NHL 2010-2011 Season, an elite sniper
Crosby Sidney (Pittsburgh Penguins’ Center) and Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals’ Left Wing) have been headline acts in the NHL 2010-2011 season. Since coming into the league in 2005-06, the two have been in a league of their own with the way each has
built up the skill to take over and dictate the pace of the game and their offensive production.
This season Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning’s Center) has solidified his name in Crosby and Ovechkin territory and Alexander Semin (Capitals’ Left Wing) is moving rapidly to do the same.
Semin has been a support player in Washington. Crosby shared the support role with Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins’ Center) and Stamkos has Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay’s Right Wing).
However, Semin has shared the support role with Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals’ Center) that separates him from the others. Since 2008, Semin's performance has certainly separated himself from Backstrom, but they are not enough to be considered for
superstar treatment of Crosby, Ovechkin, and Stamkos.
Alexander Semin is the best Sniper
In NHL 2010-2011 season, Semin has been an absolute beast during the month of November and nonetheless put up great numbers in October as well.
No matter where he plays or with whom he continues to produce at a high level. After Bruce Boudreau had been juggling the bottom few lines over the month of October, he decided to move Semin up to the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Semin tallied his second hat-trick of the season and added two assists as Washington routed Tampa Bay 6-3 on November 11. On November 26, it was Ovechkin vs. Stamkos for the second time this season and in both meetings against Tampa Bay, he scored three
goals in a period, giving him six goals and eight points.
Semin had his third hat trick of the season (in a 35 day span), doubling his career total. Semins three goals, all within 4:29, were from that very spot. He leads the team in goals (3rd in the league) and is 2nd in points (tied for
fourth in the league). His sniping abilities were on full display, as they have been for most of the season.
An Elite goal scorer in search of 50
Stamkos drew a lot of attention when he scored 20 goals in 20 games to begin the season. Since 1992, the potential for the league to see fifty goals in fifty games for the first time finally solidified Stamkos as a force in the league.
However, Alexander Semin, who was following close behind Stamkos with 17 goals in 24 games, had no attention. Semin was keeping pace with Stamkos's historic numbers until a hat trick from Crosby on 27 November against Calgary Flames that moved Crosby into
2nd with 18 goals in 25 games. Still, Semin is on pace for 58 goals this season.
Despite playing just 63 and 73 games in 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons respectively, Semin recorded 34 and 40 goals. His consistency, combined with his 58 goal pace this season has certainly placed him amongst the elite goal scorers of NHL.
Prior to the All-Star game, he has been scoring at a .51 goals per game pace over the course of his career. After the All-Star game Semin sits at just .4 goals per game and .83 points per game.
Semin’s contract year
Semin has continually been at or around 40 goals for the last few seasons. His 58 goal pace has many wondering if this is simply a good season. When Players are playing for a contract, they usually play well above their career averages and it just so happens
that Semin’s contract will expire at the end of this season.
He is set to make $6 million this season while the Capitals are paying Backstrom $6.7 million per season. There's no doubt Semin will feel as though he should be making more than Backstrom.
Semin’s future in Washington is not in question yet, but if the Capitals had paid more to Semin than it would have been a source of motivation for Semin in what is looking like a career season.
Playing the support role (The Evgeni Malkin’s Rule)
Semin has shared a support player for Alex Ovechkin, filling the same role as Evgeni Malkin for Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh and Martin St. Louis for Stamkos in Tampa Bay.
Ovechkin has just 10 goals in 24 games this season, placing him in a tie for 17th with the likes of Milan Lucic and Brian Boyle. While Ovechkin searches to regain his form, Semin has filled the void left by Ovechkin.
Due to the circumstances surrounding his success this season, whether it is playing for a big money contract or his support of Alex Ovechkin through his season is starting to slump, Semin won't have his name mentioned amongst Crosby, Ovechkin and Stamkos
just yet. However, a 50 goal season will certainly stir the conversation and set the stage for next season.
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