It is almost unthinkable. He "is" the Washington Capitals. But over the last week or so we have seen that even Alex Ovechkin can be the subject to trade rumors. Get off to a slow start under a new coach and before you know it, they are shipping you off to Winnipeg.

If I have learned anything in my time doing this it is anything, and I mean ANYTHING, can happen. Sure, there are definitely some things that you would never expect to happen, and probably won't. .But to think anyone outside the situation knows all the factors would be foolish. .

It sure doesn't feel like the Caps would move their franchise player. Consider this: When Ovechkin came out and said he would be playing in the next Olympics in Russia even if the NHLers weren't Caps owner Ted Leonsis surprisingly backed Ovechkin and said he would allow him to leave the team mid-season to do it!

Leonsis and AO are just that close. But the rumors are out there, and not just on the Internet. Even some scouts are talking about it in media cafeterias before games. One scout said to me, "Well, you can be sure they aren't shopping him, but you can also be sure other teams are going to come and kick the tires when they see weakness in the Caps game."

The main team that seems associated with these rumors around the NHL is the Jets.

So we can debate whether or not the Capitals could trade Alexander Ovechkin but SHOULD they?

In my opinion, they should not unless there is something else going on something behind-the-scenes that we don't know about. You will simply never get fair value for player like Ovechkin, especially in a down season.

What do you think?

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