It wasn't a matter of him being "raw" or not. He was signed to play in Sweden that year and the Caps saw a window and decided to go for it that year. Forsberg wasn't available to play for them that season.

Yes, it was a bad trade at the time and worse now, but it had nothing to do with the Caps refusing to play a young player.
- jmatchett383

Well, yeah, it did. I love your know it all attitude, but you're wrong. Maybe you don't realize this, but after the trade to Nashville, he started to play in the NHL so he was available to the Capitals if they wanted him.

no matter how many time you say unlucky capitals no one is buying it except for you.

is it so hard to say the not good enough capitals?
- rinaldo

Lots of people buy it, just not the six Trump supporters in the comment section. And people have to buy it, because it's the truth, like it or not.

What trade was worse; Forsberg for Erat or Hall for Larsson?

Tanner would have you believe that Hall for Larsson is one of the worst trades of all-time. I'd say Forsberg for Erat is worse.
- RedDog18

Hall is worse because you knew the day it happened how bad it was. Forsberg for Erat is worse in hindsight. Even though we knew it was bad when it happened, we didn't know Erat was completely useless.

Forsberg was at least a kid, so plausibly the Capitals could have seen something they figured didn't project long term. Both Hall and Larsson were vets and both teams knew exactly what they were doing, which is why it's so laughable.

Unlucky is the common refrain here. The Caps are stuck with Ovie and his $9.5M hit, his declining play, and his need to have $15Mm of line mates, which completely skews a lineup. I'm predicting 4 more years of "Bad Luck" . Though the GR8 will get his 15PP goals and maybe 15 others.
- RegOnion

Ovechkin's play isn't really declining. He's still pretty awesome. Worth every penny.

Lots of people buy it, just not the six Trump supporters in the comment section. And people have to buy it, because it's the truth, like it or not.
- James_Tanner

who are these "lots" of people? any lnks to anyone having the opinion the caps have been "unlucky" for 10 years?

it isn't the truth. like it or not. fact is they are not good enough. That has been proven 100%.

Well, yeah, it did. I love your know it all attitude, but you're wrong. Maybe you don't realize this, but after the trade to Nashville, he started to play in the NHL so he was available to the Capitals if they wanted him.
- James_Tanner

The trade occured in the 2012-2013 season. That year, he played 38 games in the SHL (Swe-I at the time) for Leksand. At the close of the season, he played 5 games on an ATO with Nashville. Erat, meanwhile, was in the NHL the whole time.

When the trade was made, Forsberg was still playing in Sweden and had made no commitment to come over to North America. Furthermore, had his team made the SHL playoffs, he would not have been available to play in the playoffs (at least the first round). The Capitals were sure that Erat would be available to them that season, and had no such assurance with Forsberg.

no matter how many time you say unlucky capitals no one is buying it except for you.

is it so hard to say the not good enough capitals?
- rinaldo

You know how it goes: Say something often enough in the hope others believe it, regardless of how asinine it is. Like say for instance, most of what came out of the mouth of the WH occupier 2009-2017.

who are these "lots" of people? any lnks to anyone having the opinion the caps have been "unlucky" for 10 years?

it isn't the truth. like it or not. fact is they are not good enough. That has been proven 100%.
- rinaldo

So bored with this conversation. Please move on. You are wrong.

The trade occured in the 2012-2013 season. That year, he played 38 games in the SHL (Swe-I at the time) for Leksand. At the close of the season, he played 5 games on an ATO with Nashville. Erat, meanwhile, was in the NHL the whole time.

When the trade was made, Forsberg was still playing in Sweden and had made no commitment to come over to North America. Furthermore, had his team made the SHL playoffs, he would not have been available to play in the playoffs (at least the first round). The Capitals were sure that Erat would be available to them that season, and had no such assurance with Forsberg.
- jmatchett383

And he only played 13 NHL games the following season as well

Really enjoyed the AIC selection. One of the better grunge albums if not the best .

And as far as the Erat for Forsberg trade...yeah it was really bad, but at least they didn't sign Leino to a ridiculous contract and trade for Cody Hodgson.

You leave Leino alone now or he's gonna go and make a bunch more of those ridiculous sweaters.

And he only played 13 NHL games the following season as well
- uf1910

It was a terrible trade at the time and worse now.

Still, the Caps made it because they wanted a player that could play for them immediately and in the playoffs. They had no such guarantee from Forsberg as he was still in Sweden and had not committed to coming over to NA when his season (and possible playoffs, which they missed) were over.

Couple of things here:
...."91 goals later and it's pretty clear that Forsberg was the #1 overall pick in the 2012 draft. " No! No! No! Jay Feaster (Flames GM at the time) said that in 10 years Mark Jankowski would be the best player taken in the 2012 draft - it is not 10 years yet - so you can't crown Forsberg the best yet!
....Seriously though, as good as Forsberg is, it is not a slam dunk that he is the best from that draft - especially if you also consider that typically defencemen are more valuable than forwards (when both have developed into elite NHL players). Points could be made that the following players from the 2012 draft are the best from that draft - or the most valued players now: Lindholm (D) ANA; Trouba (D) Jets; Gostisbehere (D) Flyers; Murray (G) Pens; Parayko (D) Blues
....Interesting fact about the 2012 draft. Nashville had zero picks in the first round, yet they now (debatedly) have the best player from the first round or even that complete draft; Also their 2 unsung heroes in these playoffs so far were their first 2 picks in that draft (1) Pontus Aberg 37th overall and their first pick in 2012 (2) Colton Sissons 50th overall and their 2nd pick in 2012.

So bored with this conversation. Please move on. You are wrong.
- James_Tanner

You have nothing so your retort is you are wrong. You are wrong and the stats and facts clearly show you are wrong.

Why cant you admit it? You seem to be acting a little like Trump would

Thank you for Forsberg!

You have nothing so your retort is you are wrong. You are wrong and the stats and facts clearly show you are wrong.

Why cant you admit it? You seem to be acting a little like Trump would
- rinaldo

It's what he does when he gets proven wrong. Resort to the "you're wrong" retort or, my personal favorite, the generalized, passive-aggressive insult (ie: "anyone who believes otherwise is a moron/stupid/dumb").

So James. How about that Rinne. Awful goalie am I right?

Who knows if Forsberg would have turned into the player he is today playing behind Ovie and whoever else they brought in. If he doesn't get top six minutes like he does in Nashville, he might be a third line checker.

James Tanner: Forsberg Trade Continues to Haunt Capitals
- james_tanner1

Meh. They have plenty of players equal or better than FF. they should be over it by now, and I'm sure they are.

Hall is worse because you knew the day it happened how bad it was. Forsberg for Erat is worse in hindsight. Even though we knew it was bad when it happened, we didn't know Erat was completely useless.

Forsberg was at least a kid, so plausibly the Capitals could have seen something they figured didn't project long term. Both Hall and Larsson were vets and both teams knew exactly what they were doing, which is why it's so laughable.
- James_Tanner

Larsson was fairly integral to his team's resurgence and a lynchpin on the backend.
Erat did absolutely nothing to help the caps.
At any point.

In fact, considering halls injury for an extended period and how the devils fared (regardless that it wasn't halls fault) the short term comparison between the two trades is insane.
Things could change for sure in the very near future, and the long term optics may turn out to be exactly as you suggest. But until then the two deals are nowhere close at present

Couple of things here:
...."91 goals later and it's pretty clear that Forsberg was the #1 overall pick in the 2012 draft. " No! No! No! Jay Feaster (Flames GM at the time) said that in 10 years Mark Jankowski would be the best player taken in the 2012 draft - it is not 10 years yet - so you can't crown Forsberg the best yet!
....Seriously though, as good as Forsberg is, it is not a slam dunk that he is the best from that draft - especially if you also consider that typically defencemen are more valuable than forwards (when both have developed into elite NHL players). Points could be made that the following players from the 2012 draft are the best from that draft - or the most valued players now: Lindholm (D) ANA; Trouba (D) Jets; Gostisbehere (D) Flyers; Murray (G) Pens; Parayko (D) Blues
....Interesting fact about the 2012 draft. Nashville had zero picks in the first round, yet they now (debatedly) have the best player from the first round or even that complete draft; Also their 2 unsung heroes in these playoffs so far were their first 2 picks in that draft (1) Pontus Aberg 37th overall and their first pick in 2012 (2) Colton Sissons 50th overall and their 2nd pick in 2012.
- hags11

Good post: informative and funny.

And I think Lindholm could end up being the best player in the draft. But for now it's forsberg.

You have nothing so your retort is you are wrong. You are wrong and the stats and facts clearly show you are wrong.

Why cant you admit it? You seem to be acting a little like Trump would
- rinaldo

But the facts do back me up: Washington dominated that series and would have won it by playing no differently most of the time.

If you have the best team in hockey and you lose, that's just how she rolls sometimes. It really seems like you guys are slagging on what is a very reasonable take on my part.

if they regroup with the same core, they're likely to also be one of the NHL's best teams next year, so there's really nothing to complain about. They might win it one of these days.

Either that or they should have built their team like the Senators - cause we all know only the best teams make it!!

It's what he does when he gets proven wrong. Resort to the "you're wrong" retort or, my personal favorite, the generalized, passive-aggressive insult (ie: "anyone who believes otherwise is a moron/stupid/dumb").
- Isleshockeyman

Well that only occurs after posting several correct, fact laden posts that are completely ignored. The idea that it is me here who doesn't listen to facts, can't back up his thoughts or makes things up out of thin air is preposterous.

So James. How about that Rinne. Awful goalie am I right?
- poisondhearts37

Well, like I said yesterday, he's a mediocre NHL starter - his stats put him about 16th in the NHL and his team would have finished way higher if he was as good as people thought.

Yes, he's had a good playoffs, which included his career best 12 game run. But sure, I'm an idiot for not seeing that an overrated goalie who hasn't been close to elite since 2011 was suddenly going to revive his career with a great run.

Well that only occurs after posting several correct, fact laden posts that are completely ignored. The idea that it is me here who doesn't listen to facts, can't back up his thoughts or makes things up out of thin air is preposterous.
- James_Tanner

..

But the facts do back me up: Washington dominated that series and would have won it by playing no differently most of the time.

If you have the best team in hockey and you lose, that's just how she rolls sometimes. It really seems like you guys are slagging on what is a very reasonable take on my part.

if they regroup with the same core, they're likely to also be one of the NHL's best teams next year, so there's really nothing to complain about. They might win it one of these days.

Either that or they should have built their team like the Senators - cause we all know only the best teams make it!!
- James_Tanner

Statistical Fact: Pens won 4 games Caps won 3
Fact: Pens won the series
Fact: Pens are still playing.
Fact: Caps are not.

those 4 facts are really all that matters.


where are the facts they were unlucky?