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Ruh-oh. Hemsky doesn't like it in Edmonton, either?
Hemsky thinks he's underpaid, wants to win, won't be re-signing in Edmonton, Matheson says.
By DAVID STAPLES MON, APR 19 2010
Veteran reporter bets that Hemsky won't be a long-term Oiler, but I'm still hoping. . . Let's give this another six or 12 months, see how it looks then . . .
Journal reporter Jim Matheson has been around Oilers ace Ales Hemsky, 26, since Hemsky broke into the NHL at age 19.
Now, with two years to go on his $4 million a year deal, Hemsky has been mentioned (by fans and bloggers at least) in trade talks and management hasn't exactly been bursting with superlatives in terms of his play.
But what does Hemsky think? Matheson, a Hockey Hall-of-Fame reporter, provided a few major clues in a candid live chat talk he and Dan Barnes did with fans today.
Here are some of Matheson's entries:
* "Hemsky will be going in two years when he's unrestricted free-agent. Bet on it."
* "I say they give Hemmer one more year then they will look around. They would have to trade him to a team that wants to re-sign him and keep him around to get full-value for such a young forward."
* "Hemsky only needs to be traded because he's going to be UFA and I don't believe he'll stay."
* "Players after awhile like to play on a team that wins. The Oilers aren't winning any time soon. I suspect Hemsky, if he gets to free-agency, would look for a team with a few Czech players to help him out."
* "Hemsky has long thought he's underpaid and really in today's market I guess he is at 4 mil. He could probably get $5 mil per on the open market."
* " Hemsky has to produce more points to be a real offensive weapon. Seventy points won't cut it."
* "Hemsky should be a 90-point player. He's a comfortable player who knows he can play in the league but doesn't push himself to be an elite player."
* "Hemmer is not soft. That's why he gets hurt. He goes into areas and doesn't protect himself well and gets clobbered."
* "Hemsky is a really good player but he needs a centre who's a shooter because you can't have two passers on the same line."
Staples comment: All of this is to be expected in terms of Hemsky wondering about his future in Edmonton and much of it is borne out of frustration, I suspect.
Hemsky was hurt this year, he's got to be tired of losing and he is, in fact, underpaid by NHL standards. Oilers hockey boss Kevin Lowe signed him to a favourable deal for the Oilers, a long-term deal that gave Hemsky security, but tied up an excellent hockey player on the Oilers for a long, long time.
Little wonder Hemsky wants to make sure he gets paid big time next time around.
Hemsky will be 29-years-old when his contract comes up next time in the summer of 2012. If a team signs him to a five-year deal, it will cover him until he is 33, just at the end of what should be expected to be his peak NHL years. In other words, he will be a good-to-great free agent signing next time around.
I hope he signs with the Oilers and certainly don't think it's out of the question. First of all, I saw real improvement in his play this season before he was hurt. He was moving the puck more rapidly, working harder and thinking more in the defensive end. He had cut down on turnovers. He was moving the puck before other players were able to line him up for the big hit.
Put him with the right centre, this would have been a banner year for Hemsky.
If Oilers management has soured on this player, they have soured on the wrong guy.
The Oilers are much better off with this player in the line-up, and it also seems hard to get real value for any player in a trade, what with NHL teams up against the cap and with players always just a step away from free agency.
If the Oilers start winning more, and if Hemsky gets some linemates he can play with, and if he keeps improving, I see the Oilers moving to sign him and offering good money. I can also see Hemsky deciding to stay here if all those things come about. He would be a much happier and more content camper and might well want to be part of what comes next in Oil Country.
Midnight is where the day begins.
By DAVID STAPLES MON, APR 19 2010
Veteran reporter bets that Hemsky won't be a long-term Oiler, but I'm still hoping. . . Let's give this another six or 12 months, see how it looks then . . .
Journal reporter Jim Matheson has been around Oilers ace Ales Hemsky, 26, since Hemsky broke into the NHL at age 19.
Now, with two years to go on his $4 million a year deal, Hemsky has been mentioned (by fans and bloggers at least) in trade talks and management hasn't exactly been bursting with superlatives in terms of his play.
But what does Hemsky think? Matheson, a Hockey Hall-of-Fame reporter, provided a few major clues in a candid live chat talk he and Dan Barnes did with fans today.
Here are some of Matheson's entries:
* "Hemsky will be going in two years when he's unrestricted free-agent. Bet on it."
* "I say they give Hemmer one more year then they will look around. They would have to trade him to a team that wants to re-sign him and keep him around to get full-value for such a young forward."
* "Hemsky only needs to be traded because he's going to be UFA and I don't believe he'll stay."
* "Players after awhile like to play on a team that wins. The Oilers aren't winning any time soon. I suspect Hemsky, if he gets to free-agency, would look for a team with a few Czech players to help him out."
* "Hemsky has long thought he's underpaid and really in today's market I guess he is at 4 mil. He could probably get $5 mil per on the open market."
* " Hemsky has to produce more points to be a real offensive weapon. Seventy points won't cut it."
* "Hemsky should be a 90-point player. He's a comfortable player who knows he can play in the league but doesn't push himself to be an elite player."
* "Hemmer is not soft. That's why he gets hurt. He goes into areas and doesn't protect himself well and gets clobbered."
* "Hemsky is a really good player but he needs a centre who's a shooter because you can't have two passers on the same line."
Staples comment: All of this is to be expected in terms of Hemsky wondering about his future in Edmonton and much of it is borne out of frustration, I suspect.
Hemsky was hurt this year, he's got to be tired of losing and he is, in fact, underpaid by NHL standards. Oilers hockey boss Kevin Lowe signed him to a favourable deal for the Oilers, a long-term deal that gave Hemsky security, but tied up an excellent hockey player on the Oilers for a long, long time.
Little wonder Hemsky wants to make sure he gets paid big time next time around.
Hemsky will be 29-years-old when his contract comes up next time in the summer of 2012. If a team signs him to a five-year deal, it will cover him until he is 33, just at the end of what should be expected to be his peak NHL years. In other words, he will be a good-to-great free agent signing next time around.
I hope he signs with the Oilers and certainly don't think it's out of the question. First of all, I saw real improvement in his play this season before he was hurt. He was moving the puck more rapidly, working harder and thinking more in the defensive end. He had cut down on turnovers. He was moving the puck before other players were able to line him up for the big hit.
Put him with the right centre, this would have been a banner year for Hemsky.
If Oilers management has soured on this player, they have soured on the wrong guy.
The Oilers are much better off with this player in the line-up, and it also seems hard to get real value for any player in a trade, what with NHL teams up against the cap and with players always just a step away from free agency.
If the Oilers start winning more, and if Hemsky gets some linemates he can play with, and if he keeps improving, I see the Oilers moving to sign him and offering good money. I can also see Hemsky deciding to stay here if all those things come about. He would be a much happier and more content camper and might well want to be part of what comes next in Oil Country.
Midnight is where the day begins.
) Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings and Bruce McNall in 1988.
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