Silver Nuggets: Which Is More Likely Series Semin vs Ovechkin

Dave's not here today which gives me an opportunity to point out what an excellent job he's done with the WIML series the past few weeks. I've been away and it was great to check in with the site daily and see the debate generated by Dave's thoughtful comparisons. Our community really is lucky to get such high quality daily updates. While subbing in for him today, I'll try to continue the series in the same vein.

Yesterday, Dave focused our attention on the Senators management when he asked if Dave Cameron would be the next coach of the Sens or if Tim would take over for Uncle Bryan. By an overwhelming margin, you voted in favour of Tim Murray. B_T put it best:

Went with Tim

I certainly think both are possible, but neither likely this year. And that’s what it comes down to. I expect the Paulrus to be around longer than Bryan Murray. Murray is signed through the end of the 13-14 season, and I expect he’ll retire at that point, or at least take a less demanding position to ease into retirement. So the likely time frame for a GM change is 2 years.

I expect MacLean to be around longer than 2 years. And the longer he’s around, the more likely that either some other candidate enters the picture (and it perhaps will be far enough out for a certain Swede to be a viable candidate), or Cameron gets an opportunity elsewhere.

I have to agree with B_T and 90% of you. Bryan Murray appears to be putting the finishing touches on a lengthy career, while Paul MacLean looks set for a long run behind Ottawa's bench.

Today's question addresses one of the league's bigger summer stories:

Which is more likely? That Alex Semin flames out in Carolina OR Alex Ovechkin returns to form and hits the 40-goal mark in 2012-13?

Semin: His dip in productivity was the subject of much debate and he's received the obligatory change of scenery because of it. If Jordan Staal does centre Carolina's first line and if Eric moves to the wing, Semin might find chemistry with the Cup-winning brothers. If not, Semin better hope Jeff Skinner's healthy and regains his Calder-winning form because things are a little thin up front for the Canes outside of the Thunder Bay products.

Ovechkin: In his first five seasons, Ovechkin failed to crack the 50-goal mark only once, in 2006-07 when he scored 46 goals. However, in the past two seasons Ovechkin has failed to hit the 40-goal mark (32 in 2010-11, 38 in 2011-12). Injuries to some of Washington's key offensive players as well as a stifling defensive system employed by former coach Dale Hunter have hurt Ovechkin's numbers and ice time. Will the hiring of Adam Oates as Washington's head coach help Ovechkin's production?

Links after the jump.

Around the league:

It's slow these days, so I'm taking a tour of some of the other SBNation NHL blogs as well as providing a bonus link:

• Steve Burtch provides an advanced statistics primer on PDO (Pension Plan Puppets); check out the San Jose take on PDO (Fear the Fin)
• Geoff Detweiler looks at homerism in NHL fans (Broad Street Hockey)
• The writers at Eyes on the Prize go mainstream, congrats! (Eyes on the Prize)
• The Litter Box Cats are counting down the all-time Panthers. In fact, they're counting down every single Panther in history, for real! You won't believe who number 58 is! Plus they give you a teaser for the next day's entry! In all seriousness, this is an excellent way for readers to familiarize themselves with the history of a team which doesn't garner much media attention. This actually seems like the perfect project for an off-season in which a work stoppage is looming. (Litter Box Cats)
• Ted Leonsis (who reminds me a bit of Eugene Melnyk) answers the questions of Japers' Rink followers in a two part series. Part I and Part II can be read here. Leonsis is an investor in SBNation, but it's still great to see an online fan community have such access to their team's owner. (Japers' Rink)
• The folks at Arctic Ice Hockey begin a new mailbag series answering reader submitted questions (Arctic Ice Hockey)
• Second City Hockey with another reader installment of First Blackhawk Heroes, a series which chronicles fans' favourite Hawks players throughout the years (Second City Hockey)
• Matt Wagner continues the Rick Nash Trade post-mortem for The Cannon, with Part Four of a Q&A series with the good folks at Blueshirt Banter (The Cannon)
• Yankee Canuck looks at everyone's favourite topic - goalie masks - in the latest edition of Best Canucks Masks (Nucks Misconduct)
• Brandon Worley looks at the Top 10 Dallas Stars regular season games by examining something ominously titled "The Boston Bruins Comeback" (Defending Big D)

Bonus:

• If you haven't already seen this, you should check it out: five hilarious hockey romance novel titles (Daniel Wagner)

Which is more likely?