games. 

Here’s my take on the situation. First things first, the cap number this year for the Canadiens is 48.775M. Next year, Michael Ryder, Bryan Smolinski, Patrice Brisebois, Mark Streit and Cristobal Huet’s contracts all come off the books, which would free up roughly $8.5M. And while that’s plenty of space to acquire a top-line player, rumour has it that the Ovechkin camp wants close to $9M a season, if not more. I wish George Gillett Jr. and Bob Gainey the best of luck in making that work.

Oh, trade players, you say? Well sure, let’s look at the tradeable players on the Canadiens roster.

What’s that?

What do you mean you can’t find anyone? What about Carey Price? He’s marketable, he’s a goaltender whom the Capitals would love to have on their team and formulate their team around.

What do you mean, untradeable?!

Okay, so let’s look at some other viable options. Quite plainly, there’s a handful of teams who are willing to trade the farm and more for a guy like Alex Ovechkin. Bob Gainey would gladly toss Saku Koivu, Chris Higgins, Roman Hamrlik, prospects and picks in order to get #8. However, I find it very difficult for the Capitals to be interested in taking on 12.15M in salary and giving up the face of their franchise at the same time.

Ah yes, that offer sheet business. Don’t even get me started on that. Thank you very much, Kevin Lowe.

Sergei Fedorov, Thomas Vanek, Dustin Penner, Ryan Kesler. All victims of the offer sheet, an overspent offer to restricted players that can be matched or unmatched by team general managers at the cost of a surplus of draft picks. Will Alexander Ovechkin be added to this prestigious list?

Seeing as how he has yet to sign an extension? Unless Washington GM George McPhee starts up negotiations soon, I would say yes. There isn’t a GM in the NHL who would not be willing to throw everything they have to acquire Ovechkin.

But I think that Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, understands the nature of how important Ovechkin is to keeping the franchise in Washington. Ovechkin’s undying passion and marketable style of play are rare in the NHL, for there are very few players in the game who can electrify crowds quite like him. Leonsis would certainly be willing to match any offer thrown at his star player, which is why I believe he would never allow a trade for Ovechkin to go through.

I suppose the real question is whether or not Ovechkin wants to stay in Washington. That debate is something that can be left for much, much later down the road.