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Continental Hockey League (KHL) -  QUEBEC — At least Ken Hitchcock knew it was coming. The Canadian coach predicted Monday morning that his team was in for a “wakeup call” just hours before it was beaten 4-1 by Russia in the final exhibition game before the start of the IIHF World Hockey Championship. Hockey Canada scouts had watched Russia's 6-2 win over Switzerland a night earlier in nearby Trois-Rivieres, Que., and told Hitchcock that they would be a handful. “I think overall this is going to be the wakeup call we need,” Hitchcock said before the game. “I think tomorrow we're going to know exactly what we need to work on. (Globesports.com article) READ MORE

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Continental Hockey League (KHL) -  Alexander Radulov (Nashville Predators), Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) joined the Russian national team in Quebec. They will also join already present NHLers Dmitri Kalinin (Buffalo Sabres) and Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers) among others.

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World Championships -  Washington’s young forward Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), who had been scheduled to play for Russia at the World Championships, has recently been excluded from the national team by head coach Vyacheslav Bykov for failing to arrive at training camp on time. While the management of the national team has commented on Semin’s exclusion from the team multiple times, citing the importance of discipline, this is Semin’s first account of his side of the story and the miscommunication that occurred between him and selectional coach Sergei Nemchinov. READ MORE

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World Championships -  Washington’s young forward Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), who had been scheduled to play for Russia at the World Championships, has recently been excluded from the national team by head coach Vyacheslav Bykov for failing to arrive at training camp on time. While the management of the national team has commented on Semin’s exclusion from the team multiple times, citing the importance of discipline, this is Semin’s first account of his side of the story and the miscommunication that occurred between him and selectional coach Sergei Nemchinov. READ MORE

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World Championships -  Team Russia coaching staff announced today that Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) has been released by the team for missing the announced deadline for reporting to the squad. It is unclear whether the young forward who has enjoyed a career season in the NHL will get a second chance to join the team or whether this is it for his chances to skate in front of the home audience at the 2007 World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

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Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals)'s game worn HC Traktor jersey added READ MORE

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World Championships -  Igor Grigorenko (Detroit Red Wings) and Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) both missed practices on Tuesday due to a high temperature. The two forwards however were in the lineup against Slovakia yesterday and skated for team Russia. Team Russia’s head coach had the following to say when asked by a Gazeta.ru correspondent why the forwards were on the ice when they were sick:

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Alexander Semin and the Washington Capitals reached an agreement, paving the way for the young forward’s return to North America. Still under contract with the Capitals, Semin agreed to fulfill the final two years of his original rookie deal with the club. Most importantly, the two sides reaching an accord means that all the sanctions filed by the club against Semin will be lifted. This was a serious concern after the Capitals suspended him following Semin’s return to Russia in order to avoid skating in the AHL, and then the subsequent litigation initiated by the club to try to stop him from playing for a club in Russia.

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Semin (Washington Capitals) Likely Back Next Season (Washington Post article) READ MORE

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Karjala Cup (EuroTour) -  Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals): I Was Emphatically Suggested in Togliatti Not to Leave READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) has been transferred to Khimik (Vosskresensk) along with experienced winger Alexander Buturlin (Montreal Canadians). Still, the question remains whether the young forward will heed the US District Court ruling regarding his ineligibility to play for a club other than the Washington Capitals or the NHL club’s affiliate. We will not find out for at least another week, as the Super League is stopping play during the Karjala Cup EuroTour International Tournament. Unfortunately, due to the military obligations, it appears that the young forward will remain in Russian and hence play for Khimik, but a glimmer of hope for a compromise still exists.

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Russian Super League -  US District Court ruled today against Mark Gandler and Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), specifying that the young forward is not allowed to play for another professional hockey team. The Capitals say it's a step in the right direction, but what does it all really mean? READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  NHL's Washington Capitals sue for Alexander Semin READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  Military duty clouds Alexander Semin situation (Washington Capitals NHL) READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  Alexander Semin's (Washington Capitals) interview about life after Lada (Sport Express) READ MORE

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Russian Super League -  According to a reliable source, RSL club Lada (Togliatti)’s budget will be cut by approximately 50% in the coming month during the November transfer period. This means that the club’s top paid players will likely be released or loaned to other RSL clubs. Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), is currently the club’s top paid player after the departure of all other NHL players. He will likely be one of the first victims of the budget crisis.

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Russian Super League -  Alexander Semin may return to Washington after all. Today, Lada (Togliatti) has fired it’s new general manager, Sergei Mikhalev, reportedly due to severe financial strain. In an interview with Soviet Sport newspaper correspondent Pavel Lysenkov, Sergei Mikhalev had the following to say about the club’s future: "It is likely that the club’s budget will be severely cut, and this will, of course, be reflected on the club’s roster". He then further added that "the club cut the hockey school’s coaching staff in half. I don’t believe these will be the only changes in the organization".

Thus, it appears that Lada’s highest paid player, Alexander Semin, will likely be among the first cut players. His availability to play in the NHL is unclear, as he was initially reported on Washington’s roster, but then did not attend camp. He has an existing contract with Washington, hence should be able to return to the NHL, despite the start of the regular season. One of the main hurdles that is blocking his return is the fact that the club suspended him due to breach of contract when Semin refused to report to AHL’s Portland. It remains to be seen if the club will be willing to take the forward back if he becomes available, or if the young talented forward will instead be traded to one of the league’s wealthier, oil sponsored clubs like Avangard or Ak Bars.

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Russian Super League -  After working hard to get back in shape since deciding to remain in Russia instead of returning to Washington, Alexander Semin (Washington) finally showed the hockey that made him one of the Super League’s top snipers during the 2004-05 season. The young forward notched his third and fourth goals of the season, leading his struggling Lada (Togliatti) to a rare victory over the 2005 Super League champions Dynamo (Moscow).

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Ceska Poistovna (EuroTour) -  Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) may not accompany the Russian national team to September’s Ceska Poistovna EuroTour tournament. In an interview with the Soviet Sport newspaper, he explained his situation:

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Russian Super League -  It appears that one of the brightest 2003-04 NHL rookies is coming back to the NHL. The young forward was involved in a bit of controversy when he was suspended by the Washington Capitals at the beginning of the 2004-05 season for not showing up for Washington’s AHL affiliate’s training camp. Instead, he spent the 2004-05 season skating for Lada (Togliatti) in the Russian Super League, establishing himself as one of the league’s top snipers. The young forward also saw ice time on Russia’s national team. Prior to the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Semin signed a new one year contract with Lada, seemingly deciding to remain in Russia. There was also his military service to consider, as Semin was conscripted into the Russian military prior to last season. However, despite the contract and the military service, Semin is on his way back to North America and will take his place as one of the key building blocks besides other young rookies, including the 2004 NHL Entry Draft’s first overall selection Alexander Ovechkin. For Lada, Semin’s departure further opens a gaping hole, as the young forward is another of a series of players to leave the club for the NHL, including Nikolai Antropov, Danius Zubrus, Anton Volchenkov>, and Viktor Kozlov.

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According to Lada’s press center, the RSL club signed Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) to a one year contract extension. The young forward was the club’s leading scorer last season with 19 goals. While he does currently hold a NHL contract, Semin is also apparently serving out the last year of his 2 year military obligations after being conscripted last summer. The deal appears to be independent of the NHL lockout, but even if this is the case, if the lockout concludes this summer the situation with Semin may quickly shift in favor of the Capitals.

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World Championships -  Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) missed Russia’s opener against Austria due to a cold. The young forward was replaced on Russia’s second line with Fedor Fedorov (Vancouver Canucks), who skated with Alexei Yashin and Viktor Kozlov. Coach Krikunov has stated that Semin is day to day and should return to the lineup in the coming days.

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Russian Super League -  Despite being back in the lineup, Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) continues to be bothered by a foot injury he suffered in January that forced him to miss the Sweden Games international tournament. The young forward has since returned to action, but has not fully recovered from the injury and has remained scoreless in the five games since his return.

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Sweden Games (EuroTour) -  Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) suffered a bruised prior to the national team’s training camp opening in Novogorsk, and due to the severity of the injury, he was forced to leave the training camp for further recovery. His replacement on the national team is former Ottawa Senators second round selection and current Phoenix Coyotes forward Petr Schastlivy. Schastlivy has skated the 2004-05 season with Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl).

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Sweden Games (EuroTour) -  Team Russia’s coach Vladimir Plyuschev announced some of the invitees to the squad’s training camp that will take place prior to the Sweden Games, the final leg of the EuroTour competition. The list will include the long awaited debut of 2004 NHL Entry Draft’s second overall pick Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins). According to a Soviet Sport interview with Vladimir Plyuschev, if Malkin did not skate for Russia at the U20 WJC, he would have already been a member of the squad at December’s ROSSNO cup in Moscow.

Besides Malkin, the roster will also include veteran Alexander Skugarev, Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals), Dmitri Afanasenkov (Tampa Bay Lightning), Maxim Kondratiev (New York Rangers), and a newcomer to the national team, Denis Metlyuk.

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Russian Super League -  LADA (Togliatti)

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Despite his apparent NHL tensions following Semin’s (Washington Capitals #13/2002) suspension by the Washington Capitals for not showing up at the training camp of the club’s AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, he has been Lada’s top forward hands down during the first 15 games of the Super League’s regular season. This is also considering that the young forward only skated in the club’s last nine games. He has been a cog in the team’s offense, leading the team in goals. The young forward has come along especially strong in the last couple of games, where he score a goal in Lada’s blowout 5:1 of Sibir, and added two more in another 5:1 victory, this time over a seemingly strong Metallurg Novokuznetsk. While not the NHL, the Super League provides Semin some great experience at a competitive level of hockey higher than the AHL, and it’s hard to say that he is not learning the NHL game with a linemate like New Jersey’s center Viktor Kozlov centering his line.

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Despite his apparent NHL tensions following Semin’s (Washington Capitals #13/2002)suspension by the Washington Capitals for not showing up at the training camp of the club’s AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, he has been Lada’s top forward hands down during the first 15 games of the Super League’s regular season. This is also considering that the young forward only skated in the club’s last nine games. He has been a cog in the team’s offense, leading the team in goals with six in just nine games played. The young forward has come along especially strong in the last couple of games, where he score a goal in Lada’s blowout 5:1 of Sibir, and added two more in another 5:1 victory, this time over a seemingly strong Metallurg Novokuznetsk. While not the NHL, the Super League provides Semin some great experience at a competitive level of hockey higher than the AHL, and it’s hard to say that he is not learning the NHL game with a linemate like New Jersey’s center Viktor Kozlov centering his line.

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Caps suspend Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals #11/2002) for not reporting (Washington Times article) READ MORE

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Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals #11/2002) suspended by the Capitals - George McPhee statement (URL: http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?link_id=236 READ MORE

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Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals #11/2002) skated in first match for Lada Togliatti yesterday. The young forward skated on the same line with the Nesterov, a center with whom he spent the highly successful 2002-03 season. On the other wing, instead of Boikov, the line was completed by another NHLer, Viktor Kozlov. Semin played his usual, fast paced game, but failed to really stand out with any great scoring chances.

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Caps development camp got underway yesterday without much of a Russian presence. While Alexander Semin flew in from Russia for the camp, he did not participate in the first day of activities, recovering from a strained ankle. Alexander Ovechkin, the Capitals top overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, is still not signed by the Capitals and did not attend the development camp, staying in Russia with Dynamo (Moscow), his Super League (Russia 1) club. In a radio interview with the Sports 980 radio station, the Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee stated that the club had no plans to sign Ovechkin before the NHL reaches a transfer agreement with the IIHF. The GM further stated that the club had no plans to negotiate individually with a club for the rights to a player. Reportedly, Dynamo Moscow was looking for as much as two million dollars for the release of the young winger from the last year of his contract with the Russian club.

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AHL Playoffs -  Despite his amazing playoff performance, Alexander Semin is headed home as the Portland Pirates lost the quarterfinal series in five games to the Hartford Wolfpack. The young forward slowed down towards the end of the playoff run, losing a bit of his step seemingly bothered something, possibly an injury. As in most other games, he had his chances in game five, hitting the post with four minutes left in the first period and being robbed by LaBarbera with a great glove save with just over a minute left in the second period.

While he hasn’t been as spectacular as the Wolfpack fans may have hoped, Fedor Tyutin continues to make an impact for his team. Hartford’s second goal was scored by Wiseman, after collected a rebound off Tyutin’s booming shot and put it behind Maxime Ouellet.

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AHL Playoffs -  Alexander Semin was supposed to make an impact with the Pirates, helping the club make a playoff run. To the surprise of many, Semin has not only helped, but has single-handedly jumpstarted the Pirates’ offense and added a very significant threat to the lineup. During the first round of the AHL playoffs against the Providence Bruins, the Pirates scored six or more goals in both games

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AHL Playoffs -  Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) lead Portland into the first official round of the AHL playoffs, collecting a hattrick and an assist in the Pirates’ 6:2 win over the Providence Bruins. The young forward scored his first goal in the second period, when he skated through traffic and beat Bruins goalie Tim Thomas. He then scored his second tally with five minutes left in the third period, again skating through traffic and letting a high wrist shot go to beat Thomas by the crossbar. His final goal was an empty netter.

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AHL Playoffs -  Alexander Semin netted his third goal in two nights, helping his club secure a playoff spot with a 3:2 victory over the Springfield Falcons.

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AHL Playoffs -  The Portland Pirates went ahead of Lowell in the battle for the final playoff spot with the 3:2 win over conference rival. Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) scored a pair of goals for Washington’s AHL affiliate, leading his club to the victory. He tied the game with his first goal when the young forward scored on a power play slap shot. He then scored the game winner with 2:43 left in the game, when he got behind opposition’s defender and put a pass from Jason Ulmer above Lowell’s Storr, who went down early to protect the low end of the net from a one timer. (Source: The Lowell Sun newspaper)

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Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Semin has been in the news quite a bit lately - getting permission to play for Russia at the U20 WJC, then having issues with the team's head coach, Rafael Ishmatov and getting kicked off the team, and now finally being allowed back on the team. Let's hope his performance in the tournament will be only positive and not as controversial as his road there.

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U20 World Junior Championships -  Yesterday Sport Express newspaper reported that several days before the U20 WJC, Washington Capitals forward Alexander Semin was cut by the team’s head coach, Alexander Ishmatov. Yesterday, the head coach changed his mind, reversing a potentially mortal decision for Russia’s U20 squad.

Semin commented the follows to SE correspondent Alexander Shapiro:

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U20 World Junior Championships -  Washington Capitals forward Alexander Semin was not in the lineup for the U20 Russian squad during the friendly game against the senior national stands, but he was in the stands and said a couple of words to the Sovetsky Sport newspaper correspondent: "I was really surprised that I was allowed to go. An invitation came from the national team, I made my wish to go clear, but honestly, thought that I would go straight to Finland. Then suddenly the Capitals management informs me: You are flying out today!"

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U20 World Junior Championships -  RussianProspects.com has confirmed that Washington Capitals player Alexander Semin has left Washington today for Russia to join Russia's U20 squad, currently preparing for the World Junior Championships.

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According to the Washington Times, Washington Capitals GM George McPhee stated last night that he expects left wing Alexander Semin to join the Russian National team for the U20 WJC.

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Washington Capitals 19 year old forward Alexander Semin scored his first NHL goal against the Atlanta Thrashers. He took the puck in the neutral zone and streaked into Atlanta's zone, beating one defenseman, then putting the goalie down and skating around him.

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Capitals Enter the Teen Age: Islanders Will See Three 19-Year-Olds
The Daily News article discussing the debut of several 19 year olds on the Capitals roster. The focus is on the newcomer Alexander Semin. The article discusses the young man's adjustments to North America. Note: linked articles may expire and become inaccessible, per media source's archiving guidlines.

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Caps' Miller remains an afterthought
The Washington Times article regarding Kip Miller's situation with the Capitals. At one point in the article, Miller talks about Washington's Alexander Semin Note: linked articles may expire and become inaccessible, per media source's archiving guidlines.