Kessel v. Semin

[Baron Von Snipeski]

Was offered Kessel for my Semin. Really not sure which way to go with this one. Would I be buying low on Kessel? The Lupul factor is obviously in play....but Kessel scores. Does a streaky Semin on an up-and-coming Canes team play motivated?

Appreciate the thoughts.

[ridinryan44]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Snipeski

Was offered Kessel for my Semin. Really not sure which way to go with this one. Would I be buying low on Kessel? The Lupul factor is obviously in play....but Kessel scores. Does a streaky Semin on an up-and-coming Canes team play motivated?

Appreciate the thoughts.

I'd rather have Kessel over Semin in any format..

[Yardsale]

Another vote for Kessel

[hockeyrobot]

Kessler for sure. Definitely a buy low

[JHM]

Kessel. Another tough season and we may see Semin KHL bound. Age to Kessel. Points - it's pretty hard to criticize Kessel right now.

Semin is uber-talented, so was/is Kovalev, so is Zherdev, so was Bryan Fogarty... Too often the sum of the parts is far greater than the result for Semin. He and the world might really have had something if he oozed hockey from every pore 24/7.

Kessel showed his upper window last year. Cross your fingers he's consistent and grab him. He has far more trade value than Semin, if you don't prefer him.

[CHunter]

Give me Kessel over Semin everyday of the week....

[Baron Von Snipeski]

Appreciate the feedback guys.

[klaud_lundgren]

I will say that Semin is starting to get some chemistry with Staal and looked like a difference maker even against the Bruins. Kessel is a great talent, but he can't make too much happen by himself. I like Semin to make some waves in the next few weeks.

[pbhockey4]

I've gotta agree with klaud, Semin looked pretty good tonight against the B's and what surprised me was that he was playing very, very hard. I think Semin gets a bad rep from his days in Washington, but given the state of that organization and all the different coaching changes, maybe it just wasn't a good fit. Perhaps on a team where he plays at the very most 4th fiddle (to both Staals and Skinner) will do wonders for him. Just a hunch, but he seems like a guy who will produce when the spotlight is off of him.

In a one year league, I think I'd actually take Semin. Give me the guy who has topped the 70 point mark 3 times over the guy who's only done it once. Also, since it's a one year league and not a keeper, there's no need to consider whether Semin leaves for the KHL next year. He's showing some great chemistry with Eric Staal, and the fact that the Canes have a very competent second line takes a lot of pressure of Semin (something that Washington didn't really have). As I think Angus pointed out in an article last summer, Semin is severely underrated because of injury concerns and supposed "attitude" problems, but his talent is unbelievable and he contributes a lot more on the ice than just offense. I mean he's played over 20 mins a night every single game for the Canes this season, so he must be doing something right. He also manages to get a decent amount of PIMs, which could give him another edge over Kessel. I know I'm in the minority, but I'll take my chances on Semin this year.

[BladesOfSteel]

I would most definitely take Semin over Kessel this season. I personally don't think Kessel will ever reach the points totals that he reached last season, and I think Semin is equally as deadly of a sniper. Lest we forget his 40 goals, 84 pts outburst just a few seasons ago. Semin was lost in Washington and Carolina seems like the perfect fit. Throw in the fact that he's in a 1-year contract year, on a squad playing with big talented forwards in Staal, Staal and Skinner, I think Semin is a big sleeper to put up elite stats as a duel-eligibility winger this season.

For this season, I would take Semin over Kessel.