Another illuminating example of why trading Ovechkin for "cap space" makes the Caps worse right now, and for the foreseeable future. Hudler, Miller, and Steen, the three people you've added with Ovechkin's cap space, are all older than him, and combined last year for ten fewer goals than Ovechkin scored.

But let's talk about why you've got three players off of Team Sweden on different lines. If Oshie's chemistry with Steen is so great, how come he consistently scores more goals in Washington?

I think if you throw in a couple of top defensemen from St. Louis, and three more first round picks, the Caps' front office starts talking it over, and weighing their options. Ovechkin and Tarasenko would be incredible together, and I'm not trying to say it can't happen. Just that you might want to look at the Gretzky trade for an estimate of value, or maybe the Scott Stevens free agent compensation. The Blues came out of that one okay, taking on a franchise player, and givng Washington five late first round draft picks, and no current players. Shall we try that again, for old times' sake?

Ovi ... is not Gretzky. He's not Crosby. He's not even Tarasenko. He doesn't make his teammates better and at 31 is already falling out of the top 10 to 30 players in the league, but is still paid in the top 5 ... he's probably not even a top 5 LW in hockey right now, and won't be by this seasons end. He's not living up to his contract which is one of the MAJOR reasons WSH is in such crappy cap trouble.

Steen, Boumeester, 1st, and 2nd ... That's the most I'd give, but of course that's to much cap for the CAPS and I'd want cap retention, min $1.538m (He'd make the same as Tarasenko, even though he's not as good) because he's not worth his contract IMO.

Because you can't just score your way to the Stanely Cup Finals and win. You need depth and 2 way play ... and losing his cap adds 3 players of depth. Maybe those are not the best 3 (and Hudler won't cost $3m, so you could spread that around).

Because WSH has better centers than STL ... which is why it makes little sense for them to trade for Ovy when they need a center like Duchene or N.Hopkins far more.

ovi the last three years has put up Tarasenko numbers ........it would cost you Tarasenko

ovi isnt gretz but hell beat his goal record in an era where goals are 5x harder to get

at 29-31 (age) last 3 years

he leads the nhl in goals by 20 some
he also is in the top 8 in points

ill pass on steen who isnt very good at all

Not even close to fair value for Ovie. An aging 2nd liner and 2 picks? Start with Tarasenko and we'll go from there.

And why would the Caps want Hudler and Miller? This lineup is worse than if they stay with what they have.