Alexander Semin: Top Five Teams to Help His NHL Career

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For those who are familiar with Alexander Semin and his already lengthy NHL career, the doubts have become a reality and the once-upon-a-time Russian star is now looking for a second wind with a third NHL team. He had a successful run with the Washington Capitals but embarrassed both himself and the Carolina Hurricanes’ front office last season with his $7-million price tag for six goals. Needless to say, Semin is on the move and looking for a new home in the NHL.

Is there still a chance for a turnaround? When you consider the level of skill Semin possesses, it is hard to completely discount the chance of a successful comeback, especially with what we have seen him do in the past.

With the a good team and the right coach, Semin could flourish under a new system if given the opportunity. According to Igor Eronko’s twitter account, Semin has opened the door to a one-year contract to help reestablish himself as an offensive threat in the NHL.

Semin's agent says Alexander is ok with a 1-year deal for now. Refuses to talk about an option of the #KHL
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) July 5, 2015

His announcement to join an NHL team for just one year suggests Semin is on the path to improving. Forcing another contract year will allow him to prove his skills and fight for one more payday before he hangs them up. Not to mention, Semin is set to make a little over $2 million for the next five years off the Canes, which should make it a lot easier for the overpaid Russian to accept a lower salary.

He is a speedy and skilled winger but there are only so many teams, if any, willing to take a long-term chance on the oft-injured Semin. For teams looking to boost their top-six scoring with a high-risk, high-reward candidate, Semin could be the best possible option this summer. Lucky for them, Semin seems eager to take the best opportunity available to him.

Here are the top five destinations that could help turn Semin’s NHL career around next season.

Next: #5: Mo' Money, No Problems for the Nashville Predators

James Neal

is the most productive right winger on the Nashville Predators but Semin’s offensive help would give them a solid boost in secondary scoring . Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators have the most money to spend in the NHL and have only a few holes to fill. Their goaltending is solidified with Pekka Rinne and their defensive unit is spearheaded by one of the NHL’s best in Shea Weber. With over $20 million in cap space, the Preds have several options in terms of who to spend their money on.

Filip Forsberg was the major story in Nashville last season and should see first line minutes with James Neal and Mike Ribeiro. However, in terms of a second unit, the Predators could benefit from more consistent offensive production. While Semin has been far from a consistent offensive player over the last few seasons, a revitalized version could surely do some damage in Nashville. The speed of the second line alongside Mike Fisher could be a nice weapon for the Predators, especially as a compliment to the first unit.

The Predators are a very strong defensive team and have some of the better two-way forwards in the NHL. Based on Semin’s shortfalls, even at his peak, a strong defensive team will allow him to operate in the areas he prefers rather than being a two-way forward, which he is not. If Semin could squeeze into a second line role while playing heavy minutes on the powerplay, his value in Nashville will be immense.

The Predators still need to sign Colin Wilson and Craig Smith who should be receiving pay increases. Regardless of that, the Predators need to consider signing Semin for primarily an added edge down the stretch, something they lacked in 2014-15.

Next: #4: Hitting the Lone Star State With the Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are on their way up and some veteran secondary scoring is a step in the right direction. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Stars have made all the right moves to beef up their team in both the short and long-run. Bringing in Jason Spezza gives them incredible depth down the middle with Tyler Seguin and Cody Eakin, and adding Antti Niemi to the goaltending mix only solidifies their back-end. The most recent deal that brought Patrick Sharp to Dallas gives them even more depth on the left wing.

The Stars are approaching the level of top contender but in terms of a top-six unit, they are still lacking on the right wing. Ales Hemsky is extremely injury prone and Valeri Nichushkin is still trying to develop a consistent NHL game. The Stars are on the cusp of becoming a top team in the NHL and improving their depth on the right side is imperative to their success. Hemsky could be very successful playing third line minutes and both Semin and Nichushkin can man the top two lines. With Semin added to the powerplay, the Stars would have two very deadly units on the man advantage and should be able to find the right combination as the season progresses.

Adding Semin to the right wing will not only help the Stars produce more offense, but take away some of the pressure on players like Benn and Seguin. If Nichushkin or Hemsky find themselves on the first line, Semin could produce quite well with the second unit alongside Spezza, or worst case, be one of the best scoring wingers playing the third line. He seems willing to accept a lower offer this time around and the Stars should take full advantage of that.

After the Sharp deal, the Stars still have a little over $5 million to spend. If Semin wants to succeed with a rising contender and is willing to take a pay cut, Dallas could be the perfect fit, making them one of the teams to watch in 2015-16.

Next: #3: Breaking Bread with the New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils have several veterans on the roster and could benefit from adding another body to make a difference. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

When you consider the current New Jersey Devils’ roster, several veterans are banning together to help turn the team around. Patrik Elias and Mike Cammalleri are the main offensive producers and the team has always been a strong defensive group. A player with Semin’s skill set could help turn things around in New Jersey and his defensive game will not be relied upon as much, which is a huge plus for both parties.

The Devils’ forwards are also very versatile, playing multiple positions to help balance the top-six group and to generate more production. The addition of Semin would help increase the offensive output of their top two lines while adding a nice pop to their powerplay unit. Not to mention, the Devils may finally find a consistent group of players to run their top two lines, instead of shuffling them around all season long.

Based on the weaknesses of the Devils, there may not be a better option for them to ramp up their offensive production. There are very few players in the free agency market that could help the team in a similar way, which means the Devils need to be in the mix when it comes to signing Semin. They have very few prospects to rely on and have a team that needs to win now. Many of these players are going to retire in the next few years and Cory Schneider is not getting any younger. The Devils need to take full advantage of their current roster and find the best solutions to be successful next season.

The most helpful part for a conservative team like the Devils is the one-year contract. If the Devils can get Semin to prove himself for one year, they could have a much more solidified offensive producer on their roster. Then again, after their experience with Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils could be reluctant to sign a similar player in terms of financial demands. Nevertheless, the Devils need his services…badly.

Next: #2: Heading North for the Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens need some extra help up front if they’re going to make it far in the NHL playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens have performed well during the regular season but have come up short in the NHL playoffs. Carey Price has carried the team and established himself as one of the premiere franchise players in the league. However, based on the past few seasons, an elite goalie is just not enough.

In terms of forwards, the Canadiens have been giving younger prospects like Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher every opportunity to take the next step. Sadly, both their developments have taken longer than expected and the Canadiens are feeling the burn as the postseason rolls around. While Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec carry the offensive burden, the Canadiens have very little depth at forward, especially on the wing.

The Canadiens have drafted well to replenish the wing position and it will be up to players like Jacob De La Rose to fight for an NHL roster spot. Trading for Devante Smith-Pelly was also a good move for the Canadiens but they need a much stronger and more consistent offensive talent to help them immediately. They have tried a few quick fixes in the past but none of them flourished.

Players like Danny Briere were way over the hill to have a significant impact. Semin is only 31 years old and is ready to find his game once again. If he slipped into a first line role with Plekanec and Pacioretty, the second unit of Galchenyuk, Gallagher and David Desharnais could become a very productive group. Desharnais has proven his playmaking ability and both Galchenyuk and Gallagher need to step it up next season. Getting consistent second line minutes along with special teams time should allow both youngsters to breakout in 2015-16.

Semin is playing for a contract and signing him to a one year deal will give the Canadiens a chance to build an offensive unit with more than one source of production. His skill set at it’s highest potential is exactly what the Canadiens need and, with an aging Andrei Markov manning the defensive group alongside P.K. Subban, Semin could be the best quick-fix solution for the Canadiens to find immediate success.

Next: #1: Taking in the Sunshine with the Forida Panthers

The Florida Panthers approaching Alexander Semin could be one of the most mutually-beneficial signings of the NHL free agency period . Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Is there a more perfect fit than the Florida Panthers?

Semin is a highly-skilled, fast-paced player and the Cats are exactly that. They are young, determined and have one of the strongest young corps in the NHL. They are determined to make it back to the NHL playoffs and Semin needs a second birth just like the Panthers. His abilities will improve one of the few weak areas on the Panthers which is scoring, but there are a few other reasons this could be a match made in hockey heaven.

First and foremost, there is absolutely no competition for him on the right wing. After Jaromir Jagr, the Panthers have absolutely no legitimate option. They tried out Brad Boyes on the second line last season but his buyout suggests the Panthers were not pleased, to say the least. They have more than enough money and could use another veteran presence in the locker room. Their goaltending is solidified with Roberto Luongo and their defensive group is getting better with every season. With Semin’s offensive skill, either Aleksander Barkov or Nick Bjugstad will have an opportunity to take their scoring numbers to another level. Jonathan Huberdeau has yet to be signed, but the potential of those three young talents playing with Jagr and Semin is something to consider.

For Semin, playing with Jaromir Jagr should be the biggest motivator. While they play the same position and might not see ice-time together, Semin has a lot to learn from the 43-year old legend. Jagr is one of the hardest working players in the league and carries tremendous discipline and motivation, something Semin has lacked for most of his career. Playing with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom can inflate your statistics sometimes, just ask every fill in on the right wing in Washington. If Semin wants to find his stride and learn how to keep it going for a few more years, there is no better example than Jagr. You are the company you keep, and this could be a huge career move for the 31-year old Russian.

No matter where Semin lands, you can bet he is on a path to reform. He has impeccable skill and his vow to sign a one-year deal suggests a new found level of motivation. After taking a vacation with the Hurricanes, it seems Semin is ready to get back to business as a premiere winger in the NHL, which should be a great story heading into the 2015-16 NHL season.

Next: Montreal Canadiens Need Alexander Semin to Contend

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