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The Oilers Need Hemsky Back |
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I really do like Ryan Jones. Heart and soul guy who will try to do any job you ask of him. He' not Ales Hemsky, though.
The Oilers might have lost their last game, but their win/loss record continues to look pretty impressive. Perhaps even more impressive than their record is the fact that they are winning games with perhaps their two best veteran players, Ales Hemsky and Ryan Whitney, out of the line-up. Sooner of later, their absence will result in games being lost.
We're only two game into a six-game road trip and it has already become obvious that life for the Hall-Nuge-Eberle line is more difficult. Road games mean having to play against the opposition's best shut-down defensemen and two-way forwards. The best way a team can survive having their top line shut down is by having "secondary" scoring from other lines. Enter Hemsky. Ummm, please? Sooner than later?
Not many teams have the depth needed to allow Hemsky; close-to point per game player when healthy, to play on the second line with a veteran frequent 30 goal guy in the form of Ryan Smyth. While Smyth and center Shawn Horcoff have done their best in Hemsky's absence to contribute offensively, neither player, nor right wing fill-in Ryan Jones, have the combination of hands, skating ability and vision Hemsky does.
Hemsky has began participating in full practices. Word is he could be back by the end of the road trip. If Hemsky had it his way, he'd be in the line-up against Montreal on Tuesday. I wouldn't bet against him playing.
Once Hemsky returns, the Oilers will experience a slight roster conundrum. Hemsky will replace Jones on the 2nd line, moving Ryan down the roster. Anton Lander will likely come out of the line-up, Sam Gagner will be shifted back to center, and Eric Belanger will be moved to the fourth line. I suspect Gagner's wingers will be Jones and Magnus Paajarvi. Lennart Petrell and Ben Eager will be on a line with Belanger.
There could be a deal in the works, shifting a forward or two for a defenseman...but we've been saying that for six months now and it still hasn't happened. A recent interview with Oilers forward Linus Omark could be enough to motivate Oilers management to shift him - Omark expressed his desire to play in the NHL and that he'll return to Sweden soon if he's not playing in the NHL. His current contract with the Oilers allows him to return to Sweden should he choose to. Playing in the AHL, Omark has four assists in two games played.
The question with Omark is similar to the question with a player like Sam Gagner. What is their value? I've heard it suggested that Omark could bring a 3rd round pick and Gagner a late 1st or early 2nd. Picks wouldn't help the Oilers immediately, and increasing prospect depth isn't relevant to the Oilers at this time. While there are a few teams that could afford to make a veteran defenseman available, some of the best potential trade partners (Toronto, for example) wouldn't have much interest in either Oilers forward. Teams that could be interested (like Columbus) don't have much to offer that the Oilers would want. And no matter if the Oilers are considering moving Omark, Gagner, or both, no one is going anywhere until Ales Hemsky can show he can stay healthy.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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