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3 Hemsky Rumors: Pittsburgh, Detroit and New York |
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Time for a little rumor action on this dull August day.
Ales Hemsky trade rumors aren't new. I seem to post one per week. It would be great if the Oilers would just re-sign him to a long-term deal so I can quit posting rumors. Obviously, and fortunately for someone like me who has a daily blog to write, there is some sort of hold-up. Are the Oilers waiting to see if Hemsky's shoulders are okay before doing something? Are they trying to deal him, and are not interested in negotiations? Or are they negotiating, and there is some sort of issue keeping a new deal from happening?
The Oilers are not actively trying to deal Hemsky, but they are listening to offers. In case you wondered, the phone in Edmonton is ringing, and tire kicking does take place. Eklund posted a few days ago comments relating to potential deals to Pittsburgh and Detroit. I'll break down both potential deals for you, plus I will add one of my own.
Rumor 1: Pittsburgh
In respect to Pittsburgh, the player the Oilers want is Kris Letang. This being said, it would take more than Hemsky to get him. Why? Letang is a great offensive defenseman, and he has three years left on what has to be considered a value-priced contract (cap hit is only $3.5mil). Hemsky, as you know, is set to become a UFA next season.
Aside from the fact that it would take Hemsky+ to get Letang, the other snag is in respect to Pittsburgh's cap position. Moving Hemsky for Letang straight up would bring the Penguins an extra $600k towards the cap ceiling. They'd roughly only have $1mil in wiggle room after the deal, and they'd have to find someone to replace Letang. To make a deal feasible, the Pens need to move an additional higher salary to Edmonton and have a low-cost, high potential defenseman come back.
Here's the rumor: Ales Hemsky, Jeff Petry and Ryan Martindale for Kris Letang and Tyler Kennedy. As you are aware, Martindale, who was drafted in 2010, has yet to be signed by the Oilers. It's a little puzzling considering his quality as a prospect...solid OHL numbers for the big forward last season. Martindale is not ready for the NHL, but Petry is...the Penguins would see a net reduction in their cap number of approximately $500k with this deal. Of course, they'd need to find a way to re-sign Hemsky to give them the win, but the promise of cup chances with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin as your center should motivate Hemsky into signing just about anything.
Letang would be a dream acquisition for Edmonton, as he would look great paired with Ryan Whitney. Letang is also a right-shooting defenseman...why are those is such high demand right now? The Oilers are dying to add a right shot from the point. As far as Kennedy goes, I wouldn't get comfortable if I was him. It's hard to say what his trade value would be, but he's exactly what the Oilers don't need: Small, offensive-minded forward not known for his hitting. I believe Kennedy would be re-dealt before the season started, opening a roster spot for Teemu Hartikainen.
I will say one word of caution in all of this: Martindale is just a suggestion. The Oilers could offer up instead someone like Curtis Hamilton, Tyler Pitlick, or Anton Lander. I suggest it would be Martindale because Hamilton, Pitlick and Lander are all more highly regarded. It would be bad enough in this deal the Oilers having to part with Petry, who they feel could be a Top 4, if not Top 2 defenseman during his career.
Rumor 2: Detroit
This potential deal is more complicated, yet somehow less complicated. It's less complicated in the sense that the Wings do not have the same sort of cap issues to consider than the Penguins do. The Wings could add Hemsky's contract without subtracting any assets, and still fit under the salary cap. This means, the return they could send to Edmonton could be entirely prospect-based. That's the less complicated part. The more complicated part? The Wings have extremely low prospect depth at this time. Actually, it's hard to figure what the Wings could possibly send to Edmonton to make a deal work.
Speedy two-way forward Darren Helm would certainly be of interest, but the problem is, if the Oilers moved Hemsky, they'd be doing it to: 1. Improve the defense, and 2. To make room on the roster for other forwards currently part of the team. Helm is a good player; he just doesn't help the situation.
The one name that jumps out at me is defenseman Niklas Kronwall. The 30 year-old Swedish defenseman contributed 37pts last season, including 5 power play goals. Would a Hemsky for Kronwall swap make sense? Close . Hemsky is younger, but Kronwall has a better health history. Both players are set to become UFA's next summer if they can not be re-signed. Unlike Letang, Kronwall is more Top 4 than Top 2. But that being said, his addition would certainly upgrade the Oilers defense.
Perhaps the trade rumor here is to suggest the Oilers would move Hemsky for Kronwall and a draft pick. Perhaps a 2nd rounder? Relax: The Wings always play well, so a "2nd round pick" from Detroit is more or less a 3rd round pick. There could be conditional picks tied to this deal that would activate if either player signs a contract extension and stays with their new deal.
Rumor 3: New York Rangers
The Oilers like young defenseman/prospect Michael Del Zotto. Defensive depth is a strength in New York, and the team is clearly making a run for the cup. Perhaps their one remaining hole to fill is to add offense. They certainly did so when they signed Brad Richards. Adding Ales Hemsky would be pure frosting.
I don't think a deal could be a simple as Hemsky for Del Zotto. Why? I know the Oilers would want more of a return. Adding Hemsky presents a problem for the Rangers, as it would push them over the cap ceiling. They currently only have around $1.4mil free, and Del Zotto's deal is only around $1mil per. Meaning, adding Hemsky would push the Rangers nearly $2mil over the cap.
I do believe I have a solution, but I am not sure it is one Oilers fans are going to like. Obviously, the Rangers are not about to move Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky or Artem Anisimov. Although, you'd have to think out of these three, Amisimov would be the most likely to be available. The player I believe the Rangers would want to send with Michael Del Zotto would be forward Wojtek Wolski. His $3.8mil per season contract makes him a prime candidate to be shopped, and there have been rumblings that Wolski does not fit into the plans the same way Callahan, Dubinsky and Anisimov do. Moving Wolski's deal with Del Zotto would absolutely open cap room for the addition of Hemsky.
But if you're the Oilers, what do you do with Wolski? What exactly could you turn around and deal him for? Obviously the Oilers don't need more forwards. Could Wolski be dealt to a team like Winnipeg...a team needing an offensive forward who can play all three forward positions? Wolski had a rough year in New York last season, but he has in past put together 45 - 62 point seasons, making him at least a potential 2nd line guy.
Conclusion:
Obviously, if the Oilers could pry Kris Letang out of Pittsburgh, it would be best possible scenario from these rumors. None of the deals suggested are potentially that sexy; even the Letang suggestion comes with a pretty serious downside (what if Petry develops to full potential and Martindale turns into something?). Still, the thought of Letang quarterbacking the Oilers powerplay, and that powerplay actually being good for once makes me all smiley.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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