Whether he stays or goes, I hope management is transparent in explaining what happened, after it is all over.
It just seems like this is the wrong time to be going through negotiations. Sign a one year extension before the deadline, pull him out of the lineup if he's not healthy enough to play confidently, and let him earn a new contract at market value with his play and good health next season. Show him that he's a priority, not some trade deadline squeeze play. He's worth far more to this team than Jurco and the 30th overall pick, or whatever package he fetches.
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EMPATHIZING WITH ALES HEMSKY
What a tough situation Hemsky is in.
He has been a workhorse his entire career, sacrificing his health for the good of the team. Being the lone star on a subpar team for many years, attracting the majority of borderline/dirty hits from opposition players. Watching Smyth, Horcoff and several others with inferior skill sets cash in with gigantic paydays, while he watches his last - very modestly priced - contract come to an end. Approaching unrestricted free agency with his value at an all-time low.
I'm as guilty as the next fan for criticizing his play of late. Uninspired, uninterested, noncommital, unfocused...
And then I realize: The guy is screwed.
1. Play hard, get injured - Worth less.
2. Play soft, stay healthy - Worth less.
3. Play in between the two, becoming ineffective - Worth even less than 1 & 2.
I'd bet that Hemsky hasn't even been approached about a new contract. I'd bet that Hemsky was supposed to be gone at last year's trade deadline, until that shoulder injury made him untradeable, for surely he would have failed the conditional physical exam. I think Penner took his place in the Kings deal.
I think that Hemsky has been facing a dead end here in Edmonton for the whole 2011-12 season. I doubt that management has given him any indication that they want to commit to him, save for the "let's wait and see" tactic. There's no show of trust/faith/hope in the guy who carried this team to whatever small success it achieved in the non-Pronger years.
And it's a god damn slap in the ****ing face.
I hope I'm wrong, but I wish Ales the best with whichever team signs him. And I hope he is eventually rewarded for his hard work as an Oiler.
But you can't really blame management for this, they're in a tough situation too. Too risky to re-sign him right away, with his injury history and not having a good year. They could throw him a low-ball offer that reflects his recent play, but you don't want to insult the guy.
I am a hem sky fan, but, I don't feel sorry for anyone who makes 4 mill a year for many years. Pack your stuff up, tell your girlfriend she can come or stay, say good bye to your friends. Time to move on.
But you can't really blame management for this, they're in a tough situation too. Too risky to re-sign him right away, with his injury history and not having a good year. They could throw him a low-ball offer that reflects his recent play, but you don't want to insult the guy.
I'm trying not to assume the worst with management, but they haven't even offered a one-year extension, or anything to avoid trading him away at the deadline. They're playing "chicken" with Hemsky, but without any viable 2RW replacement in sight. And once Hemmer's salary is gone, I serious doubt they'll spend that money on anyone else next year. I have no confidence in Tambellini to build this team if he's going to continue to strip it for parts.
Hemsky has been my favourite player for the last 6 years, and whatever team he goes to will become my 2nd favourite team in the league (with 2 obvious exceptions). He hasn't had a good season by the numbers this year, but I think he's playing better than those numbers indicate. Ales Hemsky is a dynamic, difference making player, he can do things on the ice that few if any can replicate. He's got a few warts, but this guy was born to play hockey.
Ideally, we trade him for a king's ransom, along with Smyth and Sutton (who should return a late first and second respectively imo) and then sign all 3 again in the summer. This probably isn't realistic but if we can't ink Hemsky to either a reasonable short term deal or some kind of cap circumevention low cap hit deal we need to get value out of a valuable asset. He's worth a first and a good prospect, and I don't think he'll be traded for anything less.
Based on some of your reactions, many of you don't even deserve Hemsky....you don't appreciate him.
I will say this:
Hemsky is very skilled. He has been under-appreciated.....and has made both Smyth and Horcoff's contracts. He will play in the NHL, and is an average first liner, and an elite 2nd liner. Wherever he goes he will light it up, and you will regret it.
I personally think that's pathetic, but I cannot force management to sign an asset they should appreciate. I also don't know what numbers are being thrown out there, and obviously there is a limit. Still, I am not convinced Tambo has done anything while on the job, so I don't envision this to be any different.
LOL, you're a riot man.
You completely trash Smyth in the other thread in one of the most ridiculous fashions that i have ever seen on HF which is saying a lot considering all the venom that gets thrown at players/coaches/managment, you know Smyth who gives 100% every shift and gets the very most out of his limited skillset due to hard work and determination then you say how pathetic it is to criticize Hemsky, you know a player who dogs it on the ice half the time and has never gotten the most out of his immense talents. Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense chief.
empathizing with hemsky bring emotion to asset management.
you just cant. sorry but his role has deteriorated, and now that everyone is getting healthy he will soon start to pout...considering his numba 1 pp spot will be given back to RNH.
empathizing with hemsky bring emotion to asset management.
you just cant. sorry but his role has deteriorated, and now that everyone is getting healthy he will soon start to pout...considering his numba 1 pp spot will be given back to RNH.
No, I'm just saying that I can understand what he's going through. We're not robots here. He has been a damn good Oiler, you don't just kick him to the curb.
empathizing with hemsky bring emotion to asset management.
you just cant. sorry but his role has deteriorated, and now that everyone is getting healthy he will soon start to pout...considering his numba 1 pp spot will be given back to RNH.
How do you know he was pouting earlier in the season? I mean a guy who has essentially been laid up in bed rehabbing for 2 years came back and played worse then usual, theres no way that ever happens. It clearly had to be that Hemsky was pouting because he lost his PP time.
How do you know he was pouting earlier in the season? I mean a guy who has essentially been laid up in bed rehabbing for 2 years came back and played worse then usual, theres no way that ever happens. It clearly had to be that Hemsky was pouting because he lost his PP time.
really?
do you watch the games? hes been better after all star break but its pretty obvious about the pouting before it. Media has noticed, scouts have noticed...renney has noticed it.
You completely trash Smyth in the other thread in one of the most ridiculous fashions that i have ever seen on HF which is saying a lot considering all the venom that gets thrown at players/coaches/managment, you know Smyth who gives 100% every shift and gets the very most out of his limited skillset due to hard work and determination then you say how pathetic it is to criticize Hemsky, you know a player who dogs it on the ice half the time and has never gotten the most out of his immense talents. Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense chief.
Maybe. I just don't know why we idolize someone less skilled and are running the other guy out of town. The one that did not leave the team for free agency over money.
I'm not going to get into an argument. Clearly smyth is god and hemsky is a loser and needs to get out of here and I am a riot.
Maybe. I just don't know why we idolize someone less skilled and are running the other guy out of town. The one that did not leave the team for free agency over money.
I'm not going to get into an argument. Clearly smyth is god and hemsky is a loser and needs to get out of here and I am a riot.
Hemsky isn't a loser and in fact, he's been a great Oiler for the majority of his career outside of some pathetic non show performances this year in which he hardly even tried but i took issue with you calling Smyth a jerk amongst other things which was completely uncalled for and then get on people for realizing that maybe it's time to part ways with Hemsky.
I happen to think that trading Hemsky will create a big void on RW and that the team will miss him more than people think but it's pretty apparent based on a multitude of events and by his body language on the ice that the relationship between him and the organization is pretty much over, it's getting uncomfortable to watch actually.
Hemsky isn't a loser and in fact, he's been a great Oiler for the majority of his career outside of some pathetic non show performances this year in which he hardly even tried but i took issue with you calling Smyth a jerk amongst other things which was completely uncalled for and then get on people for realizing that maybe it's time to part ways with Hemsky.
I happen to think that trading Hemsky will create a big void on RW and that the team will miss him more than people think but it's pretty apparent based on a multitude of events and by his body language on the ice that the relationship between him and the organization is pretty much over, it's getting uncomfortable to watch actually.
Sorry I said that. I now realize it sounded harsher than I meant it to. I actually like smyth, I just don't want to pay him around 4.5 M, which is where I have a feeling it will end up.
Based on some of your reactions, many of you don't even deserve Hemsky....you don't appreciate him.
I will say this:
Hemsky is very skilled. He has been under-appreciated.....and has made both Smyth and Horcoff's contracts. He will play in the NHL, and is an average first liner, and an elite 2nd liner. Wherever he goes he will light it up, and you will regret it.
I personally think that's pathetic, but I cannot force management to sign an asset they should appreciate. I also don't know what numbers are being thrown out there, and obviously there is a limit. Still, I am not convinced Tambo has done anything while on the job, so I don't envision this to be any different.
I wonder what this board would have thought of Malkin last year. Or guys like Ovechkin, Iginla, Zetterberg, Staal this year.
Good players can have off-seasons people.
Well, all that needs to be said is that some posters, early on in the season, were entertaining trading Hall because he had gotten off to a "slow" start.
In a season or two, god forbid if Eberle or RNH slump a little bit.
At this point, I hope he gets traded to a contender (for little to nothing, obviously, as Steve Tambellini has proven over and over again that he's the worst GM in the NHL) and tears it up on his way to winning a ring. This organization has been a cancer for so long. When you have players like Horcoff sleeping in the owners bed and getting preferential treatment, an inept GM and coach who are given carte blanche without being held accountable for their ineptitude, etc. etc. I'd be hard pressed to continue giving two ***** either.
Hemsky is counting down the days. And I don't blame him at all. Absolutely ridiculous all the erroneous and speculative character assassination that this player gets. Easy to do without knowing someone personally I guess.
http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...id=4&id=154847 if you watch this video when talking about trade deadline . When Tambo says might sign watch his voice change sorry people Hemsky is going to be traded at about 12 min mark
Last edited by Oilmageddon*: 02-04-2012 at 08:11 AM.
Hemsky isn't a loser and in fact, he's been a great Oiler for the majority of his career outside of some pathetic non show performances this year in which he hardly even tried but i took issue with you calling Smyth a jerk amongst other things which was completely uncalled for and then get on people for realizing that maybe it's time to part ways with Hemsky.
I happen to think that trading Hemsky will create a big void on RW and that the team will miss him more than people think but it's pretty apparent based on a multitude of events and by his body language on the ice that the relationship between him and the organization is pretty much over, it's getting uncomfortable to watch actually.
Smyth has looked awful just as many (probably more in my book) times as Hemsky this year, but he's immune from criticism to some people, because it "appears" as though he's trying. I love how body language is something this forum is so gifted in reading and analyzing that it can make or break a players career.
Hemsky is still playing injured, which is a big part of his problem ..... apparently he needs a heart transplant!
This is so amusing. A guy that went into tough spots to make plays and got hurt, partly because previous oiler regimes let teams and players take runs at our most skilled player all the time.
Each and every time he came back from injury he picked up exactly where he left off with his production. For the very 1st time in his career he has come back and not produced like he did before and people have the utter gall to question the guys heart.
Meanwhile we have this fraud of a captain who is rich 90% because of Hemsky, who has been a dog of a player for more years than he has been good, who is the poster boy for accepted losing and ice time entitlement, who still gets defended constantly.
This is so amusing. A guy that went into tough spots to make plays and got hurt, partly because previous oiler regimes let teams and players take runs at our most skilled player all the time.
Each and every time he came back from injury he picked up exactly where he left off with his production. For the very 1st time in his career he has come back and not produced like he did before and people have the utter gall to question the guys heart.
Meanwhile we have this fraud of a captain who is rich 90% because of Hemsky, who has been a dog of a player for more years than he has been good, who is the poster boy for accepted losing and ice time entitlement, who still gets defended constantly.
It's pathetic.
Enough of the Hemsky goes to the tough spots myth.
Hemsky gets filled in 5 times a year because he overhandles the puck and has mediocre game awareness skills.
Guess what, smart players throw the puck in the corner when Robyn Regehr has them squezzed off with no outlet pass. Not Hemmer though, he hangs onto it that extra second just long enough to get flattened.
Somewhere along the line somebody forgot to teach Hemsky risk management skills, a lot of time in a game putting the puck in the corner is not only the safest play but the smartest play.
Players that care and have tons of heart and a desire to be great don't;
- leave practice early as had been noted by media
- continue with the basically the same body type they entered the league with
- show a lack of interest in conditioning for the first 5 years of their career
- fade out on a critical icing touch
Don't get me wrong, Hemsky has a lot of positive traits but anyone who think 'heart" is one of them hasn't been exposed to what that actually entails.
Smyth has looked awful just as many (probably more in my book) times as Hemsky this year, but he's immune from criticism to some people, because it "appears" as though he's trying. I love how body language is something this forum is so gifted in reading and analyzing that it can make or break a players career.
Smyth has looked awful just as many (probably more in my book) times as Hemsky this year, but he's immune from criticism to some people, because it "appears" as though he's trying. I love how body language is something this forum is so gifted in reading and analyzing that it can make or break a players career.
If you think that Hemsky plays with as much determination and heart as Smyth does then i don't know what to tell ya. It's pretty obvious to anybody who watches hockey that Smyth gives more of an effort than Hemsky on most nights.
I wasn't taking issue with criticism of Smyth especially since his play since early in the season has deserved to be criticized, i was taking issue with ales83fan calling Smyth a jerk amongst other things for which he made amends for so it shouldn't even be discussed any further but there is a BIG difference between criticism and questioning a guy's character especially a guy who has given his all for the Oil Drop and the city of Edmonton.
I'm not worried about Hemmer's heart and determination, I'm afraid of his shoulders and that he's simply not capable of being the player we remember. When I see him skate with his arms stuck to his sides instead of out from his body like a regular player, when he looks like he's mentally steeling himself for pain before a hard wrist shot, I can't help but think his shoulders are one awkward fall away from falling off. He's no longer reckless Hemmer who goes first into the corners, the guy we all fell in love with for taking the punishment and coming out like a beaten and battered champ. He's not the same guy we knew and loved, and I don't think he's a good investment at 4+ million a year on our team. We can't afford to pay someone for their past performance and health when it's no longer there. Get some good assets for him while he's still worth something and replace him with someone who can go out and give 100% without being paralyzed by the thought of breaking himself. We need someone we can go to war with in his top-six slot, we need to be shrewd dealers and not sentimental over-payers who can't make the tough decisions as we have been in the past.
Unless you can provide a link, this is a blatant lie. Hemsky has left practice at the end of it without sticking around to put in extra time on the ice but I have never seen any report that says he's left practice early discounting injury and/or illness. Funny how Hemsky gets slandered for leaving the ice at the end of a workout but others are conveniently immune.
Quote:
- continue with the basically the same body type they entered the league with
Do you have a degree in psychology? I'm willing to bet that the majority of armchair linguistic and body language psychologists here have little or no idea about what they're speaking on. How about leaving the diagnosing to the professionals whom are professionally accredited?
Quote:
- show a lack of interest in conditioning for the first 5 years of their career
Again, where does this have a basis in reality? Is this opinion based on yours and others amateur diagnosing of a players body language? His speech patterns? How about diagnosing his sleeping patterns next? Hell, why stop there...
Quote:
- fade out on a critical icing touch
I'm sure you can go through every single athletes career and find an instance where they may have not given 100% on any particular play. Now you're just reaching.
Quote:
Hemsky has a lot of positive traits but anyone who think 'heart" is one of them hasn't been exposed to what that actually entails.
Amazing how you can diagnose a person whilst not knowing them personally.
Unless we get a guy who can play in our top 4 in the next year or two, I don't want Hemmer traded. Fans quickly forget that for years he was our best player and then we want to trade him while his value is at his lowest? I mean come on, whats the harm in signing him for a couple years as your 2nd line RW and sell when he actually brings something back. This isn't addition by subtraction people.
....so true.
