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Stafford For Hemsky More Like It

August 3, 2013, 3:35 PM ET [185 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
One-timer on Miller for Hemsky:


Seriously?

I stand a better chance of replacing Gord Downie as lead singer of the Tragically Hip than Ales Hemsky does of becoming a Sabre, in exchange for Ryan Miller.

Ain't never gonna happen.

Ever.

The Oilers are in cap jail right now. They are a sliver the equivalent to $1.3M away from the $64.3M cap ceiling. Their top six is set. Right winger Ales Hemsky is and will not be playing on the top two lines, unless right wingers Jordan Eberle or Nail Yakupov are injured. For that, I'll never say never. Oilers GM Craig MacTavish has a big problem in his hands. Hemsky's $5 million is an albatross around the club's neck. No way he can justify paying his 3rd or 4th line winger $5 million. No way. Hemsky will be UFA on July 1, 2014.


The Sabres have Drew Stafford, Brian Flynn, and Pat Kaleta on the RW right now. Corey Tropp is an unsigned RFA, however, will be signed and will come to camp looking to win the remaining RW job. Finnish sniper Joel Armia will be looking to make the Buffalo roster during training camp, too.

If you were to propose a Stafford for Hemsky deal, I'd listen. Not Miller for Hemsky. Doesnt make sense for Buffalo. Vanek-Hodgson-Hemsky captivates my imagination. Crafty vet RW feeding one-timers to Vanek has merit.


Stafford is RW earning $4M for the next two seasons. Contract in, contract out. Clean deal.

Why would Darcy Regier ship Ryan Miller to Edmonton and strengthen the Oilers by taking back their immovable $5 million third line right winger?


Regier's youth movement is in full effect right now. He'd just as soon play Flynn in his top six than bust the bank on an overrated RW with a fat cap number. Flynn earns $638,000 this season, and will provide just as much offense as Hemsky. Do the math. Besides, all eyes will be on Armia in the coming weeks. Earlier this week, he and Rasmus Ristolainen were deleted from team Finland's 2014 WJC. This ,my friends is a leading indicator that both players will stay and play in North America, and not head home t play in the SM Liga. Armia and his Assat Pori club won the championship in the Finnish Elite League> e's proven al lthat he can in Finland. At the very least, Armia's ready for a taste of pro hockey in the AHL. However, if his training camp and exhibition games performances are impressive enough, the kid may find himself starting the season in Buffalo.

Why would Regier hamstring himself and take away his flexibility by trading Miller for a soon-to-be UFA? Miller is going to start the 2013 season opener for the Sabres in his home state of Michigan on opening night when Buffalo travels to division rival Detroit.


Youth. Movement.

That is all.



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