As an owner of Ovechkin I think it is reaaaaally important to be accurate when evaluating his current and future value. He is still one of the biggest trade chips and I'm worried of making a move I would end up regretting. I'm both hoping and guessing that alot of people feel the same.

Even if Ovechkin was projected to a 65 point pace, I wouldnt trade him for a 75 point player. I'll happily sacrifice those 10 points in the hope that he'll get in touch with his inner 50+ goals self.

What would it take for you to move him?

I know scoring cats etc play a big role in the evaluation, so I am hoping this thread could include opinions on how he's currently playing as well.

To get it started: When watching the last game vs the Sabres I got the feeling that Oates made him play shorter shifts. As a result he was more energetic when on the ice and at times he finally reminded me of the old Ovi. Just sucked that he hit the post on that totally open goal towards the end...Anywhere I can check if my observations were accurate?

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14 Team Dynasty League
5 C's, 8 W's, 5 D's, 2G's - 3 Prospects.

Scoring
F: Goals(3) Assists(2)
D: Goals(4) Assist(3)
G: W(3) Saves(0.15) Goal Against(-0.75) Shutout(2)

C: Datsyuk, Grabovski, Backstrom, Bergeron, Bozak
W: Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, P Kane, Hall, Sharp, Kessel, Nash, Silfverberg
D: Enstrom, Letang, Kronwall, Faulk, Chara
G: Miller, Price

IR:
Prospects: Galchenyuk, Nyquist, Shore

As an Ovechkin owner.. I feel that he has all the talent in the world to bounce back. He's led the Caps in scoring every year, and has never been under 30 goals. Really, in his worst year (last year) he was still 5th in the league in goals. His points dropped.. but Backstrom was out. I'm going to give him the time needed.. and turn down all the ridiculous low-ball offers I get for him (Jeff Carter straight.... Joe Paveslki straight... JVR straight.. hell, Chris Kunitz straight). He needs a year, I give it to him... I've kinda decided to live/die by Ovie on my squad!

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14T dynasty
G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, SHP, GWG
W, SV%, SO, GAA, SVS
C-Stamkos, Mueller, Horcoff
LW-JvR, Morrow, J.Jokinen, Gagne, Raymond, Cole
RW- Semin, Okposo, Seto, Prust, Hansen
D-Weber, Redden, Emelin, Brodie, Diaz, Clitsome
G-Luongo, Valarmov, Giguere

14T $dynasty$
G, A, P, +/-, PIM, PPP, SHP, GWG, SOG
W, SV%, SO, GAA, SVS
C- Plekanec, Hodgson,
LW- Vanek, Kane, Hall, Cammalleri, McDonald, Martin
RW- Semin, Hemsky, Horton, Hudler, Kassian, Nolan
D- Carle, Bogosian, Leddy, Campbell, Schenn, Phaneuf, M. Staal
G- Niemi, Pavelec, Reimer

I really think he gonna step up. He just need time to ajust to all the change he fave up during the last 3 year (coach change, system change and live change). Don t forget he s just 27 year old. He have a lot of gaz left in the thank..

He will step up, it's all about his attitude.

I agree....the key here is to be patient....this guy is a stud! When Oates stops to shuffle is lines (Beagle and Crabb as linemates!!!!), he'll join Ribs or Backstrom and he'll be just fine....be patient!

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10 teams keeper/points only (keep 17)
12 FWD, 3 DEF, 2 G

FWD/DEF: G=1pt A=1pt
G: W=2pts OTL= 1pt SO= 3pts

Salary Cap league (players salaries) 64.3M

F: T. Seguin, J. Eberle, J. Neal, J. Silfverberg, A. Semin, M. Grandlund, A. Ovechkin, E. Malkin, D. Roy, C. Eakin, D. Krejci, T.Vanek.

D: S. Voynov, T. Barrie.

G: C. Schneider, J. Quick.

I've been struggling with him as well. I traded for him last year in hopes that he would bounce back this season. I've been watching the Caps games and the last one was his best by far. Prior to it, he actually didn't look like he was into the game and wasn't trying that hard. But, although things haven't started well, I think he just needs some time to adjust to the new system Oates implemented and his new line mates. The crabb/beagle experiment will end and he'll eventually end up with Backstrom again. If you can be patient and can settle for 35-40 points from him this season then hang on. While the 100 point seasons are long gone, he should be good for a PPG rate when things normalize.

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6 Team Points-Only Keeper League
G = 1 pt and A = 1pt, W = 1pt and SO = 3pts
Keep 4 (any position)
Start 3 C, 4 W, 4 D, 1 G
Bench 6
C: Backstrom, Kopitar, RNH, Ribeiro
W: Malkin, Seguin, Lupul, Sharp, Garborik, L. Eriksson
D: Markov, Shattenkirk, Kronwall, Burns, Voynov, Chara
G: Quick, Crawford

Sorry folks, I have to disagree.

Ovechkin's best days are behind him. I, too, was an Ovechkin owner and decided to jump ship last year. I drafted him in an auction draft at over 30% of my budget, hoping he would have a bounce back year (from 85 points... Crazy.. I know...) and was utterly disappointed (Fell to 65).

The thing is, everyone is caught up in the player he was. He was outstanding, there is no doubt, but he's not ever going to be that way again, in my opinion.

First of all, as this article* states, among other things, Ovechkin's play has become predictable. Defenders have learned how to defend against him and teams now know how to play against the Caps.

Secondly, the magic he had with Backstrom is seemingly gone. Who knows what the hell happened there? Backstrom is a playmaker and has made a living by setting up Ovechkin. He's still a good playmaker (as evidence of his stats from an injury riddled last season - 44 pts in 42 games) but who else does he have to set up? Laich? Johansson? Brouwer? The enigmatic Semin (last year)? Something is wrong when your new coach, a powerplay spe******t in his day, is drawing names out of a hat for line combinations.

Don't let your emotions get in the way of trading Ovechkin for someone who is on the upswing (Tavares, Giroux, Stamkos) if possible. Do the trade now while you can still get something decent for him. That is, of course, if what you're getting in return IS something of quality.

* http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...hM2MXxBe9ivLYF

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The Untouchables Cup.
C: Crosby, Giroux Benn, Getzlaf, Bergeron
RW: Neal Voracek, Backes, Brown
LW: Couture, Eriksson, Kane, Lupul, Vermette, Pacioretty
D: Subban, Pietrangelo, Keith, Girardi, Kronwall, Ekman-Larsson
G: Rask, Bryzgalov, Niemi
Drafted - Traded For - Keepers
Categories:
G, A, P, +/-, PIM, PPP,
SHP, SOG, FW, HIT, BLK
W, SV, SV%, GAA, SHO
10 Team Roto Limited Keeper
3C, 3RW, 3LW, 2W, 1F, 6D, 2G, 3BN