bobholly39
Registered User
- Mar 10, 2013
- 22,287
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All 4 teams are in different stages, yet somehow in pretty similar situation all things considered.
Pittsburgh - Crosby/Malkin. Probably top 2 playoff performer of their eras. Multiple Conn Smythes, 3 cups, and many more very strong playoff runs. Back to back cups not too long ago, followed by a respectable 2 round effort vs cup champs in 2018. But since then, embarrassing sweep vs NYI in 2019, pathetic effort in play-ins last year - better all around effort in round 1 this year, yet again out in round 1. Malkin was real bad in 2019, downright pathetic last year, a bit better this year though. Crosby bad in 2019, so-so last year, not too bad start this playoff but real bad at end. The core is getting older - and they have one of the worst prospect pools in the league (possibly the absolute worst). Should they keep Crosby + Malkin and try again next year, or try and trade one/both to kickstart a massive rebuild/retool while they still have high value?
Washington - Ovechkin/Backstrom. Not that dissimilar from Pittsburgh. They don't quite have the historical track record, with only 1 cup in Ovi era (and just once past round 2) - but if you look back to 2018, they won a cup in dominating fashion. They also won their division I believe 5 years in a row (just missing this year), so always are a strong contender. Since 2018 though - out in 2019 in a very hard fought round 1 battle. Real bad showing in 2020 playoffs in round 1 - and probably even worst this year. Ovechkin is still performing real well in the season, scoring a lot of goals, and did real well in 2019 playoffs, but was disappointing in 2020 playoffs, and again this year. Backstrom also good in 2019, but pretty damn bad past 2 years. Ovechkin is UFA now too, and will probably ask for high $$ and likely for multiple years. What should Washington too - should they bring back Ovi + keep Backstrom and try again next year? Or do they go for a major overhaul, letting Ovi walk and/or trading Backstrom to try and rebuild/major retool?
Toronto - Matthews/Marner. These two have become among the best forwards in the league in recent years. Matthews has probably earned the mantle of 'best goal scorer in league' - and Marner has now scored 3 seasons in a row at a 90+ point pace, among league leaders. Leafes just choked in round 1, big time. Very embarrassing loss after being up 3-1, and both Matthews and Marner played real bad in second half of round 1. Toronto fans are clearly frustrated with lack of winning with these guys. That being said - they're both still very young and extremely talented - but also hold very high trade value. What should Leafs do - do they keep both Marner/Matthews and try again next year, or should they trade one/both for very high return to kickstart a major retool of team?
Edmonton - Draisaitl + McDavid. Draisaitl just had a season for the ages last year sweeping awards - and McDavid bested him this year, probably a season worthy of historical mention. On a good day - you might argue they're the top 2 players in the world. McDavid certainly#1, with Drai not far behind. Yet they just got swept in round 1 against a team they had annihilated in the season (in last 4 reg season matches vs Jets, Oilers 4-0, 16-4 in goals, McDavid 11 points). Moreso than even the Toronto players - we know these two are great players with especially crazy high trade value (McDavid especially). Despite the talent - for years the story is the same in Edmonton - no team depth, they can't win with just those 2 (McDrai also didn't do well individually in these playoffs, especially McDavid). If Edmonton did a major move, it'd probably be a lot less about wanting to get rid of either guy, and more about maximizing a really high return to reshape the face of the team. So - what should Oilers do? Keep McDavid + Drai and try again next year, or trade one of them (or both) for a king's ransom to try and kickstart a major retool/re-shaping of team?
This is specific to the duos in question. Among those 4 teams - who should keep their power duo intact vs trade at least 1 for a major retool?
I'm sure all 4 teams/fanbases are disappointed and may want to do other major changes/overhauls to the core outside of these duos - but the poll question here is specific to these duos, and not other changes you may do.
Pittsburgh - Crosby/Malkin. Probably top 2 playoff performer of their eras. Multiple Conn Smythes, 3 cups, and many more very strong playoff runs. Back to back cups not too long ago, followed by a respectable 2 round effort vs cup champs in 2018. But since then, embarrassing sweep vs NYI in 2019, pathetic effort in play-ins last year - better all around effort in round 1 this year, yet again out in round 1. Malkin was real bad in 2019, downright pathetic last year, a bit better this year though. Crosby bad in 2019, so-so last year, not too bad start this playoff but real bad at end. The core is getting older - and they have one of the worst prospect pools in the league (possibly the absolute worst). Should they keep Crosby + Malkin and try again next year, or try and trade one/both to kickstart a massive rebuild/retool while they still have high value?
Washington - Ovechkin/Backstrom. Not that dissimilar from Pittsburgh. They don't quite have the historical track record, with only 1 cup in Ovi era (and just once past round 2) - but if you look back to 2018, they won a cup in dominating fashion. They also won their division I believe 5 years in a row (just missing this year), so always are a strong contender. Since 2018 though - out in 2019 in a very hard fought round 1 battle. Real bad showing in 2020 playoffs in round 1 - and probably even worst this year. Ovechkin is still performing real well in the season, scoring a lot of goals, and did real well in 2019 playoffs, but was disappointing in 2020 playoffs, and again this year. Backstrom also good in 2019, but pretty damn bad past 2 years. Ovechkin is UFA now too, and will probably ask for high $$ and likely for multiple years. What should Washington too - should they bring back Ovi + keep Backstrom and try again next year? Or do they go for a major overhaul, letting Ovi walk and/or trading Backstrom to try and rebuild/major retool?
Toronto - Matthews/Marner. These two have become among the best forwards in the league in recent years. Matthews has probably earned the mantle of 'best goal scorer in league' - and Marner has now scored 3 seasons in a row at a 90+ point pace, among league leaders. Leafes just choked in round 1, big time. Very embarrassing loss after being up 3-1, and both Matthews and Marner played real bad in second half of round 1. Toronto fans are clearly frustrated with lack of winning with these guys. That being said - they're both still very young and extremely talented - but also hold very high trade value. What should Leafs do - do they keep both Marner/Matthews and try again next year, or should they trade one/both for very high return to kickstart a major retool of team?
Edmonton - Draisaitl + McDavid. Draisaitl just had a season for the ages last year sweeping awards - and McDavid bested him this year, probably a season worthy of historical mention. On a good day - you might argue they're the top 2 players in the world. McDavid certainly#1, with Drai not far behind. Yet they just got swept in round 1 against a team they had annihilated in the season (in last 4 reg season matches vs Jets, Oilers 4-0, 16-4 in goals, McDavid 11 points). Moreso than even the Toronto players - we know these two are great players with especially crazy high trade value (McDavid especially). Despite the talent - for years the story is the same in Edmonton - no team depth, they can't win with just those 2 (McDrai also didn't do well individually in these playoffs, especially McDavid). If Edmonton did a major move, it'd probably be a lot less about wanting to get rid of either guy, and more about maximizing a really high return to reshape the face of the team. So - what should Oilers do? Keep McDavid + Drai and try again next year, or trade one of them (or both) for a king's ransom to try and kickstart a major retool/re-shaping of team?
This is specific to the duos in question. Among those 4 teams - who should keep their power duo intact vs trade at least 1 for a major retool?
I'm sure all 4 teams/fanbases are disappointed and may want to do other major changes/overhauls to the core outside of these duos - but the poll question here is specific to these duos, and not other changes you may do.