The Carolina Hurricanes surprised many people in the hockey community on Monday by re-signing star winger Alexander Semin to a massive five-year, $35 million contract.
TSN's Aaron Ward was the first to report the news.
After a lackluster 2011-12 season with the Washington Capitals, there didn't seem to be much interest in Semin in free agency last summer despite his extraordinary offensive skill set. Concerns about his effort level, inconsistent scoring, work ethic and defensive play may have caused his free-agent stock to drop.
Semin decided to take a one-year deal with the Hurricanes for $7 million and has become a dedicated player with a strong work ethic. Now he must prove that his performance and effort this season in Carolina will be consistent for the duration of his new contract.
Some fans worry that Semin's motivation to perform at an elite level will lessen now that he's been given a long-term contract and $35 million, and it's a fair concern given his history.
To his credit, Semin has been productive offensively with 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 30 games this season, while also ranking second on ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Nicholas Goss
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