Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn

Marcus Johansson played on the top line with Alex Ovechkin pretty much all season but scored just two goals during 5v5. I bet you could score three.

By the Numbers

Peter’s Take

There’s a lot to like about Marcus Johansson. He’s a strong puck handler, particularly dutiful when it comes to making zone entries. He’s got a surprising about of grit when playing the low man on the power play. He’s an exceptional skater.

But that adjectival stuff only goes so far. Mojo’s been on the top line for a while now, but he doesn’t put up top-line numbers. To be fair, Alex Ovechkin played better with Mojo than when apart (measured by shot attempts) and Marcus’s shooting percentage during evens was an unfairly low 2.8 percent (even lower than Tom Wilson somehow). But if optimizing Alex Ovechkin during 5v5 is important for the Caps, you have to think they can do better than Johansson at this point.

Johansson will earn a cool 2 million next season before expiring in restricted free agent status. If Ovechkin moves back to the left wing, it would seem to me like MJ90 would make a mighty fine trading chip.

Mojo on RMNB

• Don’t you mean Calle Johansson?
• Bad shot or great pass? You decide.
• Escorting the King.
• Johansson was a late-named Olympian.
• Alex Ovechkin crushes everything.
• lol ur stick

In Pictures

Simply the best. Better than all the rest.

Here’s a solemn-looking Olympic medal-winner. He probably just missed his Backy.

The humpty dance is your chance to do the hump.

I absolutely loved this move Marcus would pull of on the power play.

Your Turn

If Marcus isn’t the right guy to play opposite Ovi, where would you like to see him? At center between Chimera and Ward? Left wing on the second line? Heading out of town in exchange for some defense? Or am I wrong about the whole deal?

Read more: Japers Rink