Capitals Sign Alexander Semin to Contract Extension

[Thrillhouse]

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed right wing Alexander Semin to a one-year contract extension, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Semin, 26, is in his sixth season in the NHL, all with the Capitals. He has 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games this season, second on the team in goals and third in points. In 366 career games the 6’2”, 209-pound native of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, has recorded 335 points (166 goals, 169 assists) and already ranks 11th in Capitals history in goals and 19th in points.

This season Semin is tied for the league lead with three hat tricks, which came in a 35-day span from Oct. 23 to Nov. 26. His 16 goals at home rank third in the league. While he has been hampered by injury lately, he ranked second in the league in goals (18) and fifth in points (30) in the first two months of the season. His three hat tricks in 35 days were the fastest by an NHL player since 2002 (Marian Gaborik) and his natural hat trick in 4:29 on Nov. 26 was the NHL’s fastest since Jan. 8, 2009 (Bobby Ryan, 2:21).

Semin, who is coming off his first 40-goal season and a career-high 84 points, ranked seventh in the NHL in goals and 13th in points in 2010-11. His 30 even-strength goals ranked third in the league and he was tied for fifth with a +36 rating.

A first-round choice of the Capitals in the 2002 NHL Draft, 13th overall, Semin has 313 points in 314 games during the last five seasons, ranking 17th in points per game in the NHL in that time (0.997). He ranks 10th in goals in that time (156) and is one of only 12 players league-wide to score more than 25 goals in each of the last four seasons. He is on pace to hit that mark again this year. He is a combined +69 in the last three seasons, best of any Capitals forward and fifth-best in the NHL.

[Thrillhouse]

It's a one-year deal worth $6.7 million.

[DaleHunter32]

i hope a lot of teams like that 6.7 number, b/c i have no idea how this team fits him under the cap for another year. Thought for sure this guy was gone at the deadline, but i'd be shocked now, nobody wants to pay for GMGM's mistakes

[djaye]

Hannon is 4.5 mil. If they dont resign him and one other player, they can manage it. They can also move someone too.

[thepolishkid88]

Semin deserves the deal. His play has been great, just feel this team needs to make some moves if this team fails again this year. They have tons of talent even at the AHL level, think they need that hunger again.

[bengino]

i like Semin, but i'm not too crazy about the salary... it really ties the team to add more pieces in the offseason, especially if one or both goalies ends up being flopping in the playoffs.

[Terrapin 97]

Remember Fleishman is gone and he would have been an UFA. And hey traded him hfor Hannan who will be an UFA next year. After next year when Semin's extension expires Knuble will be an UFA. There's your cap space right their. They will probably sign semin to a long term contract in 2012-2013.