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In an interview with Daria Tuboltseva of Championat.com, former Washington Capitals player Alexander Semin says he is not done with hockey and promises to return. He declared, “I have something to prove and want to fight for the Gagarin Cup again.” 

Semin, 33, was asked about his activities since leaving Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Semin stated he’s been training with Krasnoyarsk Sokol (Falcon), the hockey team located in his home town. During the summer, he went to Dubai with his family and upon returning, started training with Krasnoyarsk.

Semin was asked about his application to Siberian Federal University to study metallurgy. He replied that he did this “with a vision to the future”. He refuted the idea that it meant he was giving up hockey. He was given a special schedule that will allow him to combine his studies with playing hockey, if necessary.

Semin was asked if he was worried about the entrance exam and replied that he was a little anxious. He wrote what he knew on the exam and it turned out well enough that he passed.

Alex was asked if he missed hockey and answered that he did, having not played in a while. He said he still watches hockey in the evenings with his son, who also likes hockey. Semin was asked about a possible deal with the KHL club, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, but answered that the press seemed to know more about that than he did, and that his agent was handling any deals.

Semin indicated that his main criteria for a team would be getting playing time, with competing for the Gagarin Cup as a bonus. That had also been his main criteria when he signed with Metallurg.

He was asked if he would be interested in returning to the NHL and answered that his agent would deal with all proposals, with everything being under negotiation. Semin said as soon as his agent can arrange a deal, he would go right away, whether to the NHL or the KHL.

In response to questions about his NHL career, he still follows his old teams, especially the Caps. He says he wouldn’t change anything and doesn’t like to speculate about how to change the past.

Semin was asked about which set of linemates were his favorite. He replied that they all had their good features and cited enjoying playing with Alexander Ovechkin and Dainius Zubrus, but also enjoyed playing with Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov at the “peak” of his career. He also enjoyed playing with Nicklas Backstrom.

Alex was asked about the time Pierre McGuire had referred to him as a “Coach Killer”. He replied that he did not know what McGuire meant and figured that McGuire was trying to attract attention from an audience. Another sports writer from Russia, Igor Eronko, translated Semin’s answer to that question to be “If I was the ‘Ultimate Coach Killer’, I’d never play that long in the NHL. I’d like to get back overseas.”

In response to how long he hopes to keep playing hockey, he answered that he’d play as long as he is healthy enough, is still useful as a player, and clubs are interested.

You can read the full interview here.

By Diane Doyle