Heard a weird trade rumor the other day

[ChaosLex]

Not sure if there's actually been discussions between the clubs (or if it's just some blowhard starting a rumor), but I heard something about a N. Backstrom for E. Malkin deal. Obviously, this would be in the postseason. It's probably too crazy to be true, but considering it involves two fairly local teams (both of which have fans on OH), I thought I'd run it by y'all.

Finesse Players (Crosby/Backstrom) against Brawny Brothers-in-Arms (Ovechkin/Malkin). If the Caps are unable to extend Backstrom, would we make such a deal? Would the Pens?

Let the Flame War commence. :D

[TyCobb]

lol

How the heck do the Caps plan on unloading 8+ million to make the cap space for Malkins 9 million contract?

[ChaosLex]

lol

How the heck do the Caps plan on unloading 8+ million to make the cap space for Malkins 9 million contract?

Eh, might be crap then.

Perhaps someone ran with the Malkin for Nash rumor and extended it to Backstrom?

[TyCobb]

Eh, might be crap then.

Perhaps someone ran with the Malkin for Nash rumor and extended it to Backstrom?

No clue but doesn't seem to be probable especially since Fleischmann is a RFA. They got 36 million committed next year with out Fleischmann, Backstrom, Morrison, Fehr, Gordon, and Walker.

As a Devil fan, I am working the numbers to see if it is possible to sign Kovi and keep Paul Martin. It isn't really looking that good right now. The Cap in Hockey is so hard to manage. One bad contract (Rolston) and your in damn trouble.

[DuffMan]

Trade deadline was March 3rd.

And no way the Caps would do something this stupid. Backstrom isn't going anywhere.

[ChaosLex]

Trade deadline was March 3rd.

Yeah, that's what I meant by postseason. I should've probably wrote offseason. My bad.

[TyCobb]

Trade deadline was March 3rd.

And no way the Caps would do something this stupid. Backstrom isn't going anywhere.

Stupid? Malkin already has two 100+ point seasons. Now if you can get Backstom for good contract it could be stupid to trade, but Malkin is a top 5 center who is worth his contract.

[DuffMan]

Stupid? Malkin already has two 100+ point seasons. Now if you can get Backstom for good contract it could be stupid to trade, but Malkin is a top 5 center who is worth his contract.

Are you trying to tell me Backstrom isn't a top 5 center?

[TyCobb]

Are you trying to tell me Backstrom isn't a top 5 center?

Probably not.
My top 5
Crosby
Datsyuk
Malkin
H. Sedin / Toews/E. Staal (two of the 3)

There are a lot of really good Centers in the league.
Stamkos
Getzlaf
Thornton
Backstrom
Kopitar
Malkin
Statsny
Lecavalier

[DuffMan]

[QUOTE=TyCobb;2066896]Probably not.
My top 5
Crosby
Datsyuk
Malkin
H. Sedin / Toews/E. Staal (two of the 3)
/QUOTE]

No way Datsyuk is #2. Maybe a year or two ago, but he is definitely on the decline. I'll give you Crosby, Sedin and Malkin, but no way are you going to tell me that Eric Stall is better than Backstrom.

[TyCobb]

[QUOTE=TyCobb;2066896]Probably not.
My top 5
Crosby
Datsyuk
Malkin
H. Sedin / Toews/E. Staal (two of the 3)
/QUOTE]

No way Datsyuk is #2. Maybe a year or two ago, but he is definitely on the decline. I'll give you Crosby, Sedin and Malkin, but no way are you going to tell me that Eric Stall is better than Backstrom.

Oh I have no doubt Datsyuk is the 2nd best center. He may not get the scoring points, but the guy is still BY FAR the best 1st line defensive center. Staal is a beast. And as a devil fan I hate him.

[TyCobb]

Probably not.
My top 5
Crosby
Datsyuk
Malkin
H. Sedin / Toews/E. Staal (two of the 3)
/QUOTE]

No way Datsyuk is #2. Maybe a year or two ago, but he is definitely on the decline. I'll give you Crosby, Sedin and Malkin, but no way are you going to tell me that Eric Stall is better than Backstrom.

Oh I have no doubt Datsyuk is the 2nd best center. He may not get the scoring points, but the guy is still BY FAR the best 1st line defensive center.

[DuffMan]

Stall
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470595

Backstrom
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8473563

Those numbers would say otherwise.

[TyCobb]

Stall
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470595

Backstrom
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8473563

Those numbers would say otherwise.

I am a big fan of GC. Here are the GC/G stats for the two.

Staal : .14, .48, .32, .39, .38, and .36

Backstrom: .27, .37, and .44

BTW: "Goals created; calculated by adding goals scored to 0.5 times assists, then multiplying by team goals divided by team goals plus 0.5 times team assists. For example in 2006-07, Sidney Crosby had 36 goals and 84 assists. The Penguins as a team had 267 goals and 468 assists. Thus Crosby is credited with (36 + 0.5 * 84) * (267 / (267 + 0.5 * 468)) = 41.57 goals created. Note that the sum of player goals created is equal to the sum of player goals scored for all teams. "

[Bosibus]

I am a big fan of GC. Here are the GC/G stats for the two.

Staal : .14, .48, .32, .39, .38, and .36

Backstrom: .27, .37, and .44

BTW: "Goals created; calculated by adding goals scored to 0.5 times assists, then multiplying by team goals divided by team goals plus 0.5 times team assists. For example in 2006-07, Sidney Crosby had 36 goals and 84 assists. The Penguins as a team had 267 goals and 468 assists. Thus Crosby is credited with (36 + 0.5 * 84) * (267 / (267 + 0.5 * 468)) = 41.57 goals created. Note that the sum of player goals created is equal to the sum of player goals scored for all teams. "

Do these goals count for even when they are not on the ice? I think Backstrom blows Staal away this year, partly because Carolina is having such a bad year after last year's run in the playoffs and Backstrom has great players around him.

[TyCobb]

Do these goals count for even when they are not on the ice? I think Backstrom blows Staal away this year, partly because Carolina is having such a bad year after last year's run in the playoffs and Backstrom has great players around him.

Yes.

[Player's Goals + .5 * Player's Assists] * (Team Goals / (Team's Goals + .5 *Team's Assist)).

So you want the Team's Assist number to be as small as possible.

[tywright]

Backstrom is such a quiet force on the ice, it's hard to recognize all the strengths he brings to the team. Sure he's not that good at faceoffs and doesn't throw his body around, but his puck control, passing touch, and vision is perfect for the Caps gameplan. Malkin doesn't necessarily fit well with Ovie, but Backstrom certainly does. Plus Backstrom's defensive game is getting much better and he's getting PK time.

Basically you can't compare Backstrom to Malkin because you can't look at production to see who is more valuable to the Caps gameplan. You have to look at the skillset and chemistry.

[MuhladaOs]

Much like Datsyuk, Backstrom threw his weight around and also established an all around impressive forecheck in the playoffs.

Datsyuk can check really well believe it or not, and Backstrom as well. Again I am only pointing out what I saw in the Playoffs, not really all around in the regular season.