We took a risk but we did need a center to replace Michael Nylander, who we took a risk on as we acquired him via free agency. Is there anyone that doesn’t believe that?
We needed some additional veteran grit at the wing position. Enter Matt Cooke. We haven
I was glad to see the Caps active, and I hope Huet and Olie backstop us into the playoffs. I would have made that trade.
I also would have picked up two veterans on Defense first and foremost though… Federov has a great defensive game though…. So that is all good.
I was hoping you would put together a three way with the NYR and dish Nylander to another squad for something decent…. Like a veteran defenseman.
I wasn’t that impressed with Nylander in the first place. He made as many bad passes as he did good passes. While he was 1st on the team in assists when he was injured, he was also 3rd to last in the entire NHL in +/-. To be honest, I prefer the team without him than with him.
Fedorov will be a hit or miss thing. At the very least he’ll be another hall of famer we can say played for the Caps. If he plays like the Fedorov of the 90′s McPhee will look like a genius. If he plays since he went to Columbus…well, let’s hope he doesn’t.
Huet is not only an upgrade from what the team currently had, he also buys the Caps another 3 or 4 years to scout, select, and train the “goalie of the future,” the next Roy or Brodeur. Eventually you’re going to have to pick a young goalie and say he’ll lead to the to multiple cups, now you have a little more time to do so.
Cooke ain’t all that great from what I’ve seen, but I’d gladly be proven wrong.
first of its fedorov with an O not a E, but seriously pettinger was not a loss, he’s suppose to be a plus minus guy and at -11 that’s not helping the team much. Fedorov is looking silky smooth and I am loving huet!
These were great moves the Caps made. Any true fan would be very hard pressed to find fault in either of them. You gain talent and give up hardly nothing. Some bring up the “only rentals” arguement. While they may indeed turn out to only be rentals I have to believe that if these guys gell with the team and make the team better a valid effort will be made to keep them in the off season.
The risks in this case are minimal. If we get nothing out of the players involved we’ve lost a prospect who may or may not make it in the NHL, a draft pick (who may or may not make it) and Matt Pettinger, which is a loss.
However given the track records of the three players picked up, the likelihood of getting nothing is minimal.
Cliff Fletcher (Toronto’s current GM who knows what he is doing) once was asked about picking up a player from Sweden who had limited experience and was a question mark coming in. He asked the reporter “Do you think this player is better than the worst player on the team?” When the reporter said that he thought the player was better than the worst player on the team, Fletcher pointed out “Then I suppose our team has gotten better because of this.” The player was Hakan Loob (a favorite of John Buccigross at ESPN) and he was a great player.
George improved the team. Huet is an all-star goalie. As much as I love Johnny and I hope he remains a Cap, Huet is better. So our goaltending has improved. I think Michael Nylander is a great player, and when he’s back next year will be terrific, but right now Sergei Federov is able to play, so he is a better player than Nylander. Matt Cooke is also a better player than Matt Pettinger is this season…
This could be (probably is) wishful thinking but I think Federov can have a very positive influence on Alex Semin. If nothing else, I think we will see a harder-working Semin skating alongside someone he probably idolized growing up. Don’t let down the Fed, Sasha!
Great pickups all around! and i’m not talking about Lou Reeds Guitar… Federov was kind of cool , ovechkin should stoke him to play with a fire of excitment for the game again! good moves Mcphee
I dont think I will be upset with any of the deadline moves you made. They were all helpful and little was given to acquire them.
I do think they will help, but there is still the glaring need for a true #1 defenseman. Those are a little harder to come by and there are only a few people that know what it may have cost us to get.
Just because Pittsburgh got Gill for a 2nd rounder and a 5th rounder does not mean that we would have received the same deal. Though if we had, I would have loved it to happen.