As a Hurricanes fan, I hate to think about the Red Army top line they'll have for the rest of the season. Is it possible for the Caps to make the playoffs, now, without winning the division? I think so. Add in Huet in goal, and that's potentially a very good team. The defense is still poor, and old, so I'll believe it when I see it, but Washington is improved and gave up next to nothing to get in position to make a playoff run. Good job by them and a good year for Caps fans!
Washington makes a very good deal for today....This move is what they needed and it is what Segei needed. Detroit should have made this move, trading a possible NHL player for a veteran who can play both Center and Defense.....
Maybe Fedorov's last chance, but if he contributes I bet the Caps would try to resign the former Hart trophy winner...especially if he and Ovie can work some magic.
I actually wonder what the Caps will do, with Backstrom and Fedorov. They have a dominant scorer on each of the top two lines with Ovechkin and Semin.
I like Backstrom with Ovechkin, but how can they pass up on the opportunity to put the greatest russian born player of the 90's with AO? This trade along with the pickups of Huet and Cooke give the Caps exactly what they need, depth and a spark.
Top Line of Ovechkin, Fedorov, Kozlov? Could be a perfect line for a division title.
The CBJ are a joke - had their first real opportunity to be a playoff team and they unload the leaders of the team in Foote and Federov - once again, we will have a bunch of picks on draft day - see where that has got us up til now!!!! Howson has no guts - the fans wanted deals to bring the playoffs to Columbus and all we got were conditional draft picks and players that haven't played a game in the NHL - I'm sure the franchise player, Rick Nash is just thrilled with these moves. He should play out his contract and hit the Free Agency Market or demand a trade from a franchise that is not willing to spend money and let him display his talent on a national venue!
I think that is the point, the Jackets are fighting for that last playoff spot in the west, if they can make it, however unlikely, then they don't want to have to play against Federov in the playoffs, they shipped him to Washington to save money and kept him out of the West in the process. I don't think this is a great move for the Jackets but it saves some cash and they haven't had Federov due to injury in the last month anyway.
I'd disagree with the CBJ being a joke. The're still 5 points out of the playoffs and if they couldn't sign Foote to a contract, they had to deal him. A definite first rounder this season or next is a pretty good player, not to mention the freedom of the off season with the added cap space!
Sure I"m disappointed we didn't sign Foote but I'm not worried about Sergei. He wasn't playing much due to injuries and he's a shell of his former self. It's better to take a flier on someone else who could be an NHL'er than to get nothing for either guys!
Let's wait until September before we bash Howson. He's still dealing with McLean's mess. I'm sure anyone would agree, he's way better for the Columbus franchise!
The CBJ are a joke .........Howson has no guts - the fans wanted deals to bring the playoffs to Columbus
What do you want Howson to do? Richards went to Dallas b/c Howson would not include a young goalie one of the best prospects the Jackets have, they offered 3 players (Fristche,Brule,Tolesfson) that would move into the lineup for the lightning right away, they took Dallas' offer. Foote was a move b/c he can leave and it's better to get something for him now. If it is a pick maybe they can use it to move up and not blow the picks like McClean did in the past. As a Jacket fan I read up at the beginning of the season how the moves Howson made wouldn't get them close to the playoffs, and they are in the hunt. I think they didn't have enough this year but maybe he can make a few more tweaks and get there, they could even bring Foote back next year if they want. They can't get into the playoffs being 5 points behind the 8 spot. It's better to get prospects and build a winning program than overpay for another 8 million dollar albatross. Let Howson work and see what he can do this is the best ever season for the Jackets, I don't think Richards would suddenly vault them into the playoffs.
Disappointing. Prospects........yea, still waiting for our "prospects" to pay off. Brule?
We needed to do something big so the fans would stick with this team. Watch the attendance dwindle to nothing. Why do we still have Peca and Vyborny?
Thank God I only have one game left. Too bad I can' t even see Shelley get into a fight when I go........at least that was entertaining!
Looks to me like Federov, for all his limited capability right now, is a good pick up for Washington's run to make the play offs. It is clear that the caps weakness is in the defensive zone and Federov is still a great checker. He is not really good value for the money but that fans should not care about that. It shows that cap management is trying to do whatever it can to catch Carolina or the 8th spot. I think feder should head up your 3rd or 4th line as a checking line when he gets back on skates.
Hard to rate the trade in the medium to long term though because I cannot find anything about Theo and how good a prospect he his. My guess though is that the caps feel his up side is limited.
For columbus it seems to combine with selling Foote to be the acknowledgment that this year is another year of watching the first round if the play offs. They are saving money and trying to get prospects and draft picks for the future.
Huet is a good pick up for the caps as well. I do not think any team would want to have him as their number one goalie but he certainly is a good goalie when he is ready to play. Kolzig seems like a mess right now so this gives you flexibility.
That was a huge loss against Carolina and it looks like these moves are designed to address in a small way the issues that caused that loss and so many other losses.
Way to go Capitals! Fedorov is a playoff experienced team leader and his speed will match that of Ovechkin. Put together the all Ruskie top line of Fedorov, Kovalev and Alexander the great. This is going to big for the Caps!
