Caps Extend Alex Semin
by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 10:44 AM EST
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Per the team, the Caps have signed Alexander Semin to a one-year contract extension, worth $6.7 million.
Semin, who has 18 goals and 17 assists in 39 games this season but hasn't scored since November 28 and has been on injured reserve since January 9, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer. He'll make $6 million on his current one-year deal for the 2010-11 season.
For more, check out some of George McPhee's and Semin's thoughts on the winger re-signing from back in the fall, as well as our Rink Wrap from last summer here and thoughts on his hot start to this season here.
From the team's release:
Semin, 26, is in his sixth season in the NHL, all with the Capitals. He has 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games this season, second on the team in goals and third in points. In 366 career games the 6’2”, 209-pound native of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, has recorded 335 points (166 goals, 169 assists) and already ranks 11th in Capitals history in goals and 19th in points.
This season Semin is tied for the league lead with three hat tricks, which came in a 35-day span from Oct. 23 to Nov. 26. His 16 goals at home rank third in the league. While he has been hampered by injury lately, he ranked second in the league in goals (18) and fifth in points (30) in the first two months of the season. His three hat tricks in 35 days were the fastest by an NHL player since 2002 (Marian Gaborik) and his natural hat trick in 4:29 on Nov. 26 was the NHL’s fastest since Jan. 8, 2009 (Bobby Ryan, 2:21).
Semin, who is coming off his first 40-goal season and a career-high 84 points, ranked seventh in the NHL in goals and 13th in points in 2010-11. His 30 even-strength goals ranked third in the league and he was tied for fifth with a +36 rating.
A first-round choice of the Capitals in the 2002 NHL Draft, 13th overall, Semin has 313 points in 314 games during the last five seasons, ranking 17th in points per game in the NHL in that time (0.997). He ranks 10th in goals in that time (156) and is one of only 12 players league-wide to score more than 25 goals in each of the last four seasons. He is on pace to hit that mark again this year. He is a combined +69 in the last three seasons, best of any Capitals forward and fifth-best in the NHL.
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Not a bad deal at all. Maybe this is an annual event now? We just extend Semin year by year until he’s ready to go back to Russia?
Bad agent or worst agent?
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by Chemmy on Jan 27, 2011 10:46 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
He keeps taking one year deals despite being a pretty elite point producer. This strategy will be pretty dumb if he catches a knee injury and doesn’t get another contract.
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Could Semin get more in a bidding war? Probably. Would there be a bidding war for a guy with 0 goals in his last 14 playoff games, and is a “flight risk”?
Plus Semin is a known introvert, might be willing to take less to stay in a comfort zone.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jan 27, 2011 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Would there be a bidding war for a guy with 0 goals in his last 14 playoff games, and is a "flight risk"?
Have you seen this summer’s UFA class? Yes, there would be.
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True, and if offense is really starting to be this team’s problem, he would be the best option out of these UFAs to acquire.
by JimCareyFanClub on Jan 27, 2011 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
He also is the majority owner of a lounge here in merry ol’ DC…. He ain’t going nowhwere
" I don't have a certain type, only the heart can tell. If the heart responds, then it is my type."
by TheFuryUnleashed on Jan 27, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
i didn’t know that. not the russia house?
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
No… not Russia House …. Barcode
" I don't have a certain type, only the heart can tell. If the heart responds, then it is my type."
by TheFuryUnleashed on Jan 27, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
" I don't have a certain type, only the heart can tell. If the heart responds, then it is my type."
by TheFuryUnleashed on Jan 27, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
so, barcöde looks maybe swedish with the umlat, is co-owned by a russian, and the menu has a decidedly italian bent. interesting place
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you can often find 8,19, and 28 there…. late night ….. under-performing and slow top line? …… Coincidence ? nahhhhhh
" I don't have a certain type, only the heart can tell. If the heart responds, then it is my type."
by TheFuryUnleashed on Jan 27, 2011 3:28 PM EST up reply actions
Reasonably priced, too.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Maybe an impromptu Rink event ?
" I don't have a certain type, only the heart can tell. If the heart responds, then it is my type."
by TheFuryUnleashed on Jan 27, 2011 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
Right. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that we aren’t aware of. I think it’s a little much to say “bad agent” without knowing what Semin’s priorities are.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
If his priority is staying in his comfort zone then a multi year deal at $5.5M benefits him and the Capitals. He gets term which means should he get injured he still gets paid and Washington gets more cap space.
This doesn’t benefit either side.
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Not sure the Caps would be interested in a multi-year deal on this guy.
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Must be nice to have point per game players growing on trees.
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Boll weevils must have gotten into this year’s crop, then.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Point per game — gee that’s our team’s average these days.
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by CapsFan75 on Jan 27, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Zing!
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by souldrummer on Jan 27, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
You can look at aggregate numbers and pump a guy’s tires all you want, but look a little closer and Semin’s not exactly what you’d call dependable.
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Semin is 10th in total goals scored in the NHL since 2006-2007.
That’s over five seasons.
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You can look at aggregate numbers and pump a guy’s tires all you want, but look a little closer and Semin’s not exactly what you’d call dependable.
How’s he been in his last two playoff series? Or in December/January of this season?
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
A 14 game pair of playoff series seems like a less important sample than five full seasons of data.
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by Chemmy on Jan 27, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Wait til the Leafs are competitive, again, and see if you feel the same way.
by DrinkingPartner on Jan 27, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
Being serious. Semin’s probably my favorite player on the team, but he’s so unreliable. While I agree with the logic posited later in the post as to why he got what he got, I saw 6.7 and thought it was too high, first reaction.
by DrinkingPartner on Jan 27, 2011 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
He’d get more on the open market this summer.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
No doubt, but that doesn’t keep the reality of who he is on the ice from being true: great stats when it doesn’t especially matter. I was one of Semin’s biggest defenders during his 44-shot, goalless playoffs last spring, but it’s tough to keep it up. It’s especially difficult to be bubbly when we just suffered another shutout.
by DrinkingPartner on Jan 27, 2011 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not sure what your issue is. Last night’s shutout if anything boisters the pro-Semin crowd.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
i’m not sure he’d get more on a multi-year deal, though, which is why i understand the strategy from semin’s view.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
I think he could get in the 7.5 mil range for 4-5 year deal on the open market. This year’s UFA class is extremely weak.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
and no one’s ever been overpaid on the open market before.
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by bilspacecadet on Jan 27, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Same here.
Regular season is great, but when you can’t translate it into postseason success, it feels very empty. You have to question the personnel. If Semin disappears again in April, I think this contract moves over the Summer.
You had me at no problem.
I mostly agree with that. I think this is the do or die year for Sasha with the team. If he wants to stay here longer term and to have a chance for management to want him longer term:
1. the Caps have to make the playoffs (I’m even feeling a little nervous about that at times)
2. they have to get further in the playoffs (not necessarily win the SC this year)
3. most importantly, he has to play really well (by whatever criteria the collective Caps brain determines) and be instrumental in the success.
On the other hand, if management decides in the next month that it’s in the best interests of the team to trade him (which I hope not), then the trading partner would at least have a little more certainty rather than a UFA in July.
Funny, I wondered last night if we wouldn’t see something on him and perhaps Laich over the ASG break.
Good arguments all around.
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I like the guy but I am really hoping I don’t read of a Laich extension in the next few days.
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by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
I disagree – he has made himself affordable during a below average year.
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by breed16 on Jan 27, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I am just not that high on Laich. He seems to do a lot of things good, but not particularly great at anything.
That sort of guy is valuable…when cheap.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
ding ding ding
On the trade bit. This was a smart move by GMGM. You give yourself the option to hold onto an elite scorer for another years (and hopefully playoff run) and give yourself a little more leverage in with other GM’s in case it is decided to use him to acquire other pieces.
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McPhee doesn’t give out NTCs any more. He’s said a number of times that a limited NTC on a long term contract, like Ovechkin’s, is the most anyone will get.
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Semin is your 3rd best offensive player and has the 3rd most playoff points on the Caps over the past three seasons…..I don’t follow.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
And no goals in the last 14 playoff games.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
Cold streaks are common. It’s small sample.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
How much more would we say Semin is worth if scores 14 goals in 14 playoff games? Probably a lot. Why is it unfair to suggest that he’s worth less if he scores zero in 14?
You had me at no problem.
by Ninjak on Jan 27, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Who is “we”? FWIW I’ve always been on the “Sasha is focused in the playoffs” bandwagon. But I also value regular season a lot. I’d hope that I don’t give him a big bump for that (probably a little, can’t help it really) but the fact that he’s not a 2C hurts his case a lot.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Semin’s own play hurts his case worse than a lack of 2C. If he really needs a 2C then why are we paying him this much?
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
No, it doesn’t. It’s not about needing a 2C for Semin or not, it’s about needing one period considering AO and 19 already locked up. But most teams would kill for a game-breaking talent like Semin, and it’s silly to just let him go for naught.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions
FWIW, even if he hasn’t scored over that stretch, I’m far from off Gouldie’s Semin-Smythe boat.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
good to know I ain’tn’t forgotten even when work takes me away for a few days. Cheers!
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by Gould Old Days on Jan 27, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
They don’t take too kindly to sample size talk around here.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jan 27, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
“They”? Don’t you presume to be a part of this community? And if you don’t, why do you keep posting?
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Not here to start a flame war. It’s just it brought back hilarious memories of many folks here categorically rejecting pretty simple sample size discussions, claiming over and over “You have to put the puck in the net!”
Forget for a second that Sasha wasn’t on the ice for a single goal against until game 7 of the Habs series (or maybe not at all?), if you replayed all of his shots over those 14 games he probably comes out with 4-6 goals, or something totally reasonable. At some point you have to accept that some of this game is random, and guys can’t control the puck to the inch, flying at 30 MPH around a sheet of ice.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jan 27, 2011 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
At the same time, pretending that fly-bys like this didn’t and don’t happen (with frequency) and don’t decrease the likelihood of, y’know, scoring, ignores reality and the type of player that Semin is.
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 11:14 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
So, you can point to 1 specific instance of Semin not getting the puck up on his backhand, and I can point to the mountains of goals that he has actually put into the net. You can find muffs and poor plays for anyone in the league? This is supposed to be proof of something?
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jan 27, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Right. He bailed out once last year, otherwise crashed the net hard at every opportunity.
That play is pretty representative of the kind of player he is around high-traffic areas, which isn’t to say that he doesn’t score plenty of goals or that he’s ineffective in other places, but rather to demonstrate he kind of player he is around high-traffic areas.
Again, I’ll ask – if you were the GM, what would you do with the guy?
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
In Leaf-land we have the same issue with wanting every player to be Ovechkin. Some guys just score goals without running around and nailing people.
Semin’s been really good at it for five seasons. The Capitals may have doubts (playing 2nd fiddle to Ovie for one) but Chemmy and I are more shocked that his agent would take this gamble because the guy was far and away headed towards being THE marquee free agent this summer.
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by PPP on Jan 27, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
the guy was far and away headed towards being THE marquee free agent this summer
Now all the GM’s who were budgeting for the Semin bidding war can run up the prices of the less marquee players…
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t think JP is referring to wanting Semin to be like Ovechkin, but Semin has a tendency toward soft/indifferent play in high-traffic areas. No one’s asking him to lay guys out with open-ice hits, just to play with desire in those situations.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
Right. More heart, less Heatley.
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
That’s fair. But after watching him his whole career here, I can say that I’d be upset with a long-term deal for this guy and am fine with this one, in large part because if the current composition of the team turns out not to be the right mix, it’s much harder to change things up with another very high-priced commitment in addition to Ovechkin, Backstrom and Green.
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The contracts part with Backstrom, Ovie, and Green is a big issue for sure.
We’re mostly shocked with Gandler.
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Semin above Brad Richards? Not a chance.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
(you have to understand, these are the people who apparently think highly of Phil Kessel…)
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by Chris Burton on Jan 27, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
Age.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
By far the biggest factor is his reliability. As is probably obvious my now, I am a believer in the production, no matter how he gets it done. His talent is staggering.
If I were GMGM I’d have said:
Ok, you want a multi year deal so you can be comfortable in WSH? I can give you 5 years, and you’re probably a 7 mil a year player if I knew you were going to play 82 games a year, but looking at your history, I just can’t be comfortable assuming anything close to that. Considering you play about 75% of each season, I’ll give you 75% of 7 mil.
I’d offer him 4@5.3 or 5@5. If he declines, then this 1@6.7 is probably the next conversation.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jan 27, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
Reasonable. And if the Caps were rolling over everyone like they did last year, I think it’d be more of a possibility (and I by no means discount the fact that Semin’s absence is a key reason they’re not rolling over everyone).
But this is a team in some flux right now. It’s very possible they’ll need a new coach next year. And they may decide that the current mix of players isn’t what it’s going to take to get to the next level. Being committed to another $5+m player makes it harder to make such adjustments on the fly.
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To that last point, the short-term commitment might say as much about management’s confidence in the current roster as in the player they just re-signed.
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@JP
Yea, I think that is a very good point. RE: the deal speaking more abuot the roster. They are one more ugly failure away from drastic changes. And I’d guess BB is the first to go… with Semin not far behind.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jan 27, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
Silly goose. We only extend our lower pairing D-men to multi tear extensions.
"Alex Ovechkin! Do you know how much that Russian would pay you to be picked first? And think of the afterparties! C’mon James you have to use some forethought here!" - TSN sportsanchor Darren Dutchyshen to James Duthie on who he would pick first were he all-star game captain.
by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Despite my typo, it works nonetheless.
"Alex Ovechkin! Do you know how much that Russian would pay you to be picked first? And think of the afterparties! C’mon James you have to use some forethought here!" - TSN sportsanchor Darren Dutchyshen to James Duthie on who he would pick first were he all-star game captain.
by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
The point of that play is that Semin had a wide open net to look at and poked at the puck while shying away from contact. Had he gone hard to the net, he almost surely comes away with a goal.
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I feel sad when I re-read that while taking out the “open net” part and realizing that describes a whole lot of Caps.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Not every player is a net crasher. It doesn’t make them any less valuable if they bring other things to the game. Semin brings a ton of skill and can be both a playmanker and finisher. That’s valuable.
He’s also inconsistent – no doubt. That’s exactly why small sample sizes are misleading with him.
But if you are accepting that he’s inconsistent then you don’t have to worry about the sample sizes. Nobody said Semin can’t show up in the playoffs. The argument is that he can’t be trusted to show up because he’s so inconsistent! That has basically been proven true over his career.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
is there a player on the Caps you would call "consistent"
?
by DonnieKnutts on Jan 27, 2011 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
To varying degrees, yes. Until this year I wouldn’t have even question AO or Nick. I felt like I had a solid handle on what kind of effort and game they would bring every night. This year, I’m starting to think they are consistent still, I just don’t like what I’m seeing.
I think Poti and Schultz have been pretty consistent over the last few years (compared to Juice, who was pretty erratic, IMO). Most of the grinders are pretty consistent, I generally feel pretty comfortable knowing what we’re going to get out of Chimera, Hendricks, and Bradley.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
One of my problems with this argument all the time is that Semin is pretty highly effective and productive with the kind of player he happens to be. Yet, some also want him to be a totally different kind of player at the same time — crash the net all the time type. He’s not likely to be both at the same time to the same degree.
I just wonder, how many 35-40 goal scorers are there in the NHL who score almost exclusively by crashing the net? Exactly how is crashing the net defined? Is it a certain shot distance? Is it having the pucks go in off your rear? Is it getting injured or crosschecked while standing a foot from the crease which establishes a net crasher’s bona fides? Is there some accepted percentage of Semin-type goals vs net crashing type that satisfies critics of his style? So are net crashers ever criticized for not taking more shots, scoring more goals from further out where they could use a screen, a wicked wrister to the corner or slapshot?
When the Caps were playing better as a team and Semin was scoring a lot early this season, a number of his goals were scored from 20 ft. or less. He has some highlight reel goals of skating in and putting the puck right in the net from next to the post or on a rebound at a sharp angle.
I think by now the Caps know how Semin plays and how he usually is most effective. It just needs to be so in the playoffs this year and if he is with his style, no one will be saying, "but he should have crashed the net and gotten a few more goals.
by Seminrocks on Jan 27, 2011 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
One of my problems with this argument all the time is that Semin is pretty highly effective and productive with the kind of player he happens to be. Yet, some also want him to be a totally different kind of player at the same time — crash the net all the time type. He’s not likely to be both at the same time to the same degree.
I don’t think anyone wants Alex Semin to be a different type of player, they just wonder whether that type of player will help the team win in the playoffs.
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Think of Briere, or MSL if you prefer someone less repulsive. Very skilled, great hands, and fast. But they will absolutely wade into high-traffic areas, take their lumps, and jam in a dirty goal when the situation calls for it.
That’s what I’d like to see from Semin. He’s not going to turn into that kind of player, of course, but being skilled and having a good shot are not necessarily incompatible with playing hard-nosed hockey.
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No one wants Semin to exclusively crash the net or even make it a primary part of his game. But when a puck is loose in front he should go after it with a strong move and not skate by and poke at it to avoid traffic. He has shown the capability to do the former (and has scored quite a few nice goals that way), but all too often does the latter.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 27, 2011 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
Which is why we had that Presidents’ Trophy parade and didn’t give a toss about losing to the Habs.
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Weird things happen in small sample sizes. Ignoring five full seasons of production because you’re frustrated about not winning the Cup seems like the wrong way to look at it.
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by Chemmy on Jan 27, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Bottom line says different. 1 playoff series win in 4 tries. Semin ineffective in two of them. Talk math and shot probabilities all you want, but it comes down to winning and losing.
It may be that Semin just got unlucky. I believe that you make your own luck in life.
That(along with injury issues and maddening inconsistency from game to game) is why this is a 1-year contract, not a 10-year contract.
You had me at no problem.
So you’re saying that those three playoff losses were Semin’s fault alone? huh? Is this not a ‘team’ sport? And the bottom line doesn’t say differently. The bottom line is stats. The rest is observation and perception, which can be biased
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Yes, it’s a team sport. And Semin’s contract takes up over 10% of the team’s salary cap. He’s a huge part of the team. When the team fails, you have to take a hard look at who is and who isn’t pulling their weight.
And stats are not the bottom line. Zero goals scored vs Montreal doesn’t mean Semin had zero value. But it does mean that he underproduced pretty badly.
You had me at no problem.
There’s only so much a player can do to control his shooting% (very little). Especially when he’s pretty much the goal scorer and playmaker since no one else on his line can be.
I wonder how this conversation would have looked if Semin had scored a couple of PPGs that series (all else being the same).
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
I wonder as well when I repeatedly read “no goals against the Habs – therefore the enigma of Sasha continues”. What if Sasha scored a total of 4 goals in games 3&4 – the games we won in Montreal with confidence? Great, he’d have 4 goals in the games we didn’t necessarily need him to score but the series record would show he had 4 in 44. The majority of this discussion goes away. The fact is that no one added goals when it mattered in games 5-7.
by Ray of Sunshine on Jan 27, 2011 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
And J.P. has repeatedly criticized AO for that exact thing. Padded his stats in the wins, wasn’t there for the losses, ultimately was a disappointment regardless of his aggregate stats.
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If Semin had scored a couple of PPGs that series we probably win. But even if we still managed to lose, I think people would still give Semin some credit for getting 2 Gs, especially if they were 2/3 of the PPGs (the PP failure would be shifted off him to some degree). Either way, it’s an unknowable hypothetical so I don’t see how it helps prove your point.
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It doesn’t, but just wondering.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed, and no one’s ignoring anything, but that includes playoff disappearances, injuries and inconsistencies, which is exactly why not committing to a long-term deal on this guy makes sense. No reason they can’t go all-in on him next year at this time if he shows a bit more, but they’re not stuck with him if he doesn’t. I don’t see much risk for the team here, that’s all I’m saying.
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If we knew for a fact that Sasha was a playoff loser over his entire career, I would be much more inclined to agree. But this is a clear case of recency.
This is Sasha’s career postseason line
28GP 8G 16A 24P
Just because he didn’t pot a goal (in 40+ shots) in last year’s heartbreaker, doesn’t mean he’s a playoff choker for life. That’s a pretty large jump to make.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jan 27, 2011 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Semin had 2 great series (Philly & NYR) and 2 mediocre at best series (Pitt, Mon).
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by Sombrero Guy on Jan 27, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
We’re not saying he’s a playoff choker, we’re saying he’s inconsistent. We remember his excellent series against Philly and New York, but it’s hard to say he’s a playoff performer when he goes two playoff series without a goal.
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by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
Just because he didn’t pot a goal (in 40+ shots) in last year’s heartbreaker, doesn’t mean he’s a playoff choker for life. That’s a pretty large jump to make.
Who made it? All I said is that he hasn’t shown enough in terms of durability and consistency to warrant a long-term deal.
If you were GMGM, what would you have signed him to?
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If you were GMGM, what would you have signed him to?
The same thing he earned last season. I don’t think he has earned more than Backstrom.
Bear in mind, he will be making $700,000 more than Backstrom next year. No long-term, same cap hit, but when it comes down to brass tacks, Semin will make significantly more than Nicky.
You had me at no problem.
You can’t ignore cap hit, as it’s average salary which is guaranteed money.
Semin gets a 12% bump. It’s really not outrageous or, frankly, unearned.
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You can’t ignore salary, either.
12% is kind of a big bump in exchange for 25 great games played in the Autumn(followed by disappearance and injury). The cap is going up by, what, 5%?
Also, where does Semin’s salary go from here? Can they possibly give him another raise next year if he basically continues to do what he has been doing? Then he’ll be above Nicky in both cap hit and salary.
You had me at no problem.
Don’t know how much inside info he has, but Alan May said twice yesterday that Semin was playing “banged up” his last 10 games before he finally went out with injury. Would explain his sudden drop off.
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Yes, it would. But how much does it change the picture? Semin doesn’t play well when “banged up.” The fact of the matter is that to win a Cup you need players to play banged up… and to produce while doing it.
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You would have let Semin walk for a 700K difference? Who knows if GMGM put the same offer on the table and Semin wanted 6.7 to stay. I think GMGM won the deal by only having to commit to 1 more year with Semin. Who do you replace him with if he left? The 2nd line is just another 3rd line without him.
by JimCareyFanClub on Jan 27, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
not to mention Backs has 9 years of “security” in his deal, even if his play slumps. I think that is worth the difference is salary next year.
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by Lunatic Fringe on Jan 27, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Semin in a UFA year should be making more than Backstrom in an RFA
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by Sombrero Guy on Jan 27, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Bingo
He has much more leverage.
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its not that he is a playoff choker for life (or should be labeled as such), but up to this point in his career he isn’t worth a long-term deal. If he proves he is worth it, the Caps can and will get it done.
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by Lunatic Fringe on Jan 27, 2011 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
That’s Washington’s side of things but what’s his side? I would be laughing at a UFA class that is headed by a 31 year old Brad Richards and preparing my money vault in my backyard.
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His side? I dunno – bird in the hand being with two in the bush and all that? His value has plummeted since November. Would it go back up? Likely. But who knows what this guy wants long-term.
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I kind of understand the lockout angle. Maybe he goes back to Russia but crazy money and term would get thrown at him this summer.
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You don’t think Kovalchuk has made GMs gunshy?
Just kidding – they learn at a slower rate than 8-week-old puppies.
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hahaha
Exactly.
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We are looking at five (almost full) seasons of production. And we see 5 seasons of Semin being an inconsistent, off again on again player, and hence unreliable. 14 playoff games of sucking wouldn’t be a huge problem if they didn’t mirror his ebbs and flows in the regular season. For example, people are a lot more optimistic about Green as a future playoff contributor because he doesn’t have the same patterns of inconsistency in the regular season.
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by Killer_Carlson on Jan 27, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
He really did, it just felt like it is all..
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by Bald Pollack on Jan 27, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
Looking a little closer, Semin isn’t excessively streaky.
This post was compiled using data from 83 games, for semin, this was from 10/10/09 to 11/7/10.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
D'oh
Beat me to it.
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There are other ways to determine streakiness. At one point J.P. posted a stat that indicated the majority of Semin’s points came in multi-point games. He’s very boom or bust, and the tables in that post don’t really encompass Semin’s game all too accurately.
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I think GMGM or someone said last year that a short extension was what both parties were looking for.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
What evidence suggests Semin is a flight risk? How many mid-20’s 40 goal scorers have left for the KHL…uh…ever?
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Well, Radulov left earlier. It’s mostly speculation—he looks most comfortable when not having to speak a lot with reporters in English (more willing in Russian) and a bit out of the spotlight, here in AO’s shadow.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed that Its complete speculation based on Semin’s perceived comfort level, but its been speculated by more than just me and fellow readers of the rink. I’m not going to waste time googling articles and tweets about it, but if other GM’s have that concern in the back of their mind, it will impact their decisions related to attempting to sign/trade for Semin.
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by Sombrero Guy on Jan 27, 2011 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
Semin refused to return to North America following the lockout. He stayed in Russia for the 2005-2006 season.
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I thought it was a matter of him being forced to stay to fulfill his military obligations by playing for a Russian team (Ovie got his service waived). At least according to Wikipedia
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The “military service” bit was a pretext to keep him out of the AHL. Semin could make more money by playing in Russia during the lockout than he could playing for an AHL team. Then, when his agents pushed him to come back to North America, he fired his agent and hired Gandler, who got him another contract with Lada Togliatti. The Capitals sued Gandler’s agency and Semin, and got an injunction to prevent him from negotiating with any other clubs until he sussed out his contract with the Capitals.
http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?article_id=370
It was a mess.
Little too much IMO. $5-$5.5 would have been great.
I need 100% of you guys to give 110% 100% of the time.
That’s a pipe dream, IMO. No player coming off a 40 goal, 80 point season would accept that little.
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by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
moreover, no player in his prime is ever going to accept a salary cut without hitting the market. just like last year, my fear with a $6.7 number is that semin’s team won’t back down from it the next time around.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
The timing of this confuses me, I expected it to happen but really thought Semin would wait to the summer to bring the price up. I can’t say I dislike the deal at the cap hit it is I’m now just ready for him to come back healthy and do something for this teams offense.
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If I were Semin, I’d feel too stressed doing the one year deal thing every year. Would rather have a 2-3 year deal to avoid the hassle of negotiating every year. (But it’s been a bad year, as of late.)
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Is anyone really surprised by this development?
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I really thought the Caps would see how his season played out first and I thought his agent would want the big money deal so I’m pretty surprised.
I’m mildly surprised – I thought the 1-year/$6.7m deal would come on June 30.
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Not unintentional, I’m sure. Couldn’t justify paying him a penny more than Nick’s average salary, and he needed a raise, so… $6.7m.
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Yes. And ~11% isn’t really a huge raise at all, considering that shitty RFA’s have to be qualified at 5-10% raises.
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Why did he deserve a raise? I don’t know about other Cap fans, but regular season awesomeness just isn’t doing it for me anymore. I want Cups and Con Smythes, and salaries north of 6mil should be for players who bring those. 40-goal regular seasons just aren’t that cool. Ask New Jersey.
Because the salary cap goes up, the cost of living increases… guys in their respective primes who produce numbers get raises from contract to contract. It’s what happens.
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Ha, ha. Cost of living increases. I guess Mercedes aren’t getting any cheaper.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Jan 27, 2011 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
Since the lockout there have been 44 player seasons with 40 goals. Five were Ovechkin’s, five were Kovalchuk’s, three were Heatley’s, and everyone else has one or two.
40 goal scorers in the modern era are pretty rare.
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40 goal scorers in the modern era are pretty rare.
No doubt. But I think it’s fair to wonder whether Semin would be that guy if he was the primary focus of opposing defenses – how many 40-goal guys have done it with teammates who scored even more? Not to take away from what he did last year (or the year before or this year), but he has always played second (at best) fiddle to Ovechkin.
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Another point is that he is singing away a UFA year, which has a different value than an RFA year. He is signing away a year of his prime UFA money making years without security.
by jblonz on Jan 27, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Without knowing anything about the enigma that is Semin, he gives the impression that his thinking goes that he’s got a nice nest egg and he can always increase it by going home to the KHL. (And if a career-ending injury happened, it’s still a decent nest egg.) Meanwhile he collects a nice paycheck playing with his Russian buddies. I don’t think the Caps would trade him, but it would be interesting to see what he’d do if they did.
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by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 10:54 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
also renewed: the “should we re-sign semin this summer” fanpost industry!
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Oh, Natty. So prescient. Natty’s so good he remembers things that haven’t even happened yet.
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by EmilyB on Jan 27, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
just below Natty’s post, I’m laughing over the idea of the Caps and Devils battling it out for first place! Oh, last season, you were so funny.
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nice. i was pretty sure i’d made a similar comment a year ago, but why not swing for the fences and see if can get two green comments out of the same joke/observation? :)
the comment i wanted to dig up was this one from peerless, made in the wake of nicky’s signing:
Once the glow fades on the deal, consider the new reality… this deal would appear to put a ceiling on Semin’s next deal. There is no economic logic that suggests Semin gets anything close to this deal from the Caps. Not only does Semin not command a long-term deal of this sort, but he’s not getting $6.7 per from the Caps. Unless he signs for a hometown discount (because someone will offer him something in the $7 million range if he has a year next year like this one),next year is his last with the Caps.
i’m striking through peerless’s final conclusion to protect the innocent, but otherwise he was basically correct on the ceiling (per year) on any deal in washington for alex semin. the reason we ended up with this deal is sasha was willing to accept the rate he might’ve gotten on a longer-term deal somewhere else.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
thanks for the inspiration, RB!
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by RedBirdie on Jan 27, 2011 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
No prob RB..good job ;)
"Alex Ovechkin! Do you know how much that Russian would pay you to be picked first? And think of the afterparties! C’mon James you have to use some forethought here!" - TSN sportsanchor Darren Dutchyshen to James Duthie on who he would pick first were he all-star game captain.
by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now (reprise)
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another inspiration! Thanks, Emily!
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by RedBirdie on Jan 27, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Looking at Cap Geek, I think there are only two must-signs and, for me, one really wanted sign:
Must sign: Alzner, Varlamov – both RFAs
Really want to sign: Hendricks (love his energy)
I’ve left off Laich, Knuble, Bradley, Hannan, Perrault (RFA), Gordon.
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"Alex Ovechkin! Do you know how much that Russian would pay you to be picked first? And think of the afterparties! C’mon James you have to use some forethought here!" - TSN sportsanchor Darren Dutchyshen to James Duthie on who he would pick first were he all-star game captain.
by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I’d like for Laich, Brads and Gordo to come back, at the right price of course. And maybe Hannan if he’d take a huge price cut, maybe in the 2 million range. What promising D-men do the Caps have in Hershey now, just McNeill?
by hockeyman33 on Jan 27, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
I look to Laich, if looking Laiching move.
by DrinkingPartner on Jan 27, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Also, Orlov and McNeill are our only real D prospects left, it seems.
by DrinkingPartner on Jan 27, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
Welcome back Sasha! This was a very nice surprise.
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Now let’s all get together to devise a panacea for him so he remains healthy.
by DrinkingPartner on Jan 27, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
That’s what we need to do. Healthy Sasha = Productive Sasha. (And, let’s face it, when Semin “disappeared” from scoring in December and January, he was NOT healthy.) I’ll admit I’ve listed his health problems several times but he was already suffering from a nagging injury in late Nov (and was held out of the practice before the Blues game as a result). Then, the illness and the mid December lower body injury. And that’s before his latest one.
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I’m wondering if Semin was suffering from this groin injury for awhile. Maybe it’s the nagging injury that caused him to miss some practices earlier. I think being injured caused him to be less productive. Not that Semin doesn’t go through his Bad Sasha phases, but I would think the injury was contributing at the very least.
by vtcapsfan99 on Jan 27, 2011 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
Could be. I never knew what the nagging injury was. But I’m positive that it contributed to his lack of productivity on the goal scoring front during December. Like you, I think the injuries (yes plural) he’s had contributed to his ineffective play. And, don’t forget, he was sick as well.
Frankly, given that he was sick to begin with and probably still suffering from the nagging injury, he should probably NOT have been playing against the Avs (day of his 5 minute major) to begin with.
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This just means that the team he’s traded to before the deadline won’t have to worry about signing him in the upcoming offseason.
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by patred48 on Jan 27, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
evil minds think alike
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by bigonetimer on Jan 27, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly
rec’d!
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by Lunatic Fringe on Jan 27, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
assuming there aren’t any NTC clauses in the deal (assuming a semin trade either at the deadline or over the summer is possible), wouldn’t such a move hurt GMGM’s reputation with players and player agents? seems pretty shady to sign a guy to an extension only to trade him a month or two later.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
It would (he’d lose a phone, NHL 11-style). But I doubt he’s going to do that – it would hurt his rep nowhere more than in the Caps’ room. I don’t think the Caps have any intention of trading Semin this season, but after? Not as shady, and with this extension, the Caps have preserved their valuable trade chip another year.
Still, always nice to keep the options open.
It wouldn’t look great, but I don’t think it would hurt GMGM too much. It’s only a one year extension, it’s not like either the player or the team made a huge commitment to the other.
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by Killer_Carlson on Jan 27, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
In regards to the timing of this, I think GMGM does this deal now and not in June so that if he wants to make a deal for a player with more than 1 year left on their current contract at the deadline, he can. Having Semin’s salary determined for next season, then factoring in estimates of what it will take to keep Varly and Alzner, plus other UFAs on the team now, will show GMGM exactly how much salary the Caps can carry over from this year to next year.
by JimCareyFanClub on Jan 27, 2011 11:01 AM EST reply actions
I tend to agree. I thought all along if he was staying a deal would get done early. This gives GMGM an idea of what he can do at the deadline, especially for players under contract for more than the rest of this season.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
,,,
No wonder he was so smiley at practice the other day.
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I guess we won’t be seeing an upgrade at 2C next year.
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by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 27, 2011 11:09 AM EST reply actions
Wait….you mean we didn’t sign Semin to be our 2C next year?
"Alex Ovechkin! Do you know how much that Russian would pay you to be picked first? And think of the afterparties! C’mon James you have to use some forethought here!" - TSN sportsanchor Darren Dutchyshen to James Duthie on who he would pick first were he all-star game captain.
by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Poti’s paycut nearly pays for this raise. Scott Hannan isn’t going to stay, and if he does, he’ll take a paycut too. Neither Alzner nor Varlamov are going to command huge pay raises (I see Varlamov getting something like Quick’s deal: 1.7-1.8 mil each year for three years). Alzner gets a raise, but he just gets paid 1.6 million in salary rather than in bonuses. The Cap also goes up by 2-3 million.
The moral of all of this: there will be cap space next year, and there will be enough of it to get someone worth 3-4.5 million to take that 2C spot.
With MP’s numbers the way they are.. anything at this point is an upgrade. Mackan I would think we would want to keep on 3c duty. Caps could still try a prospect in that spot like Kuzy.
I think you’re a lot more likely to get 2C production from Mackan with NHL experience than Kuznetsov next year (who could probably use another year of seasoning/strengthening, preferably in the AHL). But you are right that Mackan is even more better suited to be a 3C than Kuznetsov would be – I don’t see him playing on a checking line.
Hey, just like last year! Now if the offense can pick it up just a tad like last year. And doesn’t this $ amount mean he’s not going anywhere at the trade deadline?
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The contract extension makes Semin look very trade-able to me. Not necessarily this deadline, but maybe offseason?
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Don’t believe he will be traded. I maintain that GMGM is loathe to trade players he has drafted and developed, unless you get a Brad Richards type player back for him.
This is about the best deal the team could have hoped for. That hip flexor/groin issue seemed to have saved George from an arduous negotiation with Gandler.
by S h a g g y on Jan 27, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
I thought hip flexor/groin issues tended to be goalie type injuries, not the typical injuries that forwards get.
Sasha, don’t start taking up goaltending in your spare time. But would he benefit from the same types of exercises that goalies do.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I pulled my hip flexor playing soccer, you can hurt it basically anytime you take an awkward step or plant your foot wrong. I’d have to see the replay again to be certain but it looked like his leg was turned awkwardly, which could be a hip flexor injury
by hockeyman33 on Jan 27, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
I agree it makes him look trade-able. On the free market, he might have garnered $7.5 or 8 million. So now another team could get him for $800k to $1.3 mn less. Sure, it’s just for a year, but who knows.
"And then they’ll look at guys in my situation, that could play three good games in a row and have one bad shift, and they’ll say, ‘Well, that’s why he’s been in the minor leagues his whole career.'" --Matt Hendricks
Germane I hope
But Bower Power put together a FanPost looking at the streakiness of certain elite goal scorers including Phil Kessel and Alex Semin.
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I read that post myself. But I once did a quick metric to see just how “inconsistent” Semin was. I basically compared him against Parise and Mike Richards and computed what percentage of game they either scored a goal or got a point via assist. I did my sample for the previous two years. Semin’s % of games with goals was better than Parise’s last year but worse than the year before. On the % of game with points, Semin topped Parise both years by a small margin.
Yes, Parise is a much more disciplined player than Semin and is a Selke trophy finalist; etc. But he does have hot and cold streaks as well.
It would actually be interesting to compare the % of games with goals/assists for some other players, including Kessel, to measure how “consistent” the guys are. I’ll admit I was doing a different metric than streaks and droughts.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Done. Updated the spreadsheet, too (%Gms w/ 1G+).
Kessel: 36.1%
Carter: 30.1%
Ryan: 34.9%
Nash: 34.9%
Heatley: 38.6%
Semin: 38.6%
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Is there any way to adjust for how many goals the team scored, or by situation? I think Yahoo’s game logs list ES goals.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
This spreadsheet includes PP time, which is unfortunate, but unless I can get 5v5 goals listed per player per game, there’s no real way for me to even it out.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Would you like to add a few other people to your spreadsheet, including Parise and Mike Richards?
Not to mention adding a column on % of games with a point of some sort, whether goal or assist.
Well done, Bower.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’m avoiding assists, just because that starts introducing a little more team bias than I would like (Kessel, for example, is playing with Joey Crabb and Tyler Bozak, neither of whom have 50 points in their NHL careers, while Heatley is on a PP with Thornton and Marleau).
I could add M. Richards/Parise, though, for sure.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
Now we need a link to your new spreadsheet.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Gonna keep building on that one. I’ll be using Praise’s 83 games prior to NJD v. LAK on 10/27/10, since that was the last time he played full ice time before getting injured.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
It’s amazing the metrics we come up with for measuring consistency.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Parise’s numbers added.
Total goals: 36
Multi goal games: 6
8 Streaks
30 “hot” games
Longest streak: 7
Average streak: 3.75 games
12 Droughts
49 “drought” games
Longest drought: 12
Length of average drought: 4.08
Scored in 36.1% of all games.
Zach Parise is more streaky than Alex Semin.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Though, as I’m sure everyone realizes, Parise adds more than offense when he’s not scoring. He’s hot-cold streaks (from what I’ve seen of him) are more about production and less about all around terrible hockey that hurts the team (as is the case with Semin).
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by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 27, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
I think we’ve had less periods of terrible hockey from Semin where he hurts the team in recent years. Not to say, he doesn’t have his moments. But he’s been less of a liability on defense than prior to 2008.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
In all fairness, Semin is an effective penalty killer even when he’s not scoring.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
A fact BB seems to need to be reminded of more often than he should be.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Eh, Having a non PKing healthy Sasha is nice too
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Semin isn’t diving around blocking shots when on the PK. He lets his skates and stick do the work.
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I watch the odd caps game from time to time, but if you’re worried about positioning and play in your defensive zone, you probably shouldn’t be singling out the winger. If we were talking about a team with stellar defensive defensemen, maybe, but there’s a big difference between the defensive systems on the Caps and the Devils.
Fun factoid:
Semin SH TOI/gm: 10-11: 1:25, 09-10: 0:58
Parise SH TOI/gm: 10-11: 58, 09-10: 0:33
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Semin is a very good penalty killer. But during his spats of bad play, he kills the team with terrible turnovers, lazy offensive play, and lazy offensive zone penalties.
You are what you eat, and I want my kids to grow up to be smart. So I feed them brains. Marc Savard brains. Right from the skull! -F&B
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 27, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
That’s all fine, but my major point is this:
First of all, Semin is not a streaky player. Yeah, for some reason he’s taking more than a shot per game less and hasn’t scored in his last 14. Some of that, now that he’s on LTIR, probably has to do with playing injured, but on the whole, he’s not any more a streaky player than any other skilled shooter.
Second of all, Semin’s defensively responsible enough to be given a significant amount of SH TOI.
Finally, he’s not being brought in for a defensive role. I understand that everyone has to strive to at least be “average,” but I think it’s much more likely that when he’s not scoring, people are much more prone to noticing his defensive faults. Even the little things.
The funny thing is that these are basically the same issues average fans in Toronto seem to have with Phil Kessel. “He doesn’t backcheck.” “He’s lazy.” “He doesn’t play good defense.” It’s all bunk. He does fine, but people expect hits and corner battles, when that’s not what we brought him in to do, and it’s not how we should want him to play his game. But I digress…
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
He does fine when he’s playing well. When he’s not, he’s legitimately a liability to the team with the exception of this penalty killing. No one expects him to be a big hitter or to get his nose dirty at this point. We know what to expect of him.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s more his lack of discipline than his lack of defense that hurts the team when he’s not scoring. Semin takes an awful lot of hooking-tripping-slashing penalties that put the team shorthanded or negate powerplays. That’s the ultimate in “Bad Sasha” right there.
by Wheeler on Jan 27, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
He’s our best forward at drawing penalties, but gives them all back too.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
One of the major issues with Semin’s inconsistency is that the biggest differences between good Semin and bad Semin aren’t necessarily seen in his offense, but are found in offensive zone penalties, more turnovers, and generally lazier play. Corner battles and driving the net may not be the typical Semin style, but he has shown numerous times that he can do those things quite effectively, and when he is on his game he does those things fairly routinely. When he’s off he coasts past the net, or is soft on the boards and floats around the offensive zone.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 27, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
What’s your assessment of Phil Kessel’s Olympic play.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
Kessel played in the Olympics?
You are what you eat, and I want my kids to grow up to be smart. So I feed them brains. Marc Savard brains. Right from the skull! -F&B
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 27, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 12 recs
Agreed. I was just making the point that he’s not useless to the team when he’s being Bad Sasha.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
We’re talking about effort, hockey sense, making the right play, not taking ridiculous penalties. Things that don’t show up in you data. I admire the effort, but I don’t think this is a particularly robust definition of “streaky.” If Semin qualitatively played the same way damn near every night but sometimes just didn’t produce, people would be more forgiving. The problem many of us have is that when you watch him, it’s a tale of two Semin’s. When he’s good, he’s engaged, hustling, making smart plays. When he’s not, he tends to take lazy hooks, he coasts all over the ice, and he makes terrible turnovers. It’s glaring. Add in that he has a “it’s not worth scoring if you can’t score pretty” attitude and there are serious concerns about what you’ll get in the playoffs. No doubt he was unlucky against MON, as was the whole team, but a large part of the reason his shots weren’t going in was that he was trying to line up a laser wrist shot for the top corner. Every time. Every goalie in the league knows he’s going top corner with his shots.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
My suggestion is that Semin does that kind of stuff all the time, but you notice it more when he’s not scoring. And the idea that he is exceptionally a hot/cold scorer for any longer than an average player is incorrect. If you’ve got a more “robust” definition of streaky, I’d love to hear it – I entertained hot streaks, cold streaks, factored out goals that weren’t part of a streak… I was pretty happy with the methodology in that.
The issue with the montreal series, as I remember it, was that no one ever screened Halak all that well. Gill and Hamrlik did a great job clearing the net, but Halak saw almost every shot really quite cleanly. It’s much less about knowing “oh, Semin has the puck” and much more about “I can see where the puck is going.”
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
The problem with the methodology is that it relies exclusively on goal scoring as a measure of hot or cold. We’re talking about a lot of things that aren’t manifested in simply scoring or not. I don’t think there is an easy way to measure it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to read too deeply into what we can measure. Maybe looking at rolling 5-10 game scoring totals would add something to the picture, but fundamentally you need to consider that streaky play involves more than just production on the score sheet.
Not screening Halak was certainly a problem, but it’s not as if Semin was scoring in the regular season because he had screens. His, and other players’, fault, at the very least, was that he refused to do anything to adapt to how MON was playing. He still looked to wind up wristers from the top of the circles, allowing Habs to get a piece of the puck and block it or allowing Halak to get set up and a good look.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
The piece was designed to look strictly at snipers, and focusing on goal scoring (rather than, say, point production) was the best way to eliminate team and linemate biases. But unless we’re talking about a team-wide defensive system, the goal-scoring forward is the last player I’m about to blame for an entire team’s defensive faults.
I don’t know if it’s blasphemy around here, but I toss the lack of an ability to adapt onto Boudreau’s shoulders (since it was a team-wide issue).
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
Definitely not blasphemy, BB has taken lots of heat around here (from myself and plenty of others). It was a team-wide fail.
I don’t know how much Alexei Kovalev you’ve watched, but Semin is scarily similar.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
I watch some – mostly for the lolsens aspect – but a guy who has played so poorly that he’s been relegated to the fourth line for some games is not the same as someone on pace for 37 goals. Kovalev is on pace for 15 (and costs 5M!).
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I’m talking about throughout his career. Obviously Semin is a much better player right now. But the quotes about these guys from their teammates, comments from coaches, observations by fans. It’s pretty crazy.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
TEB Tweet
GMGM says Alexander Semin was offered a multi-year deal, but the winger wanted a one-year extension.
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Contributor at Five For Howling.
Bad agent or worst agent?
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by Chemmy on Jan 27, 2011 10:46 AM EST reply actions
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
Thank you Sasha.
"Alex Ovechkin! Do you know how much that Russian would pay you to be picked first? And think of the afterparties! C’mon James you have to use some forethought here!" - TSN sportsanchor Darren Dutchyshen to James Duthie on who he would pick first were he all-star game captain.
by Rather Bengt on Jan 27, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
Wow
Gandler is either insane or he knows GMs aren’t going to be giving out multi-year deals this summer.
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You know that Semin has the final word on these things, right?
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
If the agent doesn’t have enough of the player’s trust to talk him out of a bad decision then he’s a bad egent.
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So, if Brad Richards decides to re-sign with the Stars instead of becoming a UFA and likely getting more money, is his agent also a bad agent? Where do you draw the line between the player’s comfort zone and how much money they could potentially make?
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Depends. Is the contract comparable to what he could get at free agency?
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
I think there was a post sometime at BtN hockey finding that players on average take like a 20% hometown discount, or something like that.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
I know this is totally a foreign concept to some of you, but money is sometimes not the only factor in a decision. If it’s Semin who continually wants the one-year contract, he clearly doesn’t want to be tied down to a commitment.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Agree with this. Semin is also comfortable here……sure would he like a 7 year deal at 6.7 million a year? Of course, but the Caps would not offer him that. I think that everybody is happy with this deal. I know I am.
would he like a 7 year deal at 6.7 million a year? Of course, but the Caps would not offer him that.
That’s what we’re discussing. Apparently, the answer is not “of course,” it’s “no, not at all.”
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
by Bower Power on Jan 27, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
What makes you say that? We don’t know the terms of the long term offer. It could have been a longer deal with lower cap hit. Maybe he just wants to maximize his dollars every year.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
It’s risk vs reward. A longer term contract at a friendly cap hit guarantees future income. On a series of one year deals, each year he gets more money, but a shortened career for any reason could yield less lifetime income. It’s a risk that at the moment he’s willing to take.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Reportedly, he was focused on a one-year deal. Not a multi-year, but they couldn’t settle on a number. The report said he was offered a multi-year deal, and stressed that he wanted a one year. That would imply that term was the issue, not amount.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I think this is the third contract these parties have negotiated and signed in the last 4 years and that neither side has moved too much from their position. I’m sure Semin’s camp had an idea of what kind of numbers a longer term deal entailed, and that it was going to have a lower cap hit. The two sides may have known they were far enough apart that it didn’t really make sense to even bother negotiating it. I find it exceedingly hard to believe that Semin and Gandler stuck their fingers in their ears and wouldn’t even listen to what GMGM was thinking about for a long term deal.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
On the conference call to announce the contract, McPhee said:
"We were wide open to [long-term extension] discussions. We said we could do one, two, three years or longer if you want to talk about it. We were open-minded about whatever you would like to do here. The player came back and said they were comfortable with a one or a two, and last week said a one year deal would be fine. And we said, ‘Okay.’ After that, it was a matter of working up a number. It was done this week."
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by RedBirdie on Jan 27, 2011 3:53 PM EST reply actions
Posted below. Term was discussed first, dollar second.
The experiment failed: Get rid of the trapezoid.
I get that. I’m saying that’s not even close to a complete picture. Just using common sense, these guys have been negotiating nonstop for almost 4 years. Semin’s camp knows what “three years or longer” means to GMGM. I think if they thought there was a chance of 6.7 × 3 then they would have been more interested. That’s just my guess.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
agreed completely here. bower, you can’t take GMGM on his word with something like this. there’s zero chance over several years of negotiating the caps haven’t put a figure on what they’d be willing to pay for a longer term.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
Semin is a Russian enigma, and Mark Gandler is not Russian. Don’t overestimate Gandler’s control of the situation.
No one should expect that Semin will do whatever Gandler dictates.
You had me at no problem.
Gandler is Russian, actually. http://www.nhlpa.com/About-Us/Certified-Agents/Details.aspx?AgentId=494
Or, he at least went to a Russian university.
But assumably of course the a multi-year offer would have been less money per year.
These one year deals are going to eventually, inevitably, paint him into a corner.
Maybe that’s when he picks up his ball and goes home.
la maquina ruso estropearse nunca
This is the second year he has been offered a mutli-year deal and turned it down for a one year one. I’m curious as to why this is…
by Carlznerson on Jan 27, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
I know that I know nothing.
You had me at no problem.
by Ninjak on Jan 27, 2011 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
likely (as said above) because the multi-year deals were for less per annum.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Way out thought here but is playing in the Olympics in Russia more important to him than people can imagine? Does signing a series of 1 year deals give him control to go over to Russia if the NHL bows out? He can come back the next year and sign a long(er) term deal…
Hey, sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie, but I'd never know 'cause I wouldn't eat the filthy motherfucker.
should be a good thing
if the speculation that AO was trying to feed Semin goals for his contract year was true
Suspend Colin Campbell!
To the “Semin is soft” lobby:
bmcnally14 On conference call Caps GM George McPhee said Alex Semin had his thumb frozen 2 yrs ago 2 play in playoff series vs Pens.
Doesn’t mean he isn’t fragile, but that’s different. We knew he played hurt in that series, too.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Related: Bruce lets guys play hurt-to-the-point-of-ineffective too often.
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by J.P. on Jan 27, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
For sure. I’m especially worried if Backstrom ever takes a bad injury that BB will even encourage him to keep playing for his consecutive-games-streak’s sake.
Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.
Would not be surprised to see that going on at the moment, frankly. I’ve heard rumors that Nicky B was playing through a bad ankle.
I don’t think the consecutive game streak is the issue. It’s more the lack of a good center besides Nick B.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Another in my list of complaints about BB. In the last two year’s he played Green, Ovi, Poti, and Semin hurt at times when it made little sense to do so.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
Back to back 20 goal seasons for a D is pretty special. Especially in this day and age. Another Richard is no joke, either.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
more like absolute unheard off. Even cracking 20 in a single season is quite the feat.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
He trained Pittsburgh’s medical staff you say?
la maquina ruso estropearse nunca
by Icebat on Jan 27, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I wouldn’t argue against that. I guess the only question I have is when it’s aches and pains that don’t show up on MRI’s and such, how do you decide?
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Is it just Bruce? Got Ted’s book for Christmas and am finally getting to reading it and in part he mentions Jagr’s wrist got slashed and broken last game of the season, but they just wrapped it up and had him play w/out announcing how bad it was. Jagr’s play sucked in the playoffs and folks complained loudly about it.
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
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It’s hockey. These guys want to play hurt and it’s a macho game. I think JP’s point is that Bruce, and all coaches, have to protect players from themselves and their teams from guys who are too hurt to really play effectively. That BB has in the past seemingly questioned the extent of Semin’s injuries when he’s been out (if I recall correctly) probably doesn’t help.
If this is...
…what Semin did after signing the 6mil extension, what is he going to do after signing 6.7mil?
Cup, please.
by fnralch on Jan 27, 2011 12:06 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
Varly’s groin might not be able to take that. I hope Semin is feeling friendly to Holtby or he shows some love for a defenseman instead.
by vtcapsfan99 on Jan 27, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
How about …. Carlson? There is that classic picture during a warmup where Sasha’s arm is draped about Carlson’s.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
And then there was the sequel, in which Sasha was denied.
Welcome to Japers' Rink, we're "elitist" as fuck.
by PrincessPowerful on Jan 27, 2011 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think I saw the sequel. There is also Sasha getting pretty friendly with Mike Green at various times.
by vtcapsfan99 on Jan 27, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Whenever I end up going home, I’ll post it. Left my flash drive on the coffee table. Or in the kitchen.
It’s somewhere. I hope.
Welcome to Japers' Rink, we're "elitist" as fuck.
by PrincessPowerful on Jan 27, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Nope, I'm talking about this one
Also I lament forgetting to add the Kulikov incident to that post. Bummer.
Welcome to Japers' Rink, we're "elitist" as fuck.
by PrincessPowerful on Jan 27, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions
He can’t sit on top of Holtby since Holtby’s back down in Hershey.
(I was a witness to the incident pictured above. Sasha and Neuvy were batting the puck back and forth during a skate and then he sat on top of him.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I think the number is pretty fair, Semin definitely deserved a raise (albeit small). I guess my question would be about the timing – why now, when he’s injured, and was mired in some rough inconsistency? Why not wait to see if he can pick it back up or even till after the playoffs?
"The second violinist in a symphony is a special musician, but her name rarely appears in print." - Brian Burke on Ryan Suter.
It’s not like the guy is in his 2nd year in the league. By now you know what you’ve got and so does the rest of the league. Very little downside minus injury of doing the deal now.
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by Carl Putnam on Jan 27, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
If they want him and they like the deal, why not now? The longer you wait the higher the risk that Semin says “fuck it, I’ll wait to July 1.” That’s sort of what happened with Huet (thankfully). Unless they think that he has to prove something in the playoffs, then they know what they have (or think they do) and waiting doesn’t make sense.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
I agree that one year deals are probably best for the team and fans. But I’d like to see some loyalty. If its offered, take the multi-year deal.
I’m assuming snark.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
Semin resign takes up a lot more cap space and puts pressure on AHL guys and anyone looking to stay to take a pay cut.
With 6 UFA’s currently totalling 12.075 cap space (including Hannan’s full cost). I’m fully expecting one of 26/15/10 not being resigned and one of 22/21 not being resigned, I’m leaning with Knuble there. Hannan could stay, but certainly not for his silly 4.5 cap hit.
Alzner and Varly are the biggest RFA’s still not on contract and they are looking for at least 3 million total in pay raise.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
I think the timing here is all about the flexibility to make other moves – now. Now McPhee has cost certainty to get what he needs now, which may entail taking on term beyond this year. Trade. Coming. Soon. Not likely Semin.
Anything about a NMC in this deal? Could just be a way to make him more attractive with a relatively reasonable cap hit and at least 1 one year on his deal if we are shopping him at the deadline.
The problem with some people is that when they aren't drunk, they're sober. ---William Butler Yeats
GMGM wouldn’t do that. Having been burned, the most he’s going to do is a limited no-trade, like with Ovi and Backstrom.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Certainly not on a multi-year deal, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Semin had gotten some sort of surety that he was going to stay in DC. We all think he’s taking below-market money to stay in DC, after all.
You had me at no problem.
I’m not so sure about that…
First, if it’s not in the contract, then GMGM can trade him all he wants (just ask Belanger about that sort of thing). Second, if staying DC meant so much to Semin, he and his agent would have made sure those clauses were agreed to before signing.
Seems to me like this one year extension does nothing but make him more attractive to potential trade partners…
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by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 27, 2011 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
It might have already been said, but these one year deals smell like a guy who really wants at least the option of bolting home to Russia if things go south.
I think he’s on record (along with Ovechkin) that he’s going to be in attendance at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 are in his cards, irrespective of the NHL’s stance.
A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch.
--James Beard
by bigonetimer on Jan 27, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Great news after all!!! Despite of my personal pro-Semin bias I think it is a win situation for the Caps as we get to keep Semin for one more season and moreover gives us a chance in the playoffs (I frankly cannot see any success this season without him contributing a whole lot). All talk about Semin’s effectiveness or lack theroff is moot until we get a decent 2C. Thus we will get a chance to 1) see Semin in another playoff run and 2) hopefully see him play with a legit 2C. So much for the short term. In the mid to longer term we can’t hardly hit fit his salary but hopefully by then Kuznetsov and Eakin would have developed enough to fill in for him.
Per Twitter
From nhllive:
As per George McPhee on the show: Semin’s deal is $6.7M, 1 yr, NT, NM, #CAPS
oh how NHLlive loves to screw with us.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
This is a reasonable signing, but GMGM has an overall "poor" rating on contracts
I don’t mind this contract for 1 year. The 10 year (and longer) deals for Ovechkin and Backstrom, however leave me scratching my head. Ovechkin should have been signed for a 5 or 6 year deal and not a 13 year deal. Backstrom was well overpaid, and that deal should have been 5 years. I like to stay positive, but if either/both of these guys continues at this pace for this year AND next year, how do you unload them?
The Poti extension leaves me scratching my head as well.
Laich is a great guy, but he’s a third line player on a “cup-caliber” NHL team. He is overpaid now.
As much as it pains me, I think a modified “Flyers-type” of approach is likely the best:
1. Good drafts, player development and sign/keep your own players
2. Trades
3. Free Agents.
The Caps seem stuck at #1 and little #2 and have all but said that #3 is off the table.
If this club fails in the spring, I’d let GMGM walk along with all the coaches and start anew. The drafting/development is decent, but the aforementioned contracts coujld seriously jeopardize our chances of obtaining a Cup.
Someday, the Caps should get a cup -- I’m just not convinced we’ll see many of the current players on that Cup team. I’m sorry to say this and apologize in advance.
I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not about the Ovechkin and Backstrom deals.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 27, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not thrilled about the Ovechkin deal, but it’s not terrible at all.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
(but this isn’t the place for that discussion)
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
Backstrom was well overpaid
the consensus around the league was that NB was significantly underpaid.
the caps have also been one of the more active teams at the trade deadline the past few years. they’re not unwilling to trade, and they’re not unwilling to sign free agents…they just have to contend with the future contracts of varly/green/alzner/carlson. if the backstrom and semin deals teach us anything, it’s that signing your own players (who already have a role on the team, understand the system, etc.) actually brings a slight discount as compared to the open market.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Backstrom is pretty rough this year but the only contract that has more of a hometown discount is Crosby’s. I think F&B was $500k away from having to do a backflip on account of how little Backstrom signed for.
Am I mad, that I should cherish that which bears but bitter fruit?
I will pluck it from my bosom, tho' my heart be at the root.
Absolutely. If the Ovechin contract was 5 or 6 years, and he continues at this pace, you can walk away. We have 9 more years of Backstrom and if he continues to underperform, where is the value?
Yes, if Backstrom is not in a slump and has been a bad player in disguise all this time, then it’s a bad deal. If he’s as good as he looked the first 2+ seasons, then it’s a great contract. You make these super-long term to reduce the cap hit, and that risk is the tradeoff. If you think the “real Backstrom” is the guy from last year, it’s great deal, and if it’s the guy from this year, it’s not.
I’ll grant that Ovechkin’s is slightly different but the term was important (if not necessary) in that deal for bigger-picture reasons.
I just read through all this and will repeat what I said at the time of the Erskine extension.
GMGM values continuity and certainty. He wants to build a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. He believes that having players happy and playing together carries some weight. He now knows that he’s got another player within that family for another year at a digestible price.
You can argue that this “team” hasn’t played well of late. But you can’t argue that this certainty and familiarity is a large part of GMGM’s mindset.
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Sorry, you are wrong about Backstrom's contract.
He is overpaid. 2 cases in point: Mike Richards and Carter from the Flyers.
NB is a very good player, but he’s about a $5M to $5.5M per year player.
Sorry sir, you are wrong.
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by jaytown99 on Jan 27, 2011 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Just because Mike Richards is locked into an exceptionally good contract doesn’t mean that Backstrom’s contract is bad. It just means it isn’t as good.
Also, Backstrom was coming off of a 30-goal, 100 point season when he signed that contract. He had a 20-goal, 88-point season and a 66 point season before that. He had yet to miss a game. Mike Richards, by contrast, was coming off of two thirty-point seasons and one seventy-five point season, both of which were pocked by injuries. Even granting that Backstrom may not be the defensive player that Richards is, Richards is absolutely nowhere near the offensive player Backstrom is; hell, Backstrom is having an off year and Mike Richards has one more point than he does.
Oh, also, compare Nick Backstrom, as a player, to Paul Stastny, who has about the same cap hit.
by Wheeler on Jan 27, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Okay, you made some nice points.
You provided some angles I had not thought about - still - isn’t 10 years at “premium money” a risk?
For the record, I’m a huge Caps fan and I like both of these players. I’m just worried that we have them locked-down and they might chronically under-perform.
I would like to be totally dead wrong about this.
of course it’s a risk. but it’s also a risk for the player. if the salary cap continues to rise or if his value goes up, the team comes out on the other side of the ledger. and i think increasingly it will be difficult to sign top players on short-term deals, since the players will be able to find the long-term money elsewhere.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
It’s also worth mentioning that, as their performance declines and the salary cap goes up, their contracts account for less and less of the Capitals’ total cap space. If the cap continues to rise at approximately 3% a year, which isn’t an unreasonable assumption barring a labor dispute or the economy tanking, then by the end of Backstrom’s deal, his 6.7 million will account for only 8% of the Capitals’ total cap space. That’s roughly equivalent to a $5.0 million cap hit under today’s cap.
Please define “under-perform”, respective to each of these two two players.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Jan 27, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
unlike at capitals insider, you can reply directly to other comments on this blog by clicking on the “reply” plus-symbol below the particular comment you are addressing.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
You have to look at the circumstances.behind each contract, independent of the other. Richards’ deal was almost trend-setting when signed a few years ago. Backstrom’s deal is squarely in the middle of that trend – big term for an avg annaul amount that is likely to be below-markey long before it runs out.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jan 27, 2011 1:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Perhaps you are right
But you are assuming that Backstrom’s performance this year is an aberration. He’s being paid to produce an average of a point per game. If he can do this over the next 10 years, he “might” be underpaid - but what if we get “third-line” center performance?
My thesis point in all of this is long-term contracts are very risky.
I would not have signed either Ovechkin/Backstrom to longer than 5 or 6 years. It might cost you more, but if the player fails to perform per dollar value, you are better off.
you think this team would have been better off investing MORE per year in each of those guys. that’s what you’re arguing. shorter term = more $$ annually.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
and if you think richards and carter are in the same class as backstrom, you’re mistaken about that too.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
NB: 1.02 PPG career (career S%: .12, this year: .095)
MR: 0.78 PPG career (career S%: .115, this year: .143)
JC: .074 PPG career (Career S%: .109, this year: .108)
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by fat_daddyo on Jan 27, 2011 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Biggest thing I noticed? Richards is shooting at ~24% higher than his career average this year. That’ll help win you some games.
Nick is shooting about 21% under his career average. That’ll cost you some games.
Richards is a terrific player, but he’s not nearly the offensive player that Backstrom is, and I don’t think the difference in defense is marked enough to outweigh the offense. Still, Richards has a great K (from the club’s persepective, that is.)
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Again, facts are good, but not everything
It’s always “what have you done for me lately”
Backstrom is NOT playing that well this year and the 2 Flyers I mention are playing pretty well——- at a markedly lower salary cap.
Thus, MR and JC are better (this year) - fact.
Thus, MR and JC are better (this year) – fact.
I think we are operating under different definitions of the word “fact”.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 27, 2011 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
It’s always "what have you done for me lately"
the motto of every terrible GM in NHL history.
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Richards is outshooting his career average S% by a good clip and playing on a team that is performing very well around him…and has precisely one more point than NB.
He is 2 years younger and has consistently outperformed Richards’ offense on a year-to-year comparison.
How is MR better than NB?
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NB Byng nominations: 0
MR Byng nominations: 1
Am I mad, that I should cherish that which bears but bitter fruit?
I will pluck it from my bosom, tho' my heart be at the root.
i think syd is confusing mike with brad? or possibly confusing the byng with the selke?
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2010/4/21/1434716/mike-richards-flyer-captain-potty
Flyers reporters didn’t realize there was another Richards in the league.
Am I mad, that I should cherish that which bears but bitter fruit?
I will pluck it from my bosom, tho' my heart be at the root.
I’m surprised Flyers reporters remember there are 29 other teams in the league.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Also, the more relevant question than “what have you done for me lately” – which leads to paying for past performance – is “what will you do for me over the life of this contract?”
NB is an elite center. He PK’s, he wins faceoffs, he scores goals and he makes plays. He’s averaging almost a point/game in this, a demonstrably down year.
He’s locked up through his prime.
What else would GMGM do? He’d have gotten killed in arbitration, after coming off a 100-point season (one of 3 in the entire league). Locking him up was the thing to do, and he did it.
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minor quibble, there were four players who broke 100 last season: H. Sedin, Ovechkin, Crosby, Backstrom. But you’re point stands, the Caps would have gotten massacred in arbitration. Not only was Backstrom coming off a 100+ point season, he showed steady improvement in all areas of his game from season to season. We’re damn lucky the Caps were able to lock him up for so long at such a reasonable rate.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Even every Caps’ fan’s favorite, Danny Briere, finally performed at a level approaching his salary in the post-season last year for the Flyers, and isn’t that what it’s ultimately about?
by Stephen Pepper on Jan 28, 2011 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
why, why and why NOW?
Unable to stay healthy (as is the norm), streaky as all hell, hasn’t redeemed himself for the last 14 playoff games of zilch. And a 10% raise to boot? Because that’s what the market will be? Let the market f*cking have this guy. We’d be better off with a 2C making that money. Cripes McPhee…first the pre-mature joculation on Poti now this? I’m Macvechkin and I did not approve of this signing.
Choking since 1985.
It’s one year dude, Not 10. Chillax
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by Ovechwin on Jan 27, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
So the fact that it only runs through June 2012 offsets all the valid arguments I made?
Choking since 1985.
It’s not a huge commitment, he’s also reasonably movable.
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USA beat Canada because more kids in the US are playing hockey and the USA hockey system is producing better hockey players to compete with the Canadian youth hockey system, not because Ray Bourque got his fuck on in Boston. -Killer_Carlson
He was movable this year, too, supposedly.
What is the upside of doing this deal now versus after the playoffs?
Choking since 1985.
…Yea? We can still move him this year, but I don’t see why we would.
Maybe he lights it up and becomes more expensive? I won’t say the timing is completely perfect, but it never would be.
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USA beat Canada because more kids in the US are playing hockey and the USA hockey system is producing better hockey players to compete with the Canadian youth hockey system, not because Ray Bourque got his fuck on in Boston. -Killer_Carlson
Was that NT/NM thing someone mentioned earlier ever confirmed? If so that’d put a damper on trade discussion.
Otherwise the tin hat lobby would like me to point out that McPhee really liked the King deal process.
Paraphrasing his statements at the time:
“It was a good old-fashioned sign and deal”…“We just don’t see straight-forward processes like this as much anymore”
knuble connotes caboodle canoodle
Once again, Ovechwin is the voice of reason.
Wait, what?
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
Well duh I am.
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USA beat Canada because more kids in the US are playing hockey and the USA hockey system is producing better hockey players to compete with the Canadian youth hockey system, not because Ray Bourque got his fuck on in Boston. -Killer_Carlson
Who says we could still get this deal after the playoffs?
If we decide we don’t want Semin after the playoffs, now we have a HUGE asset that we can trade for a big return over the Summer. If we don’t resign him now, we get nothing in return if we part ways.
You had me at no problem.
Parting ways and signing other players for 6.7M is going to look like a pretty good return in May. Once again many are greatly over-inflating Semin’s trade value, not to mention if the Caps were looking for a multi-year deal, it wasn’t to trade him.
Choking since 1985.
That’s nuts and unrealistic.
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USA beat Canada because more kids in the US are playing hockey and the USA hockey system is producing better hockey players to compete with the Canadian youth hockey system, not because Ray Bourque got his fuck on in Boston. -Killer_Carlson
Then I dont want him for what we paid. I like the guy and enjoy watching him play but at a certain point we have to let go when a player gets paid more than he is worth. I am not in the “he doesn’t go hard to the net” camp because he scores a ton of goals and I dont care where they are from (and to be perfectly honest, we have a lot of players on this team now that all they do is go hard to the net and don’t accomplish a damn thing). He puts of good numbers but he He has literally 0 intangibles that add to the team.
He is like a jump shooter in basketball. If he misses his shots he does nothing for you.
"Have you ever played?" "Yes, I was a goalie"
Dude, there’s the PK and defensive work Sasha brings too. Might I remind you that 40 goal scorers don’t grow on trees? UFA at that. And you want to pay this guy $4.7M for one year? $6.7M for the next year isn’t going to kill us. Over a long term deal, it’s too much, but it’s ONE YEAR.
1) our PK has been great without Semin.
2) our defense has been very good without Semin
15-20 goal scorers do grown on trees, and we can get 3 of them for this price
"Have you ever played?" "Yes, I was a goalie"
That's also another good point
We might be able to get 2 grittier North American players for the price of 1 Semin.
But for a 1 year deal, I still like it.
north american
Well now you’re just being racist continentist.
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USA beat Canada because more kids in the US are playing hockey and the USA hockey system is producing better hockey players to compete with the Canadian youth hockey system, not because Ray Bourque got his fuck on in Boston. -Killer_Carlson
two 20-goal scorers do not equal one 40-goal scorer. Fehr plus Laich do not make a 2nd line as scary as one that includes Semin.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
Doesn’t mean that it won’t hurt to make them better, right? Not like this has been a 7 game set with VAN.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s silly to let Semin go for nothing—in a trade, he’d fetch a really good prospect minimum (assuming a market). Plus, this season is an RFA season for Semin, right? Next year is his first UFA season. If you view his current deal as cost-controlled under RFA, then this is UFA and higher in AAV.
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by red army line on Jan 27, 2011 10:03 PM EST up reply actions
He would have been UFA at the end of this year had he not signed.
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No, this season was under an RFA contract. Next season is under a UFA contract.
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by red army line on Jan 29, 2011 2:12 AM EST up reply actions
Anyway, on the subject of the Semin extension itself, I don’t love it but I don’t hate it either.
Ideally, I would have loved to see the team part with Semin and reinvest that cash into the C position. But it’s looking like Brad Richards and then a bunch of retread options on the FA market this offseason, and Richards is a bit long in the tooth for the investment it’s going to require to sign him. If, in fact, he leaves Dallas, which is no certainty.
If it keeps Semin happy and invested in the team, bully. It’s short term and it allows some flexibility when Carlson and Green have to be dealt with.
Another year of Sasha Semin is a little daunting to contemplate, but it’s better than another 5 years of a team overloaded on the wings.
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Yay!
Love this. Semin is clearly the best player the caps could get for 1 yr $6.7MM. They get to keep an elite offensive talent for at least one more year w/o having to sign him to an albatross contract. This is a huge, huge win. Way better than a 8 year albatross contract, and way better than not signing him. I cannot believe he keeps going for these one year deals, but I’ll take them for as long as we can get them done.
With a NM/NT clause I think I have no choice but to say I love the contract and pat dear Sasha on the back and hope it’s a breath of fresh air for the team in the O dept when he gets back on the ice
knuble connotes caboodle canoodle
there’s no NMC or NTC on this contract. Semin can be traded tomorrow if GMGM has a dance partner.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
I'm so confused
People keep quoting the same source that there is both NTC and NMC (various places above)
I’d love to keep talking about possible moves if that’s not the case tho
knuble connotes caboodle canoodle
NHL Live erroneously said there was a NTC and NMC when they meant to report that there is no NMC or NTC. They corrected it almost immediately, but the damage was done.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
I’ve gotta say, whomever select the pictures posted with the articles is doing a excellent job.
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 27, 2011 3:18 PM EST reply actions
Semin statement
(perfect English)
When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here, among the people of Washington, and basking in the of warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter
knuble connotes caboodle canoodle
by Icebat on Jan 27, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
he probably composes English sonnets in his spare time.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
I am NOT happy about this
We just extended the only person we could have used as trade bait for that true 2nd line center. Wake up guys, $6.7 million is too much to spend on a guy who has consistently spent 24% of the past 5 seasons on Injured Reserve. A guy who isn’t even making a point per game shouldn’t be pulling down Backstrom’s salary, even if it is for one year. We need repeated proof that last year wasn’t a fluke – a healthy, productive, consistent year. 18 goals in the first 20 games and virtually none in the next 19 absolutely do not speak to better consistency. Actually quite the opposite. Do not expect him to come back from injury with fire in his belly now… or even show up anytime soon now.
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
Your first sentence suggests that Semin is no longer trade-able, when in fact his trade value has just increased.
As to your expectation that Semin will no longer bother to “even show up,” hogwash. 1-year contract extensions are the best possible way to ensure that the player will continue to put out maximum effort.
You had me at no problem.
by Ninjak on Jan 27, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You misunderstand my inferred timeframe. I was hoping before this March, not after. This is a vote of confidence that I personally would not have extended, and I believe only goes to show how much the mighty have fallen in the last year. GMGM wouldn’t have done this deal last year, bottom line. At least not for this much. We’re getting more desperate… albeit not Maple Leafs desperate, but desperate nonetheless for goal-scorers. Even our own.
I’ll see your “hogwash” and rais you a “pish-posh.” If you think Baby Face is going to come out of the injury gate looking to prove the value of his new contract, you’re dead mistaken. This is coming from a guy who loves #28 and even followed him when he was a sub-25 goal-scorer. He’ll still do the things he does best, including the mysterious Alexander Semin Hat Trick (a goal, a hooking penalty, and inexplicably falling down on the ice with no one around), but he ain’t going to be performing to his 0.997 points per game expectations here on out. I’ll be you my mortgage on that one.
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
But GMGM did do this deal last year. Just about exactly thirteen months ago.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
You’re right regarding point production: since 2006, Semin score only 0.997 points per game. Looser.
Cup, please.
Yeah, to go right along with his 0.286 playoff points per game last year. Stellar. Definitely worth more than $6.7…
In fact, why not just give him $8 mill to go with a nice round number? After all, we have plenty of Cap space with Green’s $5.25, Alex’s $9.538, and Backstrom’s $6.7 million to add as much as we want without consequence, don’t we?
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
some additional stuff up on CI. On the conference call to announce the contract, McPhee said:
“We were wide open to [long-term extension] discussions. We said we could do one, two, three years or longer if you want to talk about it. We were open-minded about whatever you would like to do here. The player came back and said they were comfortable with a one or a two, and last week said a one year deal would be fine. And we said, ‘Okay.’ After that, it was a matter of working up a number. It was done this week.”
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Great addition
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
If nothing else, Semin keeps it interesting. He’s got all the leverage in the world to sign a huge, long term contract this summer. You know that in the heat of an auction, some GM is going to offer way too much, for way too long. Yet, Semin says, 2 years in a row(!!), Nah, I’ll just re-up for one year, and for a number that’s squarely within the range of fair mkt value if I’d signed a longer deal.
I think it certainly strengthens the case for the “Semin doesn’t want to leave DC for another NHL city” crowd.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
TEB also posted this nugget on CI earlier today, if you haven’t made your way over there:
The dollar figure, McPhee said, was linked to that of center Nicklas Backstrom, who also earns $6.7 million per season.
“We just didn’t feel that it would be fair to go beyond that,” he said. “They are two really talented players. I wouldn’t call it a ceiling, but we just thought if the two of them were at that number, then everyone would be comfortable with that.”
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Good Deal
Semin could go FA and get a multi-year deal, this is only a positive for the team. We can still trade him, I think being Caps fans keep us from seeing the value a great goal scorer would have to lots of teams, not to mention the value he gave us at the PK earlier in the year (hard to believe, but true). I disagree with some of the comments about him not creating his own shot, being just a shooter, just not true… He was incredibly frustrating to watch in the playoffs last year, but so was Greeny. Consistency is incredibly tough to achieve in Hockey, which is why having a guy that can take over a game single-handedly is a trait shared by only a handful in the league. A 1 yr deal for a guy with his single-game potential, it’s a no-brainer for us, a head scratcher for Semin and his agent….
Good post. Regarding multi-year deals, maybe and maybe not. Keep in mind that looming over the horizon this summer is the impending CBA renegotiations. No one has a pulse on big, feared Donald Fehr, and they won’t be handing out contracts like candy in years past. A lot of people blame last season’s lackluster July 1st on Kovalchuk, but in reality the new CBA and potential labor dispute is playing a much bigger factor. I don’t think Semin has a great agent, but I do think we have a good GM… and McPhee’s going to be thanking his lucky stars not to far from now for their hubris in wanting a 1yr.
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
Well done. That was always my deepest fear of getting a Baby Face sweater. Enjoy it in 2011-12 season!
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
You misunderstand my inferred timeframe. I was hoping before this March, not after. This is a vote of confidence that I personally would not have extended, and I believe only goes to show how much the mighty have fallen in the last year. GMGM wouldn’t have done this deal last year, bottom line. At least not for this much. We’re getting more desperate… albeit not Maple Leafs desperate, but desperate nonetheless for goal-scorers. Even our own.
I’ll see your “hogwash” and rais you a “pish-posh.” If you think Baby Face is going to come out of the injury gate looking to prove the value of his new contract, you’re dead mistaken. This is coming from a guy who loves #28 and even followed him when he was a sub-25 goal-scorer. He’ll still do the things he does best, including the mysterious Alexander Semin Hat Trick (a goal, a hooking penalty, and inexplicably falling down on the ice with no one around), but he ain’t going to be performing to his 0.997 points per game expectations here on out. I’ll be you my mortgage on that one.
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
Interesting quote by his agent in CI:
“There was no reason to test the market,” Gandler said. “He knows what he’s going to get and what he’s going to have here [with Washington]. He really enjoys his time in D.C., the organization and his teammates. … There was no reason to change something that is working for him and we feel that he is wanted on the team.”
…but when they come back and ask for $6.7 in a few years with green/alzer/carlson due, will they still feel wanted by the team?
by Natty Bumppo on Jan 27, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
Looking at cap space, it looks like this deal shouldn’t hurt us. The Caps currently have $45.872M committed to 17 players – 9 forwards, 6 dmen, and 2 goalies. They could re-sign Varly, Laich, Gordon, Alzner and Hendricks for (probably) less than $9M, leaving them with $4M or so (more if the cap increases) to get 1 or 2 other players, maybe 1 forward and 1 dman. I think $6.7M is overpayment, but I think it’s manageable. Under the scenario I’m looking at, line combos could be 8-19-16, 28-90-21, 25-15-63, 26-39-83, 17 HS; 55-52, 27-74, 3-4 (89 HS); 1/30. Thoughts? This is the first time I’ve really tried an analysis like this.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
You can’t really count on Gordon to play such a crucial role all year. Even if Mackan is ready to jump to 2C I think we need to add a C in the off-season. I’d also prefer to push Erskine down to 7 on the depth chart, especially if Poti can’t get healthy.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
Just curious – which Gordon? I assume you mean B., since you mention a center. If so, his health is a concern. However, a 3C shouldn’t be very expensive, and Hendricks can also play that role if necessary.
A 5/6D could be brought in for (probably) less than $1M, so that should be workable. I’d prefer to bring one in so Erskine can be HS and Sloan can be HB.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
Yeah, I meant B. Gordon. I’d rather have more than a bargain bin 3C. I’d prefer a guy that could feasibly give us spot duty as a 2C. Really, an established 2C with Mackan at 3C would be ideal.
Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"
Definitely can’t argue with any of that. If the cap goes up like I think I remember hearing it would, I could see the Caps having $6M+ to spend – and a 2C would definitely be a nice way to spend that. I don’t know if Mackan is ready for full-time 2C duties or not, so it would be preferable to have a proven option there.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
Writing on the Wall
I don’t like the look of this. Maybe I’m reading too much into it? I heard a multi-year deal was on the table? Now we end up with Semin signed to ANOTHER 1 yr deal? Does this look like a sign and trade to anyone else? When healthy, #28 is one of the most dangerous men on the ice! I would have liked to have seen more of a commitment. It might have even made Semin a little more comfortable. Or maybe, this is what he wanted?
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