Faceoff Factor

12 Days of Hating: Day 6

Mike Wilson | National Hockey League

Dec 18, 11:40 AM | Hype this story!

On the sixth day of Christmas, Alexander Semin showed some jealousy…by making fun of Sidney Crosby.

The seventh biggest hate of 2008: Alexander Semin questions Sidney Crosby’s abilities.

Alexander Semin hates Sidney Crosby

This one made an appearance on the HH Report last month when Washington forward Alexander Semin said of Sidney Crosby in a November interview with Greg Wyshynski:

“What’s so special about (Crosby)?” Semin was quoted as saying. “I don’t see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else.”

Semin continued, “I think that if you take any player, even if he is dead wood, and start promoting him, you’ll get a star, especially if he scores 100 points. No one is going to care about anyone else. No one is going to care whether he possesses great skill.

“Let’s say you put someone in front of the net and let him deflect pucks in, and he scored 50 goals – everyone will say, ‘Wow!’ and then hand him a $10-million per year contract. That’s what they like here.”

Ok, if a player scores 100 points in a season, he’s a star regardless of whether or not he’s being promoted. And in case you’re wondering, Alexander Semin makes $4.6 million a year and becomes a restricted free agent in 2011. I’d be interested to see how much money he’s offered then.

Also in case you’re wondering, Semin’s teammate Alex Ovechkin makes just over $9.5 million a year ($800,000 more than Sid) through 2016…oh and he’s produced less this season than Crosby has.

Speaking of producing, Semin had scored 17 points before this interview November 2, which was good enough to put him in second in the scoring column. Since then, he’s dropped to sixteenth. And who occupies his previous position? Why it’s Sidney Crosby…how ironic.

Instead of succeeding in his rant, Alexander Semin ended up looking like the Grinch who tried to steal the spotlight.

Tomorrow, the seventh day of Christmas, a cross-state rival has lost his mind (again) just in time for the holidays.