Screenshot: NBC Sports Washington
The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins’ meeting at Capital One Arena is the latest chapter in the two teams’ well-known rivalry, heightened in its fanfare since the debuts of Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in 2005. Thursday night’s tilt was attended by longtime Capitals forward Alexander Semin.
No stranger to the rivalry between the two teams (in his career, “The Other Alex” as he was known during his time in D.C., recorded 12 Goals and 27 Points in 34 career Games Played against the Pens), Semin was originally drafted by the Capitals in the first-round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and played for the team from 2003-2012.
Hey, we know him!!! 👋#CapsPens | @Capitals pic.twitter.com/RG415zFd5l
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 27, 2023
Semin, who along with fellow countryman Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Green were part of the “Young Guns” era, was as dynamic an offensive player, with a potent shot that ranks him sixth (197) in Goals, tied-10th in Power Play Goals (55), 10th (28) in Game-Winning Goals, and fifth (7) in franchise history, respectively. In seven seasons in the District, the enigmatic forward recorded 197 Goals, 211 Assists, and 408 Points in 469 Games Played.
The now-38-year old received a warm reception from the Capitals faithful upon being recognized on the jumbotron.
A warm welcome back tonight to @Capitals Alum Alexander Semin ‼️ #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/HmhwqVZMMI
— Annie Mae (@anniemaemedia) January 27, 2023
Semin, who also played stints with the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens (briefly), was undoubtedly an offensive talent, however injuries, a reserved personality off the ice, and a perception of not always having the best work ethic made his departure from Washington a somewhat sour one.
Alex Semin at the @Capitals game tonight @CapitalOneArena. He says hello to all Caps fans!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/8KJmUIKM2B
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) January 27, 2023
Since ending a 15-game stint with the Habs in 2015-16, the Krasnoyarsk, Russia native has played mostly in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), suiting up for Metallurg Magnitogorsk and HC Vityaz near Moscow, winning the Gagarin Cup in 2016 with a team that included former Capitals Oskar Osala and Wojtek Wolski and goalie Ilya Samsonov.
Semin’s last season as a player was with HC Vityaz in the KHL in 2020-21. He announced his retirement as a player this summer and held a Farewell to Hockey charity game to celebrate his retirement. In attendance for that game were Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov, and Pavel Datsyuk.
He was named President of his hometown team in September 2022, after announcing his retirement last summer.
SASHA!!!
Good to have you back in the District#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/0y6oKl9lOl
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 27, 2023
By Michael Fleetwood
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