Monday Roundup: Has Brendan Witt Played His Last Game For Washington?

A relatively light day in Caps news, with much of it focusing on the impending trade of former captain Brendan Witt. The WaPo reports that "[i]n anticipation of being traded, Witt drives a rental car. His apartment is rented, too." The WTimes notes that Witt may be held out of the lineup Tuesday night at Toronto to ensure his health. With the trade deadline ten days away, it sounds as if Witt will be moved sooner, rather than later, as the market for his services is as good as it's going to get right now.

Also mentioned as possible trade bait is winger Jeff Friesen, whose experience and scoring touch would certainly help a contender, despite his disappointing numbers thus far this season.

In other Cap news, Alexander Ovechkin is the mathematical favorite to win the Hart Trophy, according to Ken Campbell of the Toronto Star. The article should be required reading for all hockey journalists who vote on such awards. And speaking of Ovechkin, he was the only non-Finn, non-Swede to make the Olympics All-Star team. Congrats, again, to AO. It's a shame he doesn't have a medal to show for it (and by that I mean, in part, that it's a shame that Ilya Kovalchuk didn't score a goal all tourney against any team not from Latvia). Hopefully it will only fuel him to get even better.

Thread of the Day: Witt Watch: It Begins In Earnest

Elsewhere 'round the rinks:

• Oh, baby! John Davidson turns 53 today.
• You'll recall that CNN/SI's Tom Layberger published a list of his Top 10 Rookie Seasons that was similar to a list posted on The Rink a couple of weeks earlier. Rink buddy El Mo posted his thoughts on those similarities over at Embrace The Dull. Well, it has recently been brought to my attention that Layberger has also recently authored his list of Top 10 American Players of all-time. Is it similar to the list posted on The Rink a couple of weeks earlier? You be the judge.