This team has really been very ordinary ever since the Florida 3rd period collapse. (7-9) It's amazing how much that game seemed to take the wind out of their sails. They also have to realize that the future is here. Time to gently usher out Backstrom, Oshie and some other tired veterans and let the young guys take over. I want to see Sgarbossa and Malenstyn added to McMichael, Protas and Leason and let these guys play. They should be adding more youth to the defense as well. Personally, I'd off load Carlson and get a slew of draft picks. The Cup window with Ovie has closed.
While I agree with 98% of this, especially regarding getting younger players to play....stating "the Cup window with Ovie is closed" ignores the fact that Ovi is in fact leading the entire league in both goals and points (well tied wit Draisaitl) with 54pts and 26 goals. I'd say that stat, admittingly surprising - especially the points, would suggest that Ovie can still play well enough to win a Cup and his window is not closed. I'd say the supporting cast is and has always been Ovi's limit to the Cup. I did not and do not expect this Caps team to win a Cup this year and Ovi's window certainly IS closing and has been closing, but this year is a lack of team D and a reliable goalie situation along with player injuries, rather than Ovi's window being closed. The last few weeks have certainly been lackluster, but considering the amount of man games lost to injury this year, I am pleasantly pleased with the team's performance and their current standing. I'd hoped one of the goalies would have taken the opportunity to shine consistently, but that has not happened in my eyes.
I'd say the good play of many of the younger players is what has held this team afloat during all the injuries, but then, that's what you hope they'd do and only benefit's the development and success of the team in the long run...which kind of proves your point.
I agree with moving Carlson. Although he is an effective player on this team, I thought the time to move him was last year (or long before when his value was high) especially since this team is so strapped for cash. I would have liked to hold on to Ziggy - we pretty much gave him up for nothing and think he could have maybe been eventually a top 4 D.
Anyway....long way of saying....Ovi says the window is wide open if the rest of the team would GTFOB and go along for the ride....
And besides.... We are life long Cap fans, so our Cup dreams are not supposed to be realistic, but rather falsely high based on the team playing better then expected, then having our hopes crushed again in the 1st round of the playoffs
