During All-Star Weekend, Alex Ovechkin made his ninth appearance as an NHL All-Star. The Russian machine won the Hardest Shot Competition for the first time of his career and scored a goal during the three-on-three tournament the very next day.
But it was Ovechkin’s comments about former Caps Young Gun Mike Green that captivated many fans and analysts.
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Metro Captain @ovi8 recaps his time at the 2018 #NHLAllStar Game #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/MKEK33dJio
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 29, 2018
“We still have a good relationship,” Ovechkin said after the All-Star Game. “He’s a great player. Very happy for him to make All-Star. I wish all the best to him and we’ll see what’s going to happen in the future.”
When pressed by what he meant by “in the future,” Ovechkin said he would love a reunion with his former teammate in DC.
“Obviously his skill ability, skating ability, control the puck, is pretty high,” Ovechkin said. “It’s nice if he would be back in Washington, but I don’t know if it’s possible or not so we’ll see.
“He knows how to pass the puck and he knows how to shoot the puck so he’s a complete player,” Ovechkin concluded.
Lots of recruiting going on during All-Star weekend. Mike Green said he was hearing from guys who want him traded to their team. Auston Matthews said he was pitching Toronto to Doughty. Erik Karlsson got it too.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) January 29, 2018
Green is a pending unrestricted free agent, completing the final year of a three-year, $18 million contract. After leaving the only organization he ever knew in 2015, Green found more opportunity and a bigger role in Motown. But with an old Detroit team languishing and 10 points out of the final wildcard spot in the East, the team is looking to rebuild by dumping many of its bloated contracts and pending UFAs at the trade deadline.
Through 47 games, the Red Wings are 19-20-8 and in almost exactly the same place they were a year prior—when they had a 20-19-8 record. Now that same selling decision has been made, according to a source for The Athletic’s Craig Custance (subscription required) and the Red Wings are one of the first teams to contact others around the league making it clear they’re ready to deal. Whether that means a full tear down or just expiring contracts isn’t clear, though Custance believes there is more “willingness to move players with term on their contracts,” at least for the right price. He details those that may be available, including pending free agent Mike Green who recently ranked tenth in our Midseason UFA Power Rankings.
When Green was told about Ovechkin’s comments, he didn’t have much to say, per The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty.
“Oh he did?” Green said to Dougherty. “Oh yeah … it was … like I said, it was nice to catch up with him, too. Yeah … I’ve heard a lot of comments, so it is what it is.
“I’ll be blatantly honest, sometimes things don’t go as well as you want them to and you can kind of get kicked down and you’re faced with adversity,” Green added. “I think that was great, honestly. I think it gave me an opportunity to grow and make me a better player.”
The Capitals, who lost Nate Schmidt (first-pairing defenseman), Karl Alzner, and Kevin Shattenkirk over the offseason, have introduced rookies Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey into the lineup full time this season. The team’s third pairing, consisting of Brooks Orpik and Bowey, has struggled. Green could be a boon to the Capitals in the playoffs.
Over the last few weeks, Elliotte Friedman has reported rumors that the Capitals were looking for a defenseman. Dan Rosen wrote a NHL.com mailbag piece about a potential Green reunion with the Capitals.
Monday, Frank Seravalli linked Green to Washington on TSN 1050.
Frank Seravalli speculating on where Mike Green ends up… “There is some talk that Washington could be in the cards to get (Mike) Green back.”
— Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) January 29, 2018
Green scored two goals at the All-Star Game.
Mike Green pickin' corners!
Join us for the final stretch of #NHLAllStar → https://t.co/Rc7gApBjMS pic.twitter.com/KE2wJKBtrk
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 28, 2018
