McKenzie: Capitals' Green could be "intriguing piece at the trade deadline"
/Bob McKenzie was on Ottawa’s TSN 1200 on Monday afternoon.
On UFA-to-be Mike Green being a fascinating case and having no idea where he’s going:
“Yeah, I’m with you a little bit in terms of the variables in this case. Marvellously talented guy when he’s on his game. Often injured. When he’s not injured, there’s still an inconsistency and an erraticness to his game that you wouldn’t think somebody who has been in the league this long would have that erratic quality, but he still does.
“So, I mean, when he’s on he can take over a game offensively the same way Erik Karlsson can take over offensively, especially on the power play. He’s got a bomb from the point on the power play, and he can quarterback it a little bit too. He’s not afraid to jump up into the rush and be that dynamic guy.
“But it is a contract year and I’ll be curious to see which way the Capitals go here. But my guess is he’s going to want more money than they’re prepared to give him, but I don’t know that for a fact. I guess we’ll have to wait and see on that front.
“And assuming that does transpire, if that is the case, then I would suspect that general manager Brian MacLellan will probably look at the trade market. And that’s where it gets really intriguing because he would be an interesting asset, especially on a really good hockey team that’s got the cap room. And that’s going to be key, is finding someone who needs that guy but can afford to have him there.
“But on a team like the Washington Capitals – they’re not too bad this year under Barry Trotz. But again, they’re not as good as the so-called heyday of Bruce Boudreau when they were Presidents’ Trophy-calibre. Sometimes Mike Green gets a little bit lost on a team like that. I think you sometimes wonder if a player like that, that has those erratic qualities, were to get into an organization where there’s a lot of high-level talent around him, with a real strong defensive structure in place, that could withstand his risky ways – how much upside could he deliver to a real good team in that situation?
“So he’d become an intriguing piece at the trade deadline if the Caps don’t get a contract done with him.”
Source: TSN 1200/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey