I'm going to preface this with. I'm in no way BLAMING Ovy for a team's failures, I simply love the debate on his performance.
People throw out Toews and Kane smaller point totals in one series (the 2015 Finals) and I'd like to add some context to that point about depth.
Those two's ELITE performances the CARRIED their teams to the Finals where others were in a position to step in up in the home stretch and bring home the Cup.
Kane 1st in points, 2nd in goals, 1st in goals created for his team. Toews 4th in goals created, 2nd in PP goals, 5th in points.
How about the 2014 Kings?
Kopitar, Carter, Doughty were thrown out...
Kopitar 1st in scoring, 1st in assists, 4th in goals created for team.
Carter 2nd in points, 3rd in assists, 2nd in goals created, 1st in PP goals
Doughty 6th in points, 4th in assists
AGAIN, guys who CARRIED their teams TO the Finals.
The Caps problems are twofold.
1)Only one postseason has Ovy performed at a clear Conn Smythe trophy winning pace and performance. He was as dominanty as ever that year. IMO the only time where he matched his mantle of best player in the world in the postseason. 21 pts in 14 games in 08-09. TO WIN A CUP today, the Caps need him to be a great deal better than a PPG player. That's to give them a fighting chance to get to the Finals. That's what guys like Kane, Toews, Kopitar, Doughty, Carter all did on their Championship runs (elite performances, not necessarily PPG+ I just happen to believe that's what the CAPS would need today).
2)They also need their secondary stars to play like secondary stars. That's why Backstrom and his sweetheart contract need to be closely scrutinized. Why the hairy eyeball will now be on Kuzy to show he's not a guy who's going to disappear for near half a season's worth of games ever again.
Look...Ovy produced points in the Pens series, but he wasn't our best player. We need him to be our ABSOLUTE BEST player at least SOME series for this team to win a Cup right now BECAUSE guys like Backstrom and Kuzy haven't put up near the same level of performance required by a team's secondary stars over multiple series in a deep run. We haven't had a Justin Williams and Gaborik secondary burst to pick up the slack.
Bad luck, or Management choices, that's where the Caps are. I've LONG thought we'll never win a Cup until another elite talent emerges on this team to offload some pressure from Ovy and I still believe that. We all thought Kuzy was that guy and he flamed out. Backstrom hasn't been able to be that guy to help carry them deep yet either. Dave was mentioned two constants, well maybe Backstrom should start shouldering a lot more blame? Do you move him? Like I said, for me it would be a for a not long list of players, but it's not unthinkable.