What Was He Thinking?

Alex Kirshner | Pittsburgh Penguins

Oct 31, 11:01 PM | Hype this story!

In an interview with Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports today, Washington Capitals winger Alexander Semin had some harsh words for Sidney Crosby.

When asked about how he felt he stood in comparison to Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and teammate Alex Ovechkin, or if there was a rivalry between the youngsters, Semin let Crosby have it.

“What’s so special about [Crosby]? I don’t see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else,” Semin told Wyshynski.

Then, Semin implied that Crosby is “dead wood,” and questioned why the NHL has marketed the superstar so aggressively.

Now, it’s understandable that Semin would harbor somewhat of a bias against Crosby. After all, Crosby has torched Semin’s Capitals ever since he has been in the league.

Yet, one still has to wonder what makes Semin think it is his place to rip the player many think is the best in the world.

Semin asked what was so special about Crosby.

I guess Semin doesn’t consider scoring over 120 points, and winning the Hart, Art Ross, and Lester B. Pearson Trophies as a 19 year old to be “special” at all. Leading his team to the Stanley Cup Finals as the youngest captain in NHL history? Nope.

Actually, Crosby is just your run of the mill, average center.

Semin has had a fantastic start to this season, yes. He is tied with Malkin for the most points in the league, and has been scorching hot offensively. Still, at the end of the year there is essentially no chance Semin will remain anywhere near the top of the scoring race.

Like he has done his whole career, Semin will play well some games, and look invisible in others. He’ll play when he feels like it, and show flashes of brilliance at times. Teams will eventually have to key on Ovechkin (when he returns to the lineup from his personal visit to Russia) and Semin will be able to capitalize for 35 to 40 goals, a few more or less than the pass-first Crosby will net.

He is an inconsistent, unphysical floater with good sniping skills who has done absolutely nothing significant in the NHL for a prolonged period of time.

When Semin scores 120 points, wins a MVP, or finds some way to step out from the shadow of far superior players like Crosby, Malkin, and Ovechkin, maybe he can start talking smack.

It is truly amazing how nine games can make a player so cocky.

Comments

  1. Eric

    Nov 1, 01:13 AM

    I’m fine with him not being a fan of Crosby, or even disputing the way that Sidney has been marketed, but I think it’s a big reach to say he’s “nothing else.”

    Semin can talk when he plays a few months with a broken ankle and produces at roughly the same level.

  2. Ray

    Nov 1, 08:47 AM

    Envy never looked so good. [/sarcasm]

  3. teri

    Nov 1, 09:54 AM

    He can talk the talk…..but we know where he falls down.

    teri

  4. Fei

    Nov 1, 05:17 PM

    Semin is a good hockey player, but obviously crosby, geno and ovie are way better than he is. Semin is way above average, just that clearly his mouth needs some rinsing. Also, I don’t see him getting 120 points, but he has a good (not certain like crosby) chance of possibly getting a few awards somewhere along the path of his career; but if he continues like this he can start ripping Avery for not being a good enough bug.

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