Tarik on Semin, Fedorov

 Washington online discussion with Tarik El-Bashir, Jan. 9, 2009:

Tarik El-Bashir: Alex Semin beat up Bryan Muir in practice a few years ago. Haven't seen one since.

New York, NY: Tarik, you must mean that Semin slapped Brian Muir silly a few years ago?
No. Semin actually drew blood with a punch to the nose.

Helsinki: Hello Tarik, It seems that Semin is frequently out for extended periods with injuries that are rather vague eg "back." Are these legitimate injuries or is he particularly fragile? He is such a great player when healthy.
When healthy and motivated, Semin is as skilled as they come. But he came to training camp with back spasms, and twice now those back spasms have returned. It's also important to remember that every player has a different pain threshold. For example, Ovechkin's is incredibly high. Semin's? Not so much.

Chicago: Looking to the offseason -- who's contracts are up at the end of the year? Who is a threat to leave at the end of the season? Anyone we should be worried about?
Here are the big guys who will need contracts: Fedorov, Kozlov, Brashear, Fehr, Gordon, Morrisonn, Jurcina, Schultz and Johnson.

I think it's going to be tough to bring back Fedorov. Maybe, but tough considering his age and salary requirements.

Kozlov? Let's see how he finishes the season.

Johnson and Brashear? They are very good at their roles, and aren't expensive. But I don't sign the checks, and Simeon Varlamov looked good during his brief call up.

Morrisonn? If he wants $3 million per and a long term deal, he might price himself out of the Caps' range.

Jurcina would have been easy to peg early. But he's played so much better lately. Perhaps he's earned an extension. Perhaps.

Fehr, Gordon and Schultz will be back.

Just want to add that Semin did punch Flyers Hartnell right in the kisser during the playoffs. After that I didn't see Hartnell going after Semin anymore. As of pain threshold, it also depends on the injury. For example, Fedorov played in the playoffs with two broken ribs. Pretty tough? Yes, but I don't think anybody can play, even Ovechkin, with back spasms. That's impossible...

As of Fedorov, Tarik said many times last season that Fedorov won't be back. And then he said that he would be a 3rd/4th line center at best. Not to mention his saying that he won't pay a penny more what Crosby makes to Ovechkin. It's somewhere in my blog.

But Tarik gives his honest opinion and that's why we like him.