Quoting: F50marco
Oufff. Not so sure about that. Your getting a 30+ year old Hertl, not a 25 year old Hertl.
That offer could land a lot of good players, id try for someone on the right side of 30. Washington is already too old.
Not sure I can find myself agreeing with the spirit of this take. The only real option I think the Capitals have in acquiring another top-six center that would fit this age range you define is Lindholm. Expanding it to the 30+ realm adds Hertl, Karlsson (not a great option) and Trocheck, should the Rangers ever feel the need to move him. Maybe Coyle? Point is, the Capitals have a very, very small group of players that they may be able to pursue, and all that matters for this club right now is Ovechkin breaking the goals scored record: I don't think a Cup is in the realm of realistic possibilities, but the playoffs are achievable.
In Hertl's case specifically, this season and the next two (the last of the Ovechkin years maybe??), he'll be a perfectly fine asset. The Capitals only need to navigate a two-year window, likely post-Ovechkin, where Hertl is going to be stuck in no-man's land again. At 50% retention and cap coming back, his 15-team trade list should be pretty accommodating for his 34- and 35-year-old seasons. Father time remains undefeated, but Hertl hasn't played the style of game where his drop off should be immediate. The knee injury from 2020 may be a concern, but he had a full 10 months to rehab it and visually, it doesn't seem to have impacted his game.
I think if Washington can get some sort of retention out of the Sharks on this deal, they're walking away in good shape. Commit to getting the record for Ovechkin.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
brady_t12 and NoVaSpartan liked this.
CapFriendly
CapFriendly