On one hand, Geno says he's coming back. Ovi waving the Pens off the ice for a long goodbye gave me a little hope, but I've also read that he felt the goal record chase was incredibly disruptive and exhausting to the team, with perhaps effects on the playoffs. I'd like to see Ovi come back at about the same salary and the Caps investing big $$$ in a scoring forward that can give him some relief. They whiffed on Ehlers last year and had no backup plan. Then PLD goes down and the middle o their schedule craters. They have a lot of young talent....Leno, Sourds, Hutson, Triniev, Lil Pro.....and a bunch of really good players still in their later mid 20s like Marty, Big Pro, PLD, Chychrun, and Roy. They also have their captain in Willie and Strome as their solid leadership. They absolutely have to get aggressive in pulling in a scorer in his prime. I'd think somebody would want a chance to play a year with Ovi then take over as the star in his prime. This is a great place for a wealthy athlete to raise a family, you don't have the pressure of a NYC/Boston/Chicago, and the players love the coaching staff and team culture. Sure, a big part of that culture is how Ovi makes every player feel important, but that can continue under Willy and Strome. We are pretty passionate friends. My daughter has babysat a number of players kids. I went to church with the Beagles for years. My son cut Brent Johnson's yard, and I see Brent in the 'hood regularly. The Orpiks, Backstroms, Trotzes, and others have been neighbors. It really hurts to not put the playoffs sign out this year.