News from the Oilers this morning: Ales Hemsky will be in the line-up tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. Perhaps more importantly, Hemsky will be on a line with Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff. H2S is alive!
I'm trying to think back to the last time we saw Smyth, Horcoff and Hemsky on a line together during the regular season. Going back to February 2007, I suppose. If I wouldn't have sent my Ryan Smyth bobblehead to Regina, I'd be kissing it right now. Win or lose, having Smyth return to Edmonton has already made this a successful and happy season. He, like Hemsky, are family. Hard to consider the Oilers without them.
Of course, I'm going to be an old grouch and mention that the reunion could be short lived. In part because Hemsky is an injury ball and he'll likely hurt himself during warm-up. The other piece of grouchness has to do with line-up appropriateness. The Smyth/Horcoff/Jones line was seeing success on both sides of the ice. Perhaps a more appropriate line for the offensively-minded Hemsky would be to play with, for example, Sam Gagner and Magnus Paajarvi? There is an opportunity with Hemsky's return to increase scoring from all four lines, and that's an exciting potential development.
There are going to be scouts galore at the game. In case you wondered why Paajarvi has come out of the line-up, it's because the Oilers aren't going to deal him. Players who could be moved need to be on the ice right now. Linus Omark's presence playing in OKC makes his easier to display to potential buyers. Between Gagner and Hemsky, I'm not sure which player the Oilers are more willing to moving...but wisdom would suggest one will be shifted along with Omark if and when the right deal comes along. I do believe scouts are also looking at Theo Peckham, who will become the #7 guy when Andy Sutton returns from his suspension.
One thing that could clear up any confusion around the Oilers trading intentions is if they'd get on with signing Hemsky to a contract extension. There is no word if Oilers management and Hemsky's people have been talking, however. Hemsky himself has indicated that he'd like to re-sign and remain with the Oilers. His want to stick around might be greater now that the rest of the team doesn't suck so much.
Here's a few randoms heading into tonight's game:
- There is no official word yet, but it looks like Cam Barker will also return to the Oilers line-up tonight. If he goes in, Colten Teubert will come out. I'd rather Theo Peckham come out, because Teubert looks better to me. But like I said, it's easier to move players when they are playing, not sitting.
- Ryan Jones will play the left side on the third line with Sam Gagner and Eric Belanger. I'm not sure if this group will have any chemistry or not. Jones is gritty and Gagner is trying, but the line desperately lacks size for a Bottom 6 group.
- Nikolai Khabibulin will be in goal. I'd like to predict he lets in one or less again, but the Canadiens can skate. Actually, I believe it will be a high scoring game by Oilers standards. 4-2 will be the final, with the good guys winning (the Oilers).
- Are the Habs having a tough season so far, or are they just not that good? While they possess a number of quick forwards, a stud defenseman in PK Subban, and an all-world goalie in Carey Price, the roster seriously lacks muscle and depth. This is the type of situation where players like the Nuge and Jordan Eberle will shine.
- Montreal could easily become a trade partner with Edmonton, especially in respect to Peckham. The Habs D is a hurting unit, and once Ryan Whitney and Andy Sutton return, the Oilers will have one player too many on the blueline. Whitney, Gilbert, and Smid aren't going anywhere.
I'm not sure Barker or Sutton are tradeable, and the Oilers are complete and utter morons if they move Corey Potter. Keep in mind that at some point the Oilers will move a forward or two for another defenseman; likely a younger shut-down guy who skates better and makes a better first pass than Peckham.
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