I am dedicating this blog to all of you haterz who believe Ales Hemsky has no trade value.

Enigmatic UFA forward Ales Semin signed a one-year, $7mil contract today with the Carolina Hurricanes. Lame. What a terrible signing.

Look, there is no denying Semin has talent, but there is more to the game than just talent. He's sort of the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Peter Griffin all rolled into one. Indifferent. Lazy. Lacking heart. Why would any team want to add that? Better question is, why would you pay $7mil for it?

I've been advocating the Oilers dealing Ales Hemsky for a while now. It isn't because Hemsky lacks talent. He has a similar level of talent to Semin. He also has a better attitude. The issue with Ales has more to do with his inability to stay healthy. Give Hemsky one complete season healthy and he'd put up more points than Semin. He also wouldn't be a bad influence on anyone else. Hemsky works hard. Keep in mind last season he was getting over two shoulder surgeries. By the end of the season, he looked ready to go back to being a 70 point per season player.

Remember Robert Nilsson? Huge talent; gonna score a million points for the Oilers? Worst. Attitude. Ever. No one questioned Nilsson's level of talent. He could put up points if given the chance. The guy's attitude is so poor, he can't find work anywhere now. Everyone though Semin would end up in the KHL in 2012/2013, because he just doesn't work hard or care enough to belong in the NHL.

Semin will go to Carolina and he'll make the team a little better on the days he decides to show up. I have no doubt by January he'll be moaning about how much he hates it there and that he wants out. Perhaps the value Semin has is in February, at the trade deadline, when the Hurricanes will be out of the playoff race and can unload him as a rental for a late 1st round pick or something.

All this situation tells me is that if Oilers management wanted to deal Ales Hemsky for something of value, they could. Hemsky at $5mil per season is much better than Semin at $7mil. Hemsky's injury potential cancels out Semin's bad attitude, making them more or less equal assets in value. Hemsky...just happens to come $5mil cheaper (with a two-year deal, I may add).

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