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The Capitals figured if you do something that worked out well one year they’d might as well do it all over again to see if pans out the same way. The Caps signed streaky Russian winger Alexander Semin to a one-year contract extension today, repeating the same thing they did last year with Semin approaching restricted free agency.
Capitals sign Alexander Semin to a one-year extension worth $6.7 million
Semin would’ve become an unrestricted free agent after this season and it’s clear that Caps GM George McPhee feels comfortable having him around. He’s paying up a bit more to do so though as Semin’s salary will go from $6 million this season to $6.7 million next year.
Seeing the Caps and Semin go through this curious dance each year is fascinating to see in an era when landing the long-term contract for big money is generally what happens. Seeing Semin go year-to-year on his last two contracts, ones where he could’ve cashed in in a big way is fascinating to see. It works out well for the Caps since they’re not making a huge commitment and while the money is large year to year, if things don’t work out and Semin can’t stay consistent they can just walk away at the end of the year or deal him off to another team that might be desperate.
As long as Semin’s been healthy, his goal production has been steady. Last season he scored 40 building off the previous season in which he scored 34. Keeping him healthy has always been the bugaboo though. This season through 39 games played, Semin has 18 goals and 17 assists keeping him on target for the same kind of production we’ve always seen out of him.
With that sort of steady, yet frustrating, production it is most curious that the Capitals haven’t signed him to a longer contract but you have to think the method behind that madness is simple and that the trust level from the Caps front office isn’t totally there.
-PHT
