This is so tired and old I don't know why I'm responding but here goes. You have it on good authority that it was BMac's decision to let Trotz walk then, yeah? Almost all signs point to it being Ted who didn't want to pay him considering (1) it was BMac who said if Barry wants to be back he'll be back and (2) it was Ted who made the announcement that they released Trotz from the contract that automatically kicked in once they won the Cup.
I agree with you.
To be honest, I am not sure we would have won another Cup with Trotz, either. Seemed like the stars aligned that post-season and Reirden took over some huge responsibilities and Kuzy went god mode. I'm not sure we would've replicated that run in any other year after. It was the perfect storm, if you will.
Man, Semin was one of the best players I've ever watched. Only a select few players of the last/this generation had more natural skill than he did. Imagine if he showed up to work hard and play ever single game. His stretches of great play/production usually coincided with stretches of great work ethic and strong defensive play. Probably the most talented player we will ever see in a Caps uniform, ever.
Sasha Minor is probably one of the most talented players in the history of hockey. Definitely of the last two generations. Didn't make him a better player - or nearly a better player - than Ovi, but, in an optimal world where he would have had Ovi's work ethic, he could've been a perennial MVP contender. Funny how things work out. His natural ability and skill was out of this world.
Work ethic and physicality is the biggest difference to me. Semin and Kuzy have more natural skill than Ovechkin with their hands, but, Ovi is just such a more all-around better player that has allowed him to be one of the best players ever.
Ohhh, I thought you meant like Ovi's driving ability with the puck in terms of turning on attack mode and bull rushing defenders in transition. Definitely drive, too.
