What other image could I possibly use?
Tuesday, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reported that the Carolina Hurricanes are buying out Alex Semin just two seasons after signing a five-year, $35 million extension with the club. According to War On Ice, the move will save the Canes’ $7 million. They will pay out $14 million over the next six seasons. Ouch.
Related: RMNB’s Favorite Memories of Alex Semin
Graph per War On Ice
Last season, Semin had one of his worst seasons as a pro. Semin scored just six goals and 13 assists in 57 games for the Canes during an injury-plagued 2014-2015 season. He missed time early in the season for a “lower-body injury” and wrist soreness related to an off-season surgery. He sat out again in March with a hamstring injury. Last season marked Semin’s worst production since debuting in the NHL in 2003 and was a far cry from his best year with the Caps, when he scored 40 goals and 44 assists in 2009-2010.
For instance, let’s take a look at this chart which shows Sasha Minor’s even strength individual shot attempts per 60 minutes.
Last season’s decline in generating shots is concerning for a guy who is so dangerous, in part, because of his insane wrist shot.
But depending on the price, the 30-year-old right wing would be a perfect fit for… wait for it… THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS. Semin is a highly-skilled right wing who has shown to be a shot producing machine in the past. He could be a great fit in the Caps’ top six playing on the second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov. He is also very close to the team’s Russian contingent. Give the man a short, prove-yourself contract, surround him with a bunch of Russians, and watch the Sasha Cares meter go through the roof.
Instead of having to trade valuable assets to land a talented top six player, Semin, the perfect/potentially somewhat cheap solution, might have just fallen right into out laps.
One question remains: would Brian MacLellan actually bring him back?
Patrick Holden and Nathan Burchfiel also contributed to this story.
