It's Like Déjà Vu All Over Again

As Caps fans delight in Alex Semin's scintillating start to the season, the rest of the League is taking notice of the "other" Alex as well.

Here's a sampling of what they're writing:

"Alexander Semin, goal machine. Most prognosticators expected a Russian ... to lead the Washington Capitals in scoring all season. But it wasn't Semin.... Nevertheless, there he is." - Adam Proteau, ESPN.com

"THAT a Russian named Alexander is leading the Washington Capitals in scoring should surprise absolutely no one. Except in this case the last name is Semen [sic], not Ovechkin." - Pierre LeBrun, Winnipeg Free Press

Wait, what's that you say? Those articles are both two years old?

Sure enough, two years ago today, Alex Semin was leading the Caps in scoring with eight goals and four helpers in ten games (Alex Ovechkin had six goals and four assists), and his "sweet hands" were the talk of the town.

Semin would go on to score 38 goals for the season, which was good for 13th in the League (and just eight fewer than Number Eight would score), but took a bit of a step backwards last year, due to injuries. He's a different player today than he was two years ago (thanks, Sergei!), but what's being written about him is hardly anything new.

Adam Proteau Is Smart

Or, perhaps more accurately, Adam Proteau agrees with me, as he has picked the Caps to win the Southeast Division (he even alludes to Glen Hanlon as being on the hook if things don't go according to plan).

Anyway, take in Proteau's words of wisdom below (and enjoy his brevity):

Why 1st? Because dammit, what would a pre-season NHL prediction series be without at least one shocker pick for a new, worst-to-first division champ?

The thing is, on paper, the Capitals are far from the basement dwellers they were last year. The sense some NHL observers have about the Caps is, while they're not yet genuine Stanley Cup contenders, they’ve got the components to mirror Atlanta’s 2006-07 campaign (i.e. road warriors in the regular season, roadkill in the playoffs).

Indeed, in the same way the Thrashers prospered by surrounding young stars Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk with veterans such as Slava Kozlov and Alexei Zhitnik, Washington added Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov and Tom Poti this summer to help "Alexanders (Ovechkin and Semin) The Greats" raise their games. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Ovechkin and Semin combine for 100 goals or more this season.

The similarities between the two teams continue: The Thrashers didn’t have a Ducks-like defense corps last year and the Caps don't this year; but both have above-average goaltending, as well as hardworking third and fourth-line forwards willing to come back and help their blueliners out. I like Washington’s forward unit more than I like Atlanta’s, which is why they get my nod over the Thrashers.

Now, coach Glen Hanlon may not survive the season if Washington stumbles out of the gate as they try to make all the new faces (including potential Calder Trophy candidate Nicklas Backstrom) fit in. Call it a hunch, but I bet they'll gel into one of the league's swiftest, most offensively dangerous teams rather quickly – and drop many a jaw in the process.

Where The Boys Were

The Hockey News' Adam Proteau has compiled a great list of the Top 10 Playoff Quotes, including this gem from then-Rangers GM Neil Smith following a 1991 first-round series loss to the Caps (it was also the second consecutive year the Caps excused the Blueshirts from the post-season):

The playoffs separate the men from boys, and we found out we have a lot of boys in our dressing room.

A Not-So Subtle Reminder That The NHL Is Rife With Neanderthals

No, this isn't about on-ice goonery, but rather about something far more disturbing. With the recent "coming out" of a former NBA player, the question has naturally turned to if and when players or former players in other leagues might find the courage or desire to do the same.

The Globe and Mail's Adam Proteau doesn't think it will happen in the NHL any time soon. In fact, Proteau quotes an anonymous General Manager as saying there is "[n]o chance whatsoever." In fact, this GM continued, "[y]ou’d have better odds of a guy coming out as a member of Al-Qaeda."

I'm not saying he's wrong in that assessment, but, to paraphrase Proteau's conclusion, "when hockey people are comparing gays to terrorists," there's something wrong with the culture of the game.

On a lighter (but somewhat-related note), when Canada passed a constitutional amendment allowing for gay marriage back during the NHL lockout, Brett Hull appeared on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update. When asked his thoughts on the amendment, Hull offered the following:

Well, that's what happens in Canada when there's no hockey. Guys have more time to hang out, talk about their feelings. Next thing you know, they're in love with each other. I've got nothing against it, but I'd rather be playing hockey.

Maybe the lockout did some good after all...