Evgeny Kuznetsov vs Alexander Semin

[Felidae]

Both highly skilled washington players that some may say underachieved relative to talent, and ended up leaving the NHL around the same age with a similar amount of GP.

Who was the better player? Consider everything from peak, prime, Career etc.


Evgeny Kuznetsov

47th in points from 2013-2023

Led playoffs in points during cup run
Points: 9th


Alexander Semin

55th in points from 2007-2015

Goals: 7
GPG: 4, 5
PPG: 4, 7

Click to read more...

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...nose candy or no nose candy??...

 

[Zuluss]

Semin had a bigger impact when healthy; alas, he only played 77 games per season twice and outside of that played less than 65 games per season, while Kuznetsov played 79+ five times.
HockeyReference prorates them to 19g+44a (Kuznetsov) vs. 30g+35a (Semin).
So in terms of talent and the ability to take over a game it is Semin, but it is close.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Eh, I'd say Kuznetsov had the better ability to take over a game. I think his skating and ability to create space was otherworldly. Something that Semin wasn't quite on that level of imo

Which is no slight to him at all, his ability to wheel and snipe is up there with the best of them

 

[sr edler]

Kuznetsov was the ingredient that finally put the Capitals over the top. When he fell off the face of the earth, so did his team as serious contenders.

Semin was really nice sniping and skating, but he didn't remotely zone-entry or drive overall play like peak Kuznetsov.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Kuznetsov was the ingredient that finally put the Capitals over the top. When he fell off the face of the earth, so did his team as serious contenders.

There was a lot more wrong with the team than that.

Backstrom also fell off a cliff at the same time, Oshie was significantly injured, and they lost a ton of talent to salary cap (Burakovsky, Nate Schmidt, Chandler Stephenson, Philip Grubauer, Niskanen, Orlov, etc.).

Nevermind that they had a cup winning coach and idiotically let him walk.

 

[895]

Kuzy was better but I’ll always have a soft spot for Semin.

I’ll never forget him loading up a slapshot on Tim Thomas from centre ice in OT and Tim Thomas sprinting off the ice afterwards lmao

 

[Coffee]

...nose candy or no nose candy??...

he stopped

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

he stopped

Sure.

 

[Coffee]

View attachment 975132


Sure.

I guess they gave him a 90 day token just cause of optics huh

 

[Miro4Norris]

Semin’s shot was lethal but Kuzys Conn-Smythe run is a differencemaker here

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

I guess they gave him a 90 day token just cause of optics huh

...the key is 90 days...in a year, talk to me; that's quitting...

 

[Coffee]

...the key is 90 days...in a year, talk to me; that's quitting...

Fair enough, wish the dude the best

 

[rockymtnoyster]

Semin had a wicked shot, but have to say Kuzy. More impactful overall, won faceoffs and was better defensively.

 

[Felidae]

Semin had a wicked shot, but have to say Kuzy. More impactful overall, won faceoffs and was better defensively.

I thought Semin was actually pretty good defensively? Ive seen a few posters say that. But I've never heard that from Kuznetsov.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

was good but the bird celly clears