227 replies to this topic

[ThreeCups]

Are these Ecklund based?

Wings are not interested, they are focusing solely on Defense.
Penguins not sure how they are going to give him a long term deal when they have to sign Malkin
Maybe Chicago, but they just finished sorting out their cap problems and need a goalie.

Well they seemed to have room to give Zach a mega deal, didn't they? Semin shouldn't be a problem...

[ghdi]

Some food for thought on Alex Semin:

Marc Crawford called the Russian winger a “complete loser”with “no character” .
“He’ll be banished to a place like Columbus or something like that, and that’s what those guys do,” Crawford said. “They head to the island of misfit toys.”

Then Pierre McGuire took his turn criticizing Semin.
“This is not a great teammate, I’m telling you right now. Not a good guy to have around your group unless you have unbelievably strong leadership,” McGuire said. “He’s the ultimate coach killer, that’s what he is.”

Right. Because Marc Crawford and Pierre McGuire are bastions of integrity that everyone should take seriously. What Crawford and McGuire did was wrong, whether they're right or not. Neither of them have coached him or played with him. I'd also say that the Devils are one of the teams that would fit the "strong leadership" that McGuire states is needed. That sh!t won't stand in New Jersey. Not with Lou, Larry, or probably even Kovy now.

That said, I don't think we're getting him nor do I think the Devils will even put in a competitive offer. I don't think they want to spend the money unless it was on Zach. At the most, I think Lou will put in a call to his agents and see what kind of deal he's looking for.

Here's what one of his coaches and GM had to say about him:
http://prohockeytalk...-misunderstood/

IMO Semin needs a change of scenery to bounce back. The Capitals dressing room has been toxic for almost two seasons regardless of record. They fixed it a bit with Hunter, but even he is gone now.

[ThreeCups]

Some food for thought on Alex Semin:

Marc Crawford called the Russian winger a “complete loser”with “no character” .
“He’ll be banished to a place like Columbus or something like that, and that’s what those guys do,” Crawford said. “They head to the island of misfit toys.”

Then Pierre McGuire took his turn criticizing Semin.
“This is not a great teammate, I’m telling you right now. Not a good guy to have around your group unless you have unbelievably strong leadership,” McGuire said. “He’s the ultimate coach killer, that’s what he is.”

I can't find the quotes from some of his teammates but they are along the same lines.

McGuire is THE biggest tool affiliated with the NHL, hands down!

[Neb00rs]

His agent doesn't count. Overall not that many came to his aid.

Here is a former teammate:

Bradley, who spent six seasons with the Capitals, also expressed disappointment in the team's coaching staff during the 2011 playoffs during his radio interview with Ottawa's TEAM 1200.

That's where the comments regarding Semin's performance began.

Bradley said he was disappointed in Semin's lack of effort, especially because he believes the Russian sniper "has so much talent, he could easily be the best player in the league and just for whatever reason, just doesn’t care."

If Semin could be the best player in the league - which he could not - then we should definitely sign him. Anyways, all this "he said, she said" stuff is stupid. The experienced posters on here won't say a damn thing about anything that goes on off the ice that's not a 100% confirmed offense. Your post reads like a 9th grader's gossip text message.

Edited by ben00rs, 05 July 2012 - 03:24 PM.

[ghdi]

McGuire is THE biggest tool affiliated with the NHL, hands down!

And Id put Marc Crawford right up there too. This was the guy that egged Bertuzzi on to basically kill Steve Moore and laughed during the incident.

[MDPucks]

Everyone trashes Alex Semin for no reason in my opinion. He has potential. Did anyone see him this postseason? One of the only Capitals other than Holtby who DID play with "heart" (What does that even mean? Seriously.) He played as Hunter asked him to, blocking shots and backchecking hard. Has a laser of a shot. True scoring talent. Who is to say that he can't be coached into being a better player? And for those who say he's never been invested in WSH... Sometimes players need a change of scenery. I think he would be a great pickup as long as we don't overpay for him. He would definitely help replace the scoring in ZP's place, and if we could also get a full year of Zajac (expected) then we would be doing just fine.

Of course, who knows if he even wants to come here. I'd be a huge fan of that though. Just go to RMNB (Russian Machine Never Breaks), a Cap's blog. They love the guy. And remember, no players are perfect. But I think he could help.

He's a cross between Alex Kovelev and Max Affinaganhov. I've watched nearly every game of Semin's the last 6 years and his offensive upside is incredible. His snapshot is wicked and his offense isn't a one-trick-pony toe-drag that Ovechkin has developed into. Semin's problem is his heart is maddening and his hockey sense is brutal. You think David Clarkson does dumb things on the ice? Just wait until you get Semin whose a dumb offensive zone penalty taking machine. He had teammates and Russian teammates to guide him already in Washington (Ovechkin, Federov) and a run of player-friendly coaches and that still didn't work. The Capitals beating the Bruins and going 7 with the Rangers spoke more about Boston and New York's anemic offenses going against 1-line teams than it spoke for Hunter turning Semin and the Caps into a defensive dynamo.

I wouldn't touch Semin with a 29 1/2 foot pole.

[ThreeCups]

He's a cross between Alex Kovelev and Max Affinaganhov. I've watched nearly every game of Semin's the last 6 years and his offensive upside is incredible. His snapshot is wicked and his offense isn't a one-trick-pony toe-drag that Ovechkin has developed into. Semin's problem is his heart is maddening and his hockey sense is brutal. You think David Clarkson does dumb things on the ice? Just wait until you get Semin whose a dumb offensive zone penalty taking machine. He had teammates and Russian teammates to guide him already in Washington (Ovechkin, Federov) and a run of player-friendly coaches and that still didn't work. The Capitals beating the Bruins and going 7 with the Rangers spoke more about Boston and New York's anemic offenses going against 1-line teams than it spoke for Hunter turning Semin and the Caps into a defensive dynamo.

I wouldn't touch Semin with a 29 1/2 foot pole.

How can he be that bad?!?

[Neb00rs]

He's a cross between Alex Kovelev and Max Affinaganhov.

sold.

[JerseyMike]

õt sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but how plausible do you think a trade for Bobby Ryan would be? I know he grew up a Flyers fan but he is a Jersey guy and may not be as intense, but can match the 30 plus goals a year like Parise. Plus it'd be great to see him take #9 lol

[ThreeCups]

õt sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but how plausible do you think a trade for Bobby Ryan would be? I know he grew up a Flyers fan but he is a Jersey guy and may not be as intense, but can match the 30 plus goals a year like Parise. Plus it'd be great to see him take #9 lol

Would likely cost too much to get him in terms of assets. I like him alot as a player, but I do not see this as a reality. The easiest plug in of offense would be to sign Semin...but I do not see that happening either.

[RedArmy8]

Well they seemed to have room to give Zach a mega deal, didn't they? Semin shouldn't be a problem...

No, they didn't. Ilych, Babcock and Draper cancelled their meeting with Zach to focus on Suter.

[SterioDesign]

i'd like to get a guy like TJ Oshie or something through trades... i dont think its possible though

[ghdi]

How can he be that bad?!?

He's not that bad. Yes, Semin has a reputation right now, but he has the talent to turn it around. I think he just needs the right people around him. He's not going to get that in Washington with wild man Ovechkin as his best bro.

Id much rather take a risk on Semin than just about anyone else out there that's UFA. He's that gifted. I just think our financial status will prevent us from taking that risk. Zach is a different story since he's our product and we knew what we were getting.

i'd like to get a guy like TJ Oshie or something through trades... i dont think its possible though

I love Oshie and he's a stud, but I imagine he's untouchable.

[RedArmy8]

If Semin could be the best player in the league - which he could not - then we should definitely sign him. Anyways, all this "he said, she said" stuff is stupid. The experienced posters on here won't say a damn thing about anything that goes on off the ice that's not a 100% confirmed offense. Your post reads like a 9th grader's gossip text message.

Actually the problem is it is something you don't want to hear. Which is understandable. But these are credible people in the industry, who are with the players on and off the ice. It's even his own teammate. This doesn't happen a lot, so there has to be something there.

I would rather do my homework on a player than just blindly pay him anything he wants before making such a commitment.

That is all I am saying. The fact that there really is no market for him, is good for us.

i'd like to get a guy like TJ Oshie or something through trades... i dont think its possible though

I like Oshie a lot

[ThreeCups]

He's not that bad. Yes, Semin has a reputation right now, but he has the talent to turn it around. I think he just needs the right people around him. He's not going to get that in Washington with wild man Ovechkin as his best bro.

Id much rather take a risk on Semin than just about anyone else out there that's UFA. He's that gifted. I just think our financial status will prevent us from taking that risk. Zach is a different story since he's our product and we knew what we were getting.



I love Oshie and he's a stud, but I imagine he's untouchable.

If we had the money for Zach, why not use SOME of that cash on Semin?!?

[RedArmy8]

He's not that bad. Yes, Semin has a reputation right now, but he has the talent to turn it around. I think he just needs the right people around him. He's not going to get that in Washington with wild man Ovechkin as his best bro.

Id much rather take a risk on Semin than just about anyone else out there that's UFA. He's that gifted. I just think our financial status will prevent us from taking that risk. Zach is a different story since he's our product and we knew what we were getting.

Are you joking?

He has been stocked with talent these past few years and a coach let gave him the green light to produce. Ovechkin gave him carte blanche to succeed, in fact the majority of Semin's points came when he played alongside of AO.

He has talent, but he is all about the money, not winning. I would give him a 1-year deal for $3.5 with incentives for WINNING and give him a chance to prove everyone wrong about him in the hockey world.

[ThreeCups]

No, they didn't. Ilych, Babcock and Draper cancelled their meeting with Zach to focus on Suter.

I was referring to the Pens

Are you joking?

He has been stocked with talent these past few years and a coach let gave him the green light to produce. Ovechkin gave him carte blanche to succeed, in fact the majority of Semin's points came when he played alongside of AO.

He has talent, but he is all about the money, not winning. I would give him a 1-year deal for $3.5 with incentives for WINNING and give him a chance to prove everyone wrong about him in the hockey world.

No way he signs a 1 yr deal for $3.5 right now, especially because of how weak the free agent group is.....

[CarpathianForest]

It would have been better for Lou to hold onto his money to make the Devils a little more competitive financially then signing Brach and Janssen

[ThreeCups]

It would have been better for Lou to hold onto his money to make the Devils a little more competitive financially then signing Brach and Janssen

Their miniscule goon salaries shouldn't impact the big picture...

[CarpathianForest]

Their miniscule goon salaries shouldn't impact the big picture...

It's still a million bucks which is a big deal when you've probably got an internal cap.