MacT spoke with the media today and while a few questions werent answered (or even asked) a few did come up that helps us understand the GMs strategy heading into this Trade Deadline.
I'll start off with the most obvious question that wasnt asked, "What is going to happen to Ales Hemsky?" That or some other better form of the question wasnt asked when its clearly the most obvious one. Though no one asked the question we MIGHT be able to make a guess as to the plan from some other issues he touched on.
First, MacT said that he wanted to replenish the picks in the draft that the club lost in earlier trades. These are picks in the 2nd or 3rd Rounds. Obviously everyone wants 1st Rounders but I'm willing to bet his scouts have told him that there might not be much of a difference between picks in the last half of the 1st Round and those in the 2nd Round given that we've heard this called a weak draft year.
Secondly, he did say that he would be open to retaining salary in a trade as that will increase the value of his assets. The rules for retaining salary make it impossible to retain salary for just one year. That means it is very prohibitive to retain Salary on Sam Gagner because the Oil would have to retain salary on 3 years of a contract but on an expiring UFA it could make a lot of sense.
That brings us back to Hemsky. Edmonton has him practicing on the LW so he can get top 6 minutes, he's an expiring UFA, and he doesnt have that much value around the league despite leading the Czechs in scoring at the Olympics. If you start connecting the dots the Oilers are shopping Hemsky, are willing to retain salary, and would be comfortable taking picks for him.
Is that enough for Edmonton? They probably dont have a choice.
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