Comments on: Morning Cup-a-Joe (1/31/07)

By: CapitalGuy

CapitalGuy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:16:03 +0000

Excellent insights, great topic. Semin the enigmatic magician. Ovechkin, like Bondra, is a marvelous north-south player, but one that passes well, hits and is less streaky. But muscular north-south becomes predictable. We fans know what he will do. So does the opponent. We watch that war with pleasure. But with Semin, who knows? He mixes east-west, north-south, circles, dekes, juts, hesitations, fakes and more. Improvisations abound. His slappers and wristers surprise us, again and again. Semin, the enigmatic magician. Like a dream first date – every shift.

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:12:54 +0000

Many thanks for these sage observations. Your reflection about Sasha’s Dahlen-like ability along the boards is especially insightful. It’s true, and it’s fairly amazing in light of Semin’s build, which is of the wiry variety, whereas Ulf was comparatively bulky.
I watched Sasha a great deal at last September’s camp, and I commented to another OFBer at the time that I thought he’d quickly develop a decent reputation defensively, not because he’s first back in his own end (he seldom is), but rather because his sniper hands are especially adept at pickpocketing. I saw it all camp long, and it was as dazzling as his wrist shot. I think he’ll develop this more fully, more lethally, in the years ahead.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comments.

By: Hockey Amor

Hockey Amor — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:04:54 +0000

It feels a bit like cheating but at last night’s game in Ottawa, I found myself loving Semin’s moves more than Ovechkin’s plays. He made a few high-risk dangles and pulled them off. What a brilliant risk-taker. Early in the game he stole the puck from a D behind the net and quickly shot on goal. Breathtaking. Also, at the last game here (Jan 16) he also proved to me that he’s a brilliant boards man, controlling the puck like Dahlen used to and then coming out from behind the net to shoot. Most of all, I love his laser wrist shot, top corner always. He’s becoming a force.