Prior to the NHL trade deadline, the Caps unloaded Richard Zednik and first line center Dainus Zubrus. I think some of the regular Caps bloggers have carried their laptops to the ledges of very tall buildings before posting on these trades. I say, why? I am fine with both of these moves.
Zednik was (again) an injury plagued bust that contributed little this season. Zubrus, while a strong player who helped Ovechkin adjust to America, wanted way too many years on a new contract. He was solid, if unspectacular, in his six years in DC, but probably was out of position as a first line center. He'll likely be a second or third line winger in Buffalo. GMGM apparently tried to sign Zubie to a new deal, saying both player and agent were classy during the talks, yet they just couldn't agree. I'm happy they were able to salvage something instead of letting Zubrus walk away for free in the summer. The something they get back is a first round pick this year and center Jiri Novotny who is five years younger than Zubrus. Novotny likely isn't a huge solution at center, but Nicklas Backstrom should be next year. The Swedish center hopefully arrives next season to give the Caps a young three-headed monster (Ovie, Semin, Backstrom) to rival Pittsburgh's (Crosby, Malkin, Staal). Until then Caps fans may have to endure a last place team. Then again that's nothing new. As Cubs fans remind us annually-There's always next year.
Zubrus is one of the biggest busts. I remember he really had some flashes of brilliance during his rookie year with the Flyers. Then, like all promising players that the Flyers trade away, his only good games were against his former team. Fucker.
ReplyDeleteHaven't really folowed the Caps much, got my own troubles, but I thought they'd have a much better season than what they've had. They seem to still really have some holes to fill. They had better not waste much more time focusing on rebuilding, Kolzig is never gonna get his cup.
I bet they wish that they still had Halpern, I like what I see with him in Dallas.