One thing most (not all) Oiler fans can agree on is that the club was poorer without him. When Hemmer left the stage in 09-10, the rest of the band managed to go 17-41 for the rest of the season. I sincerely believe he could have helped.
- Boxcars: 22gp, 7-15-22
- Shots: 57
- Plus Minus: +7
- Corsi (Rel): 2.85 (1st but DNQ)
- GF/GA ON: 17-10
- 5x5/60: 2.85 (1st but DNQ)
- 5x4/60: 4.71 (3rd but DNQ)
- Quality of Competition: 8th F (DNQ)
- Quality of Teammates: 2nd F (DNQ)
- FO Percentage: 100% in 1 FO
- Offensive Zone FO %: 43.5 (toughest but DNQ)
- Cap Hit: $4.1M
- What do these numbers tell us? Beauty player. Just a beauty. Ales Hemsky is one of two current roster players (the other is Penner) who can create offense 5x5 all by his lonesome. It is a valuable item, like platinum or Jill Hennessy. Hemsky's explosive offense is pure reflex, he is a sublime talent whose only real issue is finding men who can form a solid rhythm section under his riffs. Wonderful Corsi again, stupid cap number. I think his injury came at a point where he had a better 5x5 than PP number (per 60) but suspect he would have turned it around by season's end.
- How could these numbers be better? Health is a concern with this player. No matter the talent level, the man needs to stay in the lineup for more than 22 games. I don't think Hemsky is ever going to be a consistent 2-way winger. This is not to suggest that he lacks stones, because in fact Hemsky is the most physical of Edmonton's pure skill wingers (by a furlong).He's from the Guy Lafleur family, all motion and flow and instinct and reaction. It is beautiful to watch but a challenge for a button down coach. Hemsky is somewhat vulnerable with the current head coach because of his approach to the game. I don't think it'll cost him the 1line RW job in Edmonton, but I didn't think they would trade Visnovsky either.
- What about a trade? There is a train of thought that a team starting over with the 2010 draft pick should cash 83 and use Cogs and Gagner as the outer marker age-wise. I don't think it makes any sense at all, since Hemsky is still on the good side of 30 and seems to be happy as an Oiler. Should this trade happen, Steve Tambellini get more than 100 cents on the dollar and that's a fact. Hemsky's don't fall out of the sky and trading him at this age is just this side of batshit crazy.
- What about playing with Horcoff? I think it is the ideal combination, certainly more important than Penner on LW. Horcoff is Hemsky's Lemaire, playing high until the zone is gained and doing the heavy work when needed. I don't think there is anyone on the Oilers roster who can match their chemistry and there's really no need to split them up.
- Is this injury thing going to be chronic? You never know. I'm tempted to say he'll be fine once the Oilers trade for Regehr and Boogard, but the truth is that 83 plays the game with abandon and there are going to be injuries in the future. I guess the bottom line is that all players are a risk and Hemsky's injury history is already pretty long for his age. It is a concern.
- Will they continue to play him against the toughs? It depends on how the club wants to use Horcoff next season. I don't think we should be concerned about Hemsky being on the tough minutes line. Although he does commit turnovers in spots Pat Quinn can see through his coke bottles, the guy has been brought up playing tough opponents and has thrived on it in the past.
- When will Hemsky give way to Gagner as PP QB? He may never give up the title. Gagner's number was impressive this season but Hemsky has a long track record and is exceptional with the man advantage. I don't know that they can play on the same PP since their skills are quite similar.
By The Numbers
- 06-07 5x5 per 60m: 2.09
- 07-08 5x5 per 60m: 2.36
- 08-09 5x5 per 60m: 2.08
- 09-10 5x5 per 60m: 2.85
By The Numbers
- 06-07 5x4 per 60m: 5.45
- 07-08 5x4 per 60m: 5.93
- 08-09 5x4 per 60m: 5.00
- 09-10 5x4 per 60m: 4.71
Performance in 2009-10: 22gp, 7-15-22 (1.00 per game)
Projected Role on 2010-11 Oilers: 1line RW, Offensive Leader
Hemsky is definitely my favourite player in the NHL right now. That goal he scored against the ducks to clinch a playoff spot in 05-06 will stay with me till the end of my days.
ReplyDeletestrudwick: turd on the run
ReplyDeletechorney: down in the hole
nilsson: gimme shelter
smid: stop breaking down
pos: before they make me run
jdd: monkey man
Even if the Oilers were to go full-out rebuild, you still need at least a couple veteran players to keep the youngsters away from real competition until they're ready. Up front, Horcoff's staying, and in order to maintain respectability one of Hemsky/Penner should be around as well. I think Hemsky is more essential to this team long-term than Penner, reasons include:
ReplyDelete1. Longer track record of being a point producer.
2. Team-first mentality.
3. Powerplay performer.
4. Despite his size, he's the more physical player.
5. Due to Penner's season, he may bring more back in return.
Health is obviously a concern with Hemsky moving forward, but like LT said, when he's in the lineup the man is just sublime. He'll probably be the immediate benefactor of having either Hall or Seguin on the team, solely for their powerplay abilities.
LT, you and I are among the few who don't want to split up Horcoff and Hemsky. It seems most everyone else has Gagner, Seguin, or Brule penciled in as Hemsky's pivot going forward.
ReplyDeleteMisfit: Yeah people don't often plan to put theyr top forward with a 30+ years old guy who came off a 35 points and -30 season.
ReplyDeletefpb:
ReplyDeletePlease. Explain how Horcoff hits 35 points and -30 without Hemsky, keeping a straight face.
If OTC puts a scrub like JFJ on his LW again don't bet on Hemsky being open to an extension.
ReplyDelete83's father is on record as saying the Oilers have not given 83 anyone "who can finish his beautiful passes"
Its a good bet that the son feels the same way.
I don't think MPS will stay in NA past camp this year, but with his shoot first mentality, I hope he takes a few shifts with 83 in pre-season (*assuming he comes over). The only issue being MPS likes to carry the puck too, but I'm sure he can learn to play with 83.
83 is not a bad, bad man, he's a beauty.
Dorito: Pretty much everyone could outscore that with Hemsky.
ReplyDeleteThat's not relevant.
Playing with Ales Hemsky shouldn't be your standard. Shouldn't have an elite NHL winger with you to be expected to not suck.
Feed for the lottery: http://uncharted3232.weebly.com/
ReplyDeleteAs another note, Tambellini is on now. Talking about the pick.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic at hand, I can't see how we don't use Penner-Horcoff-Hemsky as our top line for a PvP role. If we aren't going to get a veteran centre for the third line we don't have much of a choice.
ReplyDeletedorito: I think your 2nd point (Team-first mentality) is extremely difficult to improve.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been privvy to any info that says Penner is not team-first. Nor have we seen info that says Hemsky is team-first.
They are two very different styles of athletes and the Oilers need to retain both of them.
Jon K: Sam Gagner?
ReplyDeleteJust saying.
WHOOOOOO!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers were the worst and I'm glad the NHL recognized that tonight.
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteOTC has not shown any desire to go PvP, so don't bet on it.
Woodguy: I know. I just keep a little hope out that he either steps aside in the offseason or has a change of heart in his strategies. I could see either as being reasonable responses to not wanting to lose anymore.
ReplyDeleteIf we can deal Hemsky for both Hennessys -- she has a twin, so they'd be our answer to the Sedins -- let's make that trade. What's more (and I know we've had bad luck with this) they're from Edmonton ...
ReplyDeleteOn the topic at hand, I can't see how we don't use Penner-Horcoff-Hemsky as our top line for a PvP role. If we aren't going to get a veteran centre for the third line we don't have much of a choice.
ReplyDeleteThere's a line in a movie with Jack Nicholson where he talks about thinking like a woman. It applies straight across to the Oilers:
"I think like a man, and I take away reason and accountability."
You're thinking with reason. The Oilers don't. They aren't going PvP because their coach just rolls 'em. The coach doesn't like this fancy "skating" and "passing" stuff. He likes...aw hell, I don't know what he likes.
Ideally, yes, the Oilers would go PvP next year with the PHH line and at least give some shelter to Gagner and Cogliano/Brule/Potulny/Seguin/other random small center.
In reality, they are going to go with some screwed up combination that will have Seguin and Gagner taking the toughs because that's how the other team wants it.
Playing with Ales Hemsky shouldn't be your standard. Shouldn't have an elite NHL winger with you to be expected to not suck.
ReplyDeleteDo we really need to remind everyone on this fucking blog about Horcoff's shoulder? Or the garbage he played with for 3/4 of the year?
FPB, this coaching staff has already shown that it will put a guy with 1 point in his first 60 NHL games on the first line... why would it be such a shock to put Hemsky with a guy who he's had chemistry with before, regardless of the season he just came off of?
ReplyDeleteSome times I think, that we here at the oiligosphere blogging community, are thinking too hard to see if we can come up with a brilliant idea to improve our beloved Oilers.
ReplyDeleteThis incredible hockey player should never be mentioned as a trade bait! He plays the game with passion, and great skill.
LT you speak of receiving more than 100 cents on the dollar if we trade him. I cannot imagine trading this man for any thing under 150 cents per dollar. I think that his production will still get better. He just needs to play with PHH for a full year!
Just my 2 cents!