If oiler fans love Hemsky so much why do they always want to trade him...
- Crazycaboose

Because he is the Top 6 piece that they are willing to move?

Hmmm Hall, Eberle, Yakupov, Nuge...yeah no one is gonna pay the price needed to get these guys...

Gags is in the same boat as Hemmer, with Hemmer being more skilled, and C being a position of weakness in depth.

Keep it simple. If Hemsky were put on waivers, by another team, would the Oilers pick him up at $5m?
- spatso

I'm sure Burkie would in a heart beat. Talent on waivers? C'mon.

I didn't read the pages of comments, so if I repeat, I apologize.

You added that the Oilers should be moving Hemsky out, for about the 934th time in your blogs, because he has "similar talent to Semin". We get it, Hemsky is a better person. Wipdeedoo. This blog was just a poor attempt to show that Hemsky has trade value, which he does not have at the moment.

I don't understand how you keep ignoring the fact that if the Oilers were going to move Hemsky, it would have been at the deadline last season, when he had an expiring contract. Clearly the value was not there and he was not moved. (I assume the Oilers were seeking what you are still seeking a high pick in the 1st or 2nd round and a prospect) Now he is signed to a 2 year deal, with similar money, and you still think he can get moved for value? Do you not see how silly you sound? Hemsky's value on the trade market is non-existent right now because of his injury woes. Teams will not trade assets because "he could get 70 points when healthy". That is simply too much risk. If he lights it up at the beginning of the 2012/2013 season, then his value should increase, but to say the Oil should move him now and that he has any value is ridiculous.

I really do enjoy reading your blogs, but the fact you keep ignoring pretty simple concepts is rather annoying.

I think with the benefit of hindsight, I am not sure they would.

The problem is that people have talked about Hemsky as a fitness and injury issue. Yet he played in 85% of Oiler games and only scored 10 goals. Is there something missing in this story that those of us who are doubters have been missing? At some point in time it has to be about performance and production.
- spatso

I was not aware that goals scored was the only way to measure production. Instead of spending all your time under a bridge try jumping off of one.

Krejci for Hemsky

I was not aware that goals scored was the only way to measure production. Instead of spending all your time under a bridge try jumping off of one.
- Oil Tycoon

I have been a consistent and positive supporter since his days with the Piques. I think he has to something more than he has shown recently. My comment is not intended to be against Hemsky. Rather, I wonder can you really draw parallels with Semin as Richard has? And, is it realistic to think that he would obtain a significant trade return given his production over the last few years? I think this is a pretty realistic perspective on the situation.

Krejci for Hemsky
- glove_was_stuck

The oilers would jump on that one.

I have been a consistent and positive supporter since his days with the Piques. I think he has to something more than he has shown recently. My comment is not intended to be against Hemsky. Rather, I wonder can you really draw parallels with Semin as Richard has? And, is it realistic to think that he would obtain a significant trade return given his production over the last few years? I think this is a pretty realistic perspective on the situation.
- spatso

You said he would be a waiver pickup at this point. Which is absurd.

if the Oilers were going to move Hemsky, it would have been at the deadline last season, when he had an expiring contract. Clearly the value was not there and he was not moved. Now he is signed to a 2 year deal, with similar money, and you still think he can get moved for value? Hemsky's value on the trade market is non-existent right now because of his injury woes. .
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I cut out all the blathering and got to the most relevant part.

Hemsky last year FINALLY played a season...and turned around and had a terrible season statistically. So he went from having low value because of injuries to low value due to low production.

This coming year is important, especially the start. He needs to come in find chemistry with the new team core and start producing, all the while not missing time due to injury.

Edm's biggest problem with Hemmer is that they are now overstaffed in the Top 6 with RW. Obviously Ebs is not being moved off the team. Yak just got here, so he is new and shiny and full of wonder and it is best to keep him in his natural position of RW. Hemmer is the odd man out. Either he moves to off wing or get moved out of town, which as discussed already is not going to happen due to low stock.

IF he stays healthy AND produces at a pace he has maintained over his career (0.8+ppg) he will be a high trade return piece at the TDD due to having a full year on his contract.

You said he would be a waiver pickup at this point. Which is absurd.
- robin_steele264

Mark my word, if this season is 10 goals or less, he is a candidate to be bought out.

I have been a consistent and positive supporter since his days with the Piques. I think he has to something more than he has shown recently. My comment is not intended to be against Hemsky. Rather, I wonder can you really draw parallels with Semin as Richard has? And, is it realistic to think that he would obtain a significant trade return given his production over the last few years? I think this is a pretty realistic perspective on the situation.
- spatso

You mean that 0.8+ ppg production over the past few years, excluding the last year which was an anomaly in his career?

Ignore last year.

42 in 47 games
22 in 22 games
66 in 72
71 in 74

i also want to point out that his worst season, last year, he was finally getting over the nagging shoulder issues. After he came back he missed almost no time due to injury (I think officially he missed 1 game, all the rest of his man games missed were from the start of the season). And still while being shuffled around the Top 9 he scored 2nd line points.

I am confidant he comes in and nets 60+ while playing 70+

I cut out all the blathering and got to the most relevant part.

Hemsky last year FINALLY played a season...and turned around and had a terrible season statistically. So he went from having low value because of injuries to low value due to low production.

This coming year is important, especially the start. He needs to come in find chemistry with the new team core and start producing, all the while not missing time due to injury.

Edm's biggest problem with Hemmer is that they are now overstaffed in the Top 6 with RW. Obviously Ebs is not being moved off the team. Yak just got here, so he is new and shiny and full of wonder and it is best to keep him in his natural position of RW. Hemmer is the odd man out. Either he moves to off wing or get moved out of town, which as discussed already is not going to happen due to low stock.

IF he stays healthy AND produces at a pace he has maintained over his career (0.8+ppg) he will be a high trade return piece at the TDD due to having a full year on his contract.
- OilHorse

Yup. Pretty much agree with this. Hemsky (and the rest of the Oilers for that matter) just has so many "ifs" at this point, that is silly to start up trade talks concerning him. I'd actually keep the guy since he is really the only top six forward with skill that has legit NHL experience. Would really help the young players on the ice and in the dressing room.

Mark my word, if this season is 10 goals or less, he is a candidate to be bought out.
- spatso

Dude. Get off the goal scoring argument.

His main point production is due to assists. He will most likely get high teens (almost 20 g) in goals and just over double his goal total in assists.

Yup. Pretty much agree with this. Hemsky (and the rest of the Oilers for that matter) just has so many "ifs" at this point, that is silly to start up trade talks concerning him. I'd actually keep the guy since he is really the only top six forward with skill that has legit NHL experience. Would really help the young players on the ice and in the dressing room.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yup. That is the Oil in a nut shell. Lotsa "IFs".

I cut out all the blathering and got to the most relevant part.

Hemsky last year FINALLY played a season...and turned around and had a terrible season statistically. So he went from having low value because of injuries to low value due to low production.

This coming year is important, especially the start. He needs to come in find chemistry with the new team core and start producing, all the while not missing time due to injury.

Edm's biggest problem with Hemmer is that they are now overstaffed in the Top 6 with RW. Obviously Ebs is not being moved off the team. Yak just got here, so he is new and shiny and full of wonder and it is best to keep him in his natural position of RW. Hemmer is the odd man out. Either he moves to off wing or get moved out of town, which as discussed already is not going to happen due to low stock.

IF he stays healthy AND produces at a pace he has maintained over his career (0.8+ppg) he will be a high trade return piece at the TDD due to having a full year on his contract.
- OilHorse

I can agree entirely with everything said in this post. The Oilers have a history and relationship with Hemsky and can justify seeing if he can regain his game. I can't think of another team that would give up assets for him unless they were trying to raise themselves up to the cap floor.

I don't want to sound negative but I know he was a great player and is great in the dressing. But, it is not unlike the Leafs taking on Connoly. A $5m price tag is heavy when a player is no longer able to play up to a previous level.

This thread looks like a crazy liquor and cheeseburger party gone wrong.

Can we compare Hemsky to playmakers of his ilk? Guys like Sedin, Ribeiro, Thornton, and Getzlaf routinely have unimpressive goal totals. In fact, do you know who outscores those guys over the past four seasons? Matt (frank)ing Moulson. Scott (frank)ing Hartnell. Tomas (frank)ing Fleischmann! So what the (frank) are we talking about when we're bringing up a playmaker's goal scoring?

I think with the benefit of hindsight, I am not sure they would.

The problem is that people have talked about Hemsky as a fitness and injury issue. Yet he played in 85% of Oiler games and only scored 10 goals. Is there something missing in this story that those of us who are doubters have been missing? At some point in time it has to be about performance and production.
- spatso

I think it's a bit naive to assume that as soon as you start playing after an injury that you're 100% recovered from that injury. He had double shoulder surgery over the summer and the success of this season was merely being able to stay in the game after coming back. I get that he has a lot to prove, but I don't really buy into the notion that he's not able to produce points anymore because of his performance in one rehabbing season.

This blog is not very well thought out, by the way. Clouts seems to be going for a cheap shot, and is inordinately thin-skinned in the responses. Also, Esplen is literally the first trolling comment in the blog. It's all so stupid, and I wish Cloutier would take a deep breath before posting on his medication days.

This blog is not very well thought out, by the way. Clouts seems to be going for a cheap shot, and is inordinately thin-skinned in the responses. Also, Esplen is literally the first trolling comment in the blog. It's all so stupid, and I wish Cloutier would take a deep breath before posting on his medication days.
- Morris

Watch what you say about Ian... He's protected.

they had to reach the cap floor, they didnt have to give any assets for him... its a win win situation i dont care if its 7 mil or not

id pay semin 7 mil every day of the week before i give up a good asset to get hemsky if im the hurricanes
- nightmare3020

This...

Krejci for Hemsky
- glove_was_stuck

Gross

Gross
- Double_A

Yeah, unless Chiarelli felt like solving our depth chart issues and bringing us immediately closer to the playoffs.

Yeah, unless Chiarelli felt like solving our depth chart issues and bringing us immediately closer to the playoffs.
- Morris

There's a good chunk of B's fans who have arbitrarily decided that Krejci is the worst player in the league and should be moved at any cost

There's a good chunk of B's fans who have arbitrarily decided that Krejci is the worst player in the league and should be moved at any cost
- Double_A

Like the "trade Hall" camp among the Oilers fans. Sometimes you've gotta be greatful that these people aren't anywhere close to management