Hey, Guess Who's Going To Be Last To Arrive...

by J.P. on Sep 7, 2008 9:05 PM EDT

Via the Alex Ovetjkin blog:

Q. When are you leaving to U.S.?

A. I miss hockey, to have too much rest is also bad. I am leaving on 18th.

Veterans report to camp on the 19th. Ladies and gentlemen, Alex Semin.

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I don't care when he shows up. I just want him to be in tip top shape and ready to rock on 9/19.

by VT Caps Fan on Sep 7, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

I don't get it.

Paul R

by Anonymous on Sep 7, 2008 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

Hes a pimp like that, hes the guy who rolls into the club at 1am.

I cant wait to see him play a whole season. After what he did in the PO, things look bright.

by TJ on Sep 7, 2008 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

As long as we've got Feds to look after him, he's going to be okay...

by Anonymous on Sep 7, 2008 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

The playoffs are "the PO" now?! When did that happen?

Compare the professionalism of, say, Chris Clark to the professionalism, of, well...

by Anonymous on Sep 7, 2008 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

I don't get the big deal here. Classes started on Monday, not like I parked myself in the front row on Saturday just to prove I care or whatever.

by just some kid on Sep 7, 2008 11:52 PM EDT reply actions

I've never liked him. Unlike Ovie, he just doesn't seem to enjoy what he does, nor does he seem to care.

I would not be too upset if he left

by Ryan on Sep 8, 2008 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

It's like Tom Coughlin's rule - if you're not five minutes early, you're late.

Big deal? No. Keeping in character? Yes.

by JP on Sep 8, 2008 6:37 AM EDT reply actions

I've always hated the "if you're not early, you're late" rule.

by Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 7:25 AM EDT reply actions

Ah, hockey must be close. We're already ragging on Semin. Really, Alex is like a beautiful woman. If he scores 40 goals, you're willing to overlook a lot of his flaws.

by b.orr4 on Sep 8, 2008 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

Hi JP and others..

I forgot to tell you that Nick is in town now, will probably be at Kettler later this week. He flew in early friday morning from Sweden.. Only 6 ½ days until rookiecamp..

by Gavlegirl on Sep 8, 2008 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

as long as he doesn't miss his flight, he still might get there 5 minutes early...

by Sombrero guy on Sep 8, 2008 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Give Semin a break. From a Semin interview over the summer translated from the Russian to English, he essentially is a young man who would rather be where he grew up, but his profession takes him elsewhere, namely to Washington, DC where he can't get Russian food, meet Russian girls etc. No matter how much dough you make, if you are homesick, you are homesick. Let him show up, ply his trade and let his numbers speak for themselves. It's fair to judge him on those.

by Steve in Jersey on Sep 8, 2008 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

@Gavlegirl, I stopped off at Ketler today and indeed Backstrom was on the ice. BTW, for all those worried about his weight, he actually looked thinner than last season. His face seems to have matured and he's looking more like a man and less like a kid.

by b.orr4 on Sep 8, 2008 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Dave Fay called. He wants his bitterness back.

by strungout on Sep 8, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

its not a big deal as long as hes there on the first day of camp

by Sam on Sep 8, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

Here is who was at Kettler today:
Backstrom
Clark
Steckel
Brash
Laich
Alzner
Morrison
Erskine
Bradley
Theodore
Johnson
Gordon

by Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

@ Everyone: As I said above, I don't think it's a big deal. Maybe it wasn't even worth noting.

But if you don't think the team would, given the choice, rather that he arrive in town earlier, you're mistaken.

by JP on Sep 8, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

R-r-r-r-r-r-abbit! Semin be trade bait before the season is out.

by hotdog88gt on Sep 8, 2008 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Steve in Jersey - It shouldn't and probably won't be a big deal, and I didn't really think JP was making a big deal... but Semin also has a history of this.

Once you get a reputation, it's hard to shake and causes a little greater scrutiny.

Semin missed a team flight in his rookie season, and was late reporting to the Russian team for the worlds a couple years back and was kicked off the tournament team. If homesickness was that much of an issue, I would have thought he'd be the first to report back in Russia....

by Sombrero Guy on Sep 8, 2008 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Steve-

If Sasha can't find Russian food or Russian women around DC/Balto then he clearly isn't looking. I think of Red Square, Europa, and Russia House w/o even looking in the phonebook. And guess where all the Russian women are...

by wittcap79 on Sep 8, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

1) If Semin really wanted to play at home he could easily play in the KHL and probably make the same or more tax free.
2) and as we have seen having a valid NHL contract doesn't stop KHL clubs from offering a nice deal

by FAUX RUMORS on Sep 8, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

People always talk about Semin as trade bait.

Do you really think the Caps would give up their second best goal scorer (and to some the most skilled player on the team) with absolutely NO ONE in house to step up and produce as many goals as he can? i find that hard to believe.

he's not a trouble maker and seems to get along fine with the rest of the team. he really showed some heart and, dare i say, grit in the playoffs.

whatever trade you think could occur would not, by any means, replace/make up for the offensive skill set that Semin has.

Le Lapin is here to stay......................

(unless the KHL tries to poach him)

by NS on Sep 8, 2008 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully he is currently in good shape and can get off to a quick start this year. I thought at the end of last year and in the playoffs, we saw flashes of the true potential of Semin. Hard nosed and exceptionally skilled with the puck.

by feesh on Sep 8, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

What with the tensions in Georgia and Semin's long and distinguished military career, which prevented his attendance in the post-lockout Caps organization, we're all just lucky he will be able to attend training camp at all. [tongue planted firmly in cheek]

by Snktimoniuz on Sep 8, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

Mmmmm...poached rabbit!

by Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

"Here is who was at Kettler today:

Backstrom
Clark
Steckel
Brash
Laich
Alzner
Morrison
Erskine
Bradley
Theodore
Johnson
Gordon"

paging Mr. Feischmann, Mr. Fleischmann; paging Mr. Fehr, Mr. Fehr.

I don't care about Semin not being here until 9/19--he'll be ready to go...these other two better shake a leg or Double O is going to come in and steal their bacon

by bigonetimer on Sep 8, 2008 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

AHHHHHH...it must be hockey season if we are already questioning the quality of Semin's character, and discussing trading him. The best part is he hasn't done anything recently for us to question him, if he shows up late than I will be the first to throw a fit until then, I will wait for another slow week to roll by until training camp officially/finally starts!

by Puddin_an_Semin on Sep 8, 2008 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

I've got a good feeling that Semin will be here on the 19th, as he is supposed to, and that upon arrival he is in great NHL shape.

If not, he answers to Fedorov & Ovechkin, whose ire will be rougher on him that Coach BB.

by Doug on Sep 8, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions