The Washington Capitals are looking to pair Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom with a top talent winger according to general manager Brian MacLellan, as Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports.
https://twitter.com/alex_prewitt/status/600318212329369601
While Ovechkin played with Backstrom as his center for the entire season, his rotating list of wingers included Joel Ward, Tom Wilson, Marcus Johansson and Andre Burakovsky among others. None of those guys are elite. Ovechkin is coming off a monster season where he led the league in goals with 53. Backstrom was no slouch either, posting 78 points including a team high 50 assists. To pair Ovechkin and Backstrom with a skilled first line right winger should have Capitals fans drooling.
The question is, who exactly fits the bill? To me, there is only one obvious answer. Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Phil Kessel.
There may be no player who’s as criticized as unfairly as Kessel. He’s a great winger. In the last three years, only two players have more even strength goals than Kessel’s 55 (he’s tied for third with Max Pacioretty and Tyler Seguin) – those players are Corey Perry and Rick Nash. That’s elite company. The amazing thing about those numbers is the fact he’s put them up while playing with replacement level Tyler Bozak as his centerman. Since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, he’s never had linemates who’ve matched his skill level, and he still puts up gaudy numbers.
The criticism Kessel receives in Toronto is he’s out of shape, isn’t clutch and not a leader. In the grand scheme of things do those three qualities matter if he’s putting up the numbers he has been? Sure, last season was a disappointment as he posted only 25 goals – which is still solid. And yes, he had a couple of blows ups with the media, but the criticism this guy faces is completely unwarranted. As Dom Luszczyszyn points out, Kessel’s playoff numbers – something he’s often criticized for – are not only good, they’re amazing.
Since 2007-08 (min 20 GP), Kessel has the highest P/60 of ANYONE in the league at 3.03. Almost a full point higher than regular season.
— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) May 19, 2015
You have to stop and think, how much would Kessel’s numbers uptick should he be playing with Ovechkin and Backstrom and not Tyler Bozak and James Van Riemsdyk? I would guess quite a bit.
How much is Washington willing to give up for an elite goal scorer still owed a huge amount of term over a long period of time?
The team has a handful of players – including Curtis Glencross and Mike Green – who are set to become UFAs, which should open up some cap space. The clubs biggest concern is locking up RFA’s Johansson, Braden Holtby, and rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov evgeny to deals – all of which should be fairly sizeable, especially after Holtby’s brilliant playoff run.
The cost for Kessel is going to be high, but not as high as it should be. The Leafs are actively shopping Kessel, and Washington may be a good fit. I’m speculating here, but the team should offer it’s first-round draft choice (22nd overall) and a really good young player (Kuznetsov) plus some salary filler. That seems fair to me. Toronto is looking to get younger, and adding a first-rounder in a deep draft plus a player with a ton of potential would be a good coup. That would give the Leafs the fourth, 22nd and 24th pick – which would instantly help restock it’s mostly unplenished farm system. They may be able to get more than that, as I’m sure they’re looking to maximize their return and not sell low on the dollar.
Kessel on the Capitals would be a lot of fun. I’m sure we’d get the comments about how nobody on his line would backcheck, but holy mother of hell would they score goals.
There is no 1RW who’s available better than Kessel, and the Capitals should act quickly because his stock is lower than it’s ever been.
