Chuck Gormley of CSNWashington answers some fan mail...

If Caps were willing to blow up the core, which of Ovi, Backy and Green is most likely to get dealt?

Nothing like being direct. Alex Ovechkin has seven years and $70 million remaining on his contract [he’s getting a raise from $9 million to $10 million next season] and beginning July 1 he can give the Capitals a list of 10 teams for whom he will not play. I don’t see the Capitals shipping Ovechkin out of town, although I do think he holds more value now than he will in his future. That said, I don’t see Caps owner Ted Leonsis allowing his general manager to trade the greatest goal scorer in franchise history, even if he will be getting paid $10 million at the age of 35.

Same goes for Nicklas Backstrom, who in my opinion is just as valuable as Ovechkin. Backstrom has six years and $43 million remaining on his contract.

That leaves us with Mike Green, who has one year and $6.083 million remaining on his three-year deal. Of the three, I think Green is the most likely to be wearing another team’s jersey next season.

more Q&A on the Capitals...