Did Caps GM Brian MacLellan just leave the door open for an eventual Ovi trade?

BarDown Staff

Getty Images/Patrick Smith

Once again, the Stanley Cup final is here and the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals are watching from home.

For the second straight season, Washington lost to Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs and failed to live up to expectations.

It's been 19 years since DC has made it to a conference championship. DC has had 15 closeout games.

0-for-15.
— Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) May 16, 2017

During the second round series, captain Alex Ovechkin was demoted to the third line and he was heavily criticized after the team's Game 7 loss.

It actually got to the point to where fans and some people in the media were saying the team should trade Ovi and move on.

Tuesday, Caps GM Brian MacLellan to discuss everything from Ovi to injuries, and here's what he said about the prospects of trading 'The Great 8':

On Ovechkin: Caps won't strip of captaincy. Not ready to trade him but "maybe" if a hockey deal came around at some point, MacLellan said.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 30, 2017

Brian MacLellan's full answer when asked about people talking about the #Caps trading Alex Ovechkin: pic.twitter.com/bkrMKe2ycL
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 30, 2017

Did MacLellan just leave the door open for an Ovi trade? That's for you to decide.

@ikhurshudyan pic.twitter.com/Bz3QtwTFTu
— Regular-Sized Rudy (@alexthegaiter) May 30, 2017

@ikhurshudyan Never thought I would hear that from the Caps...I guess anything is possible now.
— William Parmer (@billparmer) May 30, 2017

@ikhurshudyan As a caps fan i hope that the caps trade ovie
— Timmy Olsson (@osnolsson) May 30, 2017

Hockey fans know better than most sports fans that anyone (Wayne Gretzky) can be traded if the right deal is in place, so all MacLellan is saying is that if the right deal comes along down the road, it's a possibility.

For now, though, it looks like Ovi isn't going anywhere and the Caps will contend for a Cup again next season.

MacLellan said no major changes coming. Said it's easier to make the team worse than better.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 30, 2017

Although fans shouldn't expect any major changes, they should still expect some.

MacLellan said team is going to get younger. Thinks they'll be competitive, but probs not as good at first.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 30, 2017

(H/T: Stephen Whyno)