Comments on: Semin: "I Can Hardly Walk"

By: Klay Key

Klay Key — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:20:41 +0000

The NHL is already being seriously challenged by the league in Russia. This kind of thing (nasty, illegal hits resulting in injury) is going to keep a whole generation of European players away from North America. To those who say “well, they are wimps – we don’t want’em”, I say be careful. You may end up with a hockey product devoid of creativity, grace, or skill.

By: Usually F'trated Caps Fan

Usually F'trated Caps Fan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:19:42 +0000

While I’m not sure the hit was an intent to injure. I am sure that Alexander Semin is NOT a whinner and that the hit was a cross check and should have been called as the trip before it should have been called. Also, I am sure that the official on the ice got it ALL wrong. The inconsistancey of the officiating in the league this season is indeed truly frustrating.
Semin was on the way to a great season and he showed up ready to play this year, in shape. His frustration is understandable as is his wondering if he should try and take pain killers to bull his way through it. I agree he just has to let this injury heal and hey if it takes a month that doesn’t make him any less of a man and certainly not less of a great talent.
Oh and if the NHL doesn’t review the video and suspend Crosby for a game or two,for what’s on that youtube video, then the injustice and injustice and inconsistancey will continue. This season I have seen numerous stupid, unfair calls on Ovechkin. Maybe if Sidney was European or Russian there wouldn’t be so much favoritism going his way for things like that video. To be sure he is one of the great young talents in the league today – I’m not disputing or belittling that. I’m also pretty confident if you watched the whole game, he was probably going for some payback on “abuse and physicallity” dished his way, but the move by him in that video is blatent and the enforcement of the rules needs to be more consistant.

By: OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)

OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:15:31 +0000

@ FLYING CLOUD:
You’ll never be banned for disagreeing, particularly when your contributions have been well-reasoned and perfectly hockey- and topic-apropos.

By: GB

GB — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:43:16 +0000

Has anyone ever had a pitched nerve in your back or neck? It is more painful than anyone can imagine. The fact Semin is struggling to even walk should tell you something about the situation. Yet some feel like taking shots…yea he’s soft or he needs to toughen up or, my favorite, he should not have put himself in that position…lol. Backes took a cheap shot at Semin and hopefully someone on the Caps will have the balls to stand up for a teammate the next time.

By: kittypawz

kittypawz — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:58:50 +0000

I think the Caps did it right. According to the enforcer’s code, you can’t force the other guy to fight, and with the way crap was being called, beating the crap out of anyone could have cost the Caps the game, which is more important. Blues are chicken for not answering, but Brash in his headhunting was putting the team first and not risking a potentially costly instigator penalty.
I was at the game — Brash was looking to dance. Belive it. When the Blues didn’t bite, both he and Ovi were crushing anything in a blue and white sweater that came in reach, and they were not being nice about it. But, the game is the most important thing, and they did what they could given the situation.
Now, against the Flyers, I expect to see Brash drop ‘em early as a warning to the other team that the Caps are not in a mood to ef around and liberties will be answered.

By: Jessie

Jessie — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:23:40 +0000

On a personal level, who are we to judge Semin for “complaining?” First of all, I think whoever said he was simply answering a question is correct, and second of all, we’re fans. We want players passionate enough to give their team (our favorite team) their all. What Semin’s frustration says to me is that he is passionate about this sport and about his team and that is EXACTLY the kind of player I want playing for my hometown.
When the league fails to address blatant attempts by goons (hellooooo, Backes) to give its rules the finger, it encourages more dirty hits like last night’s, and that’s not an NHL I am looking forward to watching. Hopefully they’ll do something about the obvious disregard of fair play displayed last night, sooner rather than later

By: GO BRUINS

GO BRUINS — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:14:24 +0000

Couple more things-
Again, in response to anyone that is unsure whether that was intentional or not- OBVIOUSLY it was intentional. That guy is a goon and knew exactly what he was doing.
Secondly, why on earth would Semin leave to play for some half-ass league in Russia when he could play in the NHL on a line/team with Ovechkin. What a duo those two are. After playing here with a guy like that (not to mention Backstrom at times, too), and in a league like this, that would be about 10 notches down.
Third, while I think Backes is a cheap POS and that he should have gotten the crap beat out of him and penalized, too…..Semin is clearly soft. He missed 19 games last year and is on pace to miss even more this year. While he is one of the most skilled guys in the league, he needs to toughen up.

By: Go Bruins

Go Bruins — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:05:57 +0000

I am from Boston and a Bruins fan and even I was pi$$ed off by what Backes did. That was a cheap shot and clearly an attempt to injure Semin…bad enough that the refs let is go, but what is worse is nobody on the Caps did anything about it. Maybe if someone had gone over and beat the tar out of that goon, he would think twice about doing something like that next time. That was the exact situation that justifies fighting in hockey- protecting your stars- and nobody did a thing. Pretty sad.
Obviously it should be the refs or the league should do more on their own, but someone on the Caps should have gone after that guy. He is one of your studs (and while nobody likes to admit it- almost as valuable to your team as Ovechkin) and that crap should be dealt with quick.
That said, Semin needs to toughen up a bit, too. I am sure there are plenty of guys in the league who would not miss more than a game or two with something like that and Semin will probably end up missing a month (again). That does not excuse what that idiot Backes did, I am just giving my 2 cents on that…

By: Curtis

Curtis — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:51:54 +0000

I don’t think that hes going back to Russia, hes playing with Ovechkin, how could you pass up playing with so much talent and if he stays healthy I’m almost positive they’ll sign him for a big money long term deal.
I love being a Canadian and playing hockey in Canada but if I was offered 10 million from a team in Texas I’d play/stay there!

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:29:18 +0000

NHL officials are more interested in geometry than protecting the most valuable assets the league has, the most talented athletes in the world.
That said, I think Semin is probably headed to the KHL. Comments like these plus his earlier comments about how Russian hockey fans enjoy finesse players more than others make me think he is not long for a North American professional career.