Alexander Semin, seen here earlier this month against Tampa Bay, is on pace to score just 30 goals and record 56 points this season. (Photo: Associated Press)

The Washington Capitals announced this morning that they had signed left winger Alexander Semin to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the club, but ESPN's Pierre LeBrun confirmed that the deal was worth $6.7 million.

This is the second year in a row that the Capitals and Semin have agreed to a one-year extension. The Russian forward is set to make $6 million this season after his initial deal, worth $9.2 million over two years, expired after the 2009-10 season.

"I don't think either side was really looking for a long-term deal," said Capitals general manager George McPhee, addressing reporters on a conference call this morning. "Alex was comfortable with a one-year deal, and that was fine with us."

Semin has not played for the Capitals since a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers January 8, after which he was placed on the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury. McPhee confirmed that Semin was dealing with a groin injury during this period and expressed his hope that the player would return "sometime next week."

Prior to going on the injured reserve list, Semin had not scored a goal since Washington's 3-2 win over Carolina on November 28, and had not recorded a point since a 3-2 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins December 23. In all, Semin has recorded 18 goals and 17 assists this season for a total of 35 points. That's well below the pace of 2009-10, in which Semin scored 40 goals and dished 44 assists in just 73 games, but McPhee still expressed confidence that the star would match his scoring output.

"We really thought this would be the year he'd get 50 goals," McPhee said on the conference call. "I think he's still on pace to score 40 goals this season. He scored a lot in the second half last season."

In 2009-10, Semin scored 15 of his 40 goals after February 1.