GM George McPhee's poker face is better than most, but at this point, it's hard to ignore the growing momentum behind the "Alex Semin is on the trading block" rumors. Yes, most rumors surrounding the Caps are false, because there are nary any leaks leaving the team's Kettler-based offices.
But when GMGM is said to be shopping around the team's most enigmatic player, this blogger's attention is completely focused on that subject. It's to nobody's surprise that STC fully endorses sending Semin out of town. We've never been a fan and no show of skill (or tryout maneuvers for hockey's version of the Harlem Globetrotters) will change our minds. Semin is not a team player and seemingly won't be able to pair a passion that matches his vast skill-set.
Yes, Semin and Alex Ovechkin are close friends. But now that Ovechkin is captain, the team is the most important thing he must consider -- not a friendship that likely will continue no matter where Semin is skating.
The Caps can't ignore the fact that, of the four teams that made the conference finals, three (Chicago, Montreal, Philadelphia) boast a nasty streak that is paired with a willingness to sacrifice tooth and limb to win the Stanley Cup. The Caps just didn't do that in the playoffs, no matter how much they tried convincing us otherwise.
They didn't lose because of Jaroslav Halak; the Flyers proved he was beatable. The Caps were defeated by the Canadiens because they were outworked and Montreal blocked more shots than the late, great Manute Bol.
Semin is not the team's only trade bait, though. Second on that list is Tomas "Flash" Fleischmann, who reportedly isn't close to a contract (not counting the tender process) with the July 1 free agency deadline looming. Flash has a Semin-esque mystery surrounding his consistency, and that's not exactly something to rave about.
It's no secret the Caps have some room under the salary cap and a few needs. Last summer, the Caps signed Mike Knuble -- who filled a need for toughness that had sorely been lacking. The Caps have plenty of skill -- but, unfortunately, Semin and Flash aren't the type of players who usually skate the Stanley Cup. And, at this point, that's the only thing that should -- and is -- on McPhee's mind.
Note: The Caps announced its preseason schedule today as well as its first two regular-season games: Oct. 8 at Atlanta and Oct. 9 vs. New Jersey.
June 21, 2010
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2 stormer(s) wrote:
I think it would be foolish to trade Semin. You don't unload a 40 goal scorer with his stick handling abilities. I personally think that if Semin were publicity-savvy and spoke to the US media, his rep would be very different. People seem to want to not like him. He is flawed, yes. But I don't hear anyone offering Mike Green for trade bait, even though his salary is roughly the same and he also fizzled out in the playoffs two years in a row. Yes, he scores more goals than most defensemen, but he doesn't play consistent, strong defense. He does, however, love the media.
Thanks for your comment. It's more than just media interaction, though. There are literally games where it appears that Semin is oblivious to his surroundings and doesn't really try. This obviously is my perception, but it's a widely-held one too. Green has bad games, too, but I've never once thought that he didn't care. I can't say the same about Semin.
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