Eklund: Dale Hunter NOT Returning to Coach Caps per Sportsnet

Hi

Second?

Guess Dale realized quickly that he didn't feel like putting up with Ovi for anymore than what, 5-6 months. Seemed like he was doing some good there.

Wait. Semin played his best hockey in the playoffs? Did I miss something?

Semin? Yes, he was amazingly weak on the puck while back checking hard every single shift. Lots of turnovers too. Invisible for most of playoffs, had a few good shifts maybe one or two good games. 3g, 1a -4 in 14 games is not even close to the level he has played for stretches of past regular seasons.

Wait. Semin played his best hockey in the playoffs? Did I miss something?
- Kovaltron

Yeah, I had to read it five times to be sure I read it properly. Guy is likely going to get low ball offers and head to the KHL.

Unless some desperate team decides to empty the bank and doesn't mind playoff ghosts.

Knights in the mem cup this week, and should definitely make a charge again next year. Seems like a good chance to step away and walk back in to his comfort zone.

Semin scored four in fourteen (0.28) during these playoffs. His playoff PPG average coming into 2011-2012 was 0.81 -- and was a PPG scorer [5G/9A] in the '06-'07 playoffs through fourteen games.

Oh, and as a regular season player, Semin's a 0.87 PPG player through 469 GP. Even more damning for his lack of production this year.

Combine that with his lifeless defensive play and innumerable neutral/offensive zone turnovers, and I'd chalk that up as his second worst post-season ever. He was pretty awful in '09-'10.

He was so bad, I'd actually be blown away if an NHL team offered him the contract he was looking for. Plenty of talent, but his focus and effort is simply zero. Really shames a guy like Ovechkin who does bust it game-in and game-out.

Just my $.02.

Semin? Yes, he was amazingly weak on the puck while back checking hard every single shift. Lots of turnovers too. Invisible for most of playoffs, had a few good shifts maybe one or two good games. 3g, 1a -4 in 14 games is not even close to the level he has played for stretches of past regular seasons.
- Buff_jordan14

yup, agree. I was laufhing reading Ek's quote...amusing when I thought there wasnt a player on the ice who looked like he gave less of a damn than Semin in Game 7 the other night

Eklund: Dale Hunter NOT Returning to Coach Caps per Sportsnet
- Eklund

Did you seriously just write Semin news coming in your blog title?

How can anyone take that serious?

I will be on Internet American Radio "Talking Hockey"with Ashley Scharge at 1:45 pm ET Listen Here

yup, agree. I was laufhing reading Ek's quote...amusing when I thought there wasnt a player on the ice who looked like he gave less of a damn than Semin in Game 7 the other night
- nickgregory

in game 7...totaly agree. but there were times in these playoffs he was stronger in the playoffs than we have seen.

semin will get $$ from a team in need of scoring but i wouldnt want him on my team

IMO washington needs to get a brown, iginla type of player. Someone to do the dirty work and grind it out when the fancy stuff isnt working

how would richards look there instead of L.A

Semin scored four in fourteen (0.28) during these playoffs. His playoff PPG average coming into 2011-2012 was 0.81 -- and was a PPG scorer
- Travis Yost[5G/9A] in the '06-'07 playoffs through fourteen games.

Oh, and as a regular season player, Semin's a 0.87 PPG player through 469 GP. Even more damning for his lack of production this year.

Combine that with his lifeless defensive play and innumerable neutral/offensive zone turnovers, and I'd chalk that up as his second worst post-season ever. He was pretty awful in '09-'10.

He was so bad, I'd actually be blown away if an NHL team offered him the contract he was looking for. Plenty of talent, but his focus and effort is simply zero. Really shames a guy like Ovechkin who does bust it game-in and game-out.

Just my $.02.

He has never produced in the playoffs...but he did skate harder in these playoffs (with the exception of game 7 in NY) than I can remember. Not all about points. Against Boston he was a big reason the Caps advanced.

He has never produced in the playoffs...but he did skate harder in these playoffs (with the exception of game 7 in NY) than I can remember. Not all about points. Against Boston he was a big reason the Caps advanced.
- Eklund

how do you judge this?

Ek...

The Capitals combined Fenwick for the playoffs was -109. That's terrible. Absolutely terrible.

Alex Semin had the worst PDO among Capitals forwards with 965. Personally, Semin scored 3 times on 35 shots for a 8.5% (disappointing for Sasha, whose career average is north of 14%). But even worse– Capitals players scored on just 3.33% while he was on ice.

Ek...

The Capitals combined Fenwick for the playoffs was -109. That's terrible. Absolutely terrible.

Alex Semin had the worst PDO among Capitals forwards with 965. Personally, Semin scored 3 times on 35 shots for a 8.5% (disappointing for Sasha, whose career average is north of 14%). But even worse– Capitals players scored on just 3.33% while he was on ice.
- desi08

but he skated harder

Ek...

The Capitals combined Fenwick for the playoffs was -109. That's terrible. Absolutely terrible.

Alex Semin had the worst PDO among Capitals forwards with 965. Personally, Semin scored 3 times on 35 shots for a 8.5% (disappointing for Sasha, whose career average is north of 14%). But even worse– Capitals players scored on just 3.33% while he was on ice.
- desi08

Thank you. A post with actual evidence as opposed to all the perceptions in this thread.

He has never produced in the playoffs...but he did skate harder in these playoffs (with the exception of game 7 in NY) than I can remember. Not all about points. Against Boston he was a big reason the Caps advanced.
- Eklund

He's paid (and will be paid, whether it's the NHL/KHL) to play role of scorer, though.

If you're looking at his overall game, I'd agree his defense marginally improved, but certainly not enough to warrant another oversized contract -- especially considering he was playing relatively protected minutes by Dale Hunter(-.34 Relative QualComp).

Should be noted that Ovechkin's Relative QualComp was comparable, but again, Ovechkin produced offensively in those minutes -- Semin didn't.

Semin's defensive numbers were expectedly low, too. Eight hits(18th on team in post-season), five blocked shots(15th on team in post-season). He did have twelve takeaways, but his giveaway/takeaway split was still an even 1.00.

Too many glaring numbers working against him, IMO.

He has never produced in the playoffs...but he did skate harder in these playoffs (with the exception of game 7 in NY) than I can remember. Not all about points. Against Boston he was a big reason the Caps advanced.
- Eklund

He did not skate harder, AT ALL. He floated constantly. He barely back checked and was so weak on the puck it was embarrassing. Bruins and Rangers would strip the puck off him like he was a child.

Semin should probably take his talents to Moscow, or St. Petersburg

He did not skate harder, AT ALL. He floated constantly. He barely back checked and was so weak on the puck it was embarrassing. Bruins and Rangers would strip the puck off him like he was a child.
- Buff_jordan14

Maybe I read it wrong but did Ek suggest that Semin played the best hockey of his NHL career or just in the playoffs? I read it as his entire career. Neither are remotely true.

I think he see's that Ovechkin and him will be butting heads all season so there is no point in coaching the team unless they were willing to get rid of him which they are not so the writing is on the wall.

Semin should probably take his talents to Moscow, or St. Petersburg
- ryman1566

hed fit in well with the soft forwards in vancouver