Some further digging through the web has found only some late 2011 Semin trade rumors out there and a lot on Washington's lack of depth at Center due to the injury to Nicklas Backstrom. With that, and with the recent benching of starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun (a correction to previous post has been made to Vokoun's cap hit, currently expiring $1.5 M) , a Tim Thomas Alex Semin trade makes that much more sense. Here is a slightly revised deal, with all contract information culled from Capgeek.com:
Boston trades Tim Thomas ($5 M cap hit this and next year) and Chris Kelly ($2 M expiring cap hit). To this Blog trading Tim Thomas is about 2% due to his political craziness, and 98% due to keeping Tuuka Rask around for the long-term. It's foggy, but it seems the players are getting fed up with TT and his lone-wolf mentality. Tuuka is still only about to turn 25 years old, and his Goals Against Average/Save % the last three years is 1.97/.931, 2.67/.918, 2.11/.928. For comparison Thomas is 2.56/.915, 2.00/.938, 2.21/.929. Tuuka is the future, and Thomas, while still outstanding, has worn out his welcome. Chris Kelly is a great playoff performer (+11, 13 points in 25 playoff games last year), extremely tough, and a solid #2/#3 Center, currently behind Bergeron, Krejki, and perhaps even Seguin with Boston. Loosing Kelly would hurt, but Peverly is due back in about six weeks and the unknown status of Nathan Horton means goal scoring is badly needed. On Washington he's just the type of veteran, two-way center they need with Backstrom out. Boston goes down from having a projected $2.7 M in cap space to $2.5 M.
Washington trades Alex Semin ($6.7 M expiring cap hit) and Michal Neuvirth ($1.15 M cap hit this and next year). Semin provides much needed goal scoring ability and as stated yesterday could revive the Krejki and Lucic line. Neuvirth provides a solid #2 goalie for the rest of this year and next. Washington also goes from being just over the salary cap to having a projected .176 M in cap space. It doesn't seem like much, but possible high fines and worst case forfeiting games can come from being over the cap.
This exactly the kind of win-win, win now blockbuster trade that is rare but spectacular when it happens. Mr. Chirarelli is working the phones and teasing big name possibilities, the Caps GM George McPhee is facing some serious pressure to get Ovechkin and crew deep in the playoffs. Make it happen boys!
Until next time,
The SAHD
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