Backstrom is terrific. And Green, well, I don't have many nice things to say about him, I think he stinks, and it isnt only on the defensive side. Offensively he takes huge windups from the point and gets them blocked, but not just normal blocked, blocked where it comes out of the zone and an aware forward could side step the flat footed Green for an odd man rush, it almost cost them last night 3rd/1OT cant remember which.
- Gunner Staal

Agreed. I thought there was a time early in his career where he seemed to have a better sense of how to get the puck to the net. Now, even when he does get it through, he tends to miss the net badly and the result is typically not good (i.e. the puck generally exits the zone shortly thereafter). Hunter is reluctant to play Orlov, I believe because of inexperience/high risk plays. I can't imagine that Orlov could put the Caps in any more vulnerable spots than Green/Wideman, and Orlov's upside is so much greater than theirs IMO.

Green looked terrible last night. He seemed to show interest in playing the game.
- Ben37

Green hates contact in the d-zone and his decision making in the offensive zone is slow/poor. He's up for a contract, will be interesting to see what becomes of him.

Green hates contact in the d-zone and his decision making in the offensive zone is slow/poor. He's up for a contract, will be interesting to see what becomes of him.
- MadCap2008

Send him to Edmonton, him and Ryan Whitney can hang out.

Send him to Edmonton, him and Ryan Whitney can hang out.
- Gunner Staal

26 year old defenseman who twice hit 70 points? Yes please. He's overpaid for his skillset/how he's playing right now, but he's still a very useful defenseman.

26 year old defenseman who twice hit 70 points? Yes please. He's overpaid for his skillset/how he's playing right now, but he's still a very useful defenseman.
- Morris

Yeah I know all about him.

Yeah I know all about him.
- Gunner Staal

unfortunately it's all a pipe dream cause I know for the oilers to acquire anyone it would cost Hall + Yakupov just to keep them on the phone

Still, between Green and Whitney you could get one season of half-decent defense

unfortunately it's all a pipe dream cause I know for the oilers to acquire anyone it would cost Hall + Yakupov just to keep them on the phone

Still, between Green and Whitney you could get one season of half-decent defense
- Morris

if they were on a pairing together i would feel for the goalie

if they were on a pairing together i would feel for the goalie
- stayinthefnnet

I meant that combined you'd get 75 games out of them

I meant that combined you'd get 75 games out of them
- Morris

haha well that part is true. although even healthy i wouldnt want them. i do think they have talent but for whatever reason they just arent that effective. i know green can put up some gaudy numbers, but i wouldnt take him on the pens. although if he is being moved im sure a bunch of teams would want him to help bring some pop from the back. he just needs a very defensive minded partner

haha well that part is true. although even healthy i wouldnt want them. i do think they have talent but for whatever reason they just arent that effective. i know green can put up some gaudy numbers, but i wouldnt take him on the pens. although if he is being moved im sure a bunch of teams would want him to help bring some pop from the back. he just needs a very defensive minded partner
- stayinthefnnet

Whitney played amazing post-trade for us, and had an all-star calibre start to the next season before he got injured. I think now he's too busted, and I'm worried that he won't bounce back as readily from his injury as some oil fans hope. That being said, he demonstrated two-way talented far better than the scouting report I had heard from pens fans when we acquired for him. I wonder what becomes of him next off-season. I'd say the oilers would re-sign him, but they obviously have no problem shipping out/not addressing defensive talent.

As for Green, maybe we could pair him with Smid, but we probably just plain can't afford him.