GDB 60.0: HARTNELL AND HEMSKY
Jason Gregor
February 23 2012 12:48PM
After a dominating performance over an injury-riddled, not-much-talent Flames team on Tuesday, the Oilers will have a tougher test tonight. Outside of proving the Oilers have much more skill than Calgary, I was impressed by how hard they worked and skated on Tuesday. When their effort, desire and work ethic matches their natural skill level this team is fun to watch and hard to play against.
It takes time to realize how to play that way most nights, but if they can bring the same effort tonight, we should be in for a hell of a game. The Flyers are big, tough, physical and loaded with skill. Claude Giroux is one of the best players in the game. Scott Hartnell is having a great year. Wayne Simmonds is on pace to score 30 goals. Jaromir Jagr is still dangerous, and even without the Human Rake, their backend is solid.
The only question is if Ilya Bryzgalov can break the 25-year curse that hangs over goaltenders who go to Philly.
Bryzgalov is a classic. He was hilarious on 24/7, and I genuinely think he cares. Recently he changed his pads from the old school brown to all black in hopes of changing his luck. Darth Galov would be a good moniker for him. His teammates admit he's a different guy, but they all said he truly cares and they expect him to turn things around before the playoffs.
LINE UP
Smyth - Gagner - Eberle
Hall- Horcoff - Hemsky
Paajarvi - Belanger - Eager
Petrell- Lander - Hordichuk
Smid - Petry
Whitney - Gilbert
Sutton - Potter
Dubnyk
After a 6-1 victory there is no reason to change things up, so Ryan Jones will sit out his 2nd straight along with Cam Barker. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skated today, but he won't play tonight and likely not on Saturday. He is getting closer, but he will need to be 100% for at least a week before he gets back in the lineup.
HARTNELL DOWN
What started as a joke on twitter has morphed into a fundraiser for charity, mostly because Scott Hartnell can poke fun at himself. Hockey fan Seth Hastings came up with #HartnellDown, story here, but it took off when Hartnell himself joined in on the fun.
Hastings' definition of Hartnell Down is, “A moment where something other than Scott’s skates or stick are on the ice and attached to his body… if Scott puts a glove hand on the ice, he’s down but if Scott tosses his gloves to fight, he is not down until he inevitably ends up flat on his back during said fight.”
Hartnell isn't the best skater, and his reckless style has him falling to the ice an average of three times a game. Last year Hastings tallied 241 scenarios where Hartnell Down occured. .
Hartnell decided to play along and launched www.hartnelldown.com. They track his falls, he's at 224 so far this year, and they sell T-shirts for $15 with all the proceeds going to charity. "It is a funny thing that has turned out great. It's blown up bigger than I could have imagined," said Hartnell.
"It's not like I try to fall down that often, but it happens. Now it seems every time I fall, or someone on our team falls it is 'Hartnell Down.' It's really fun. Some people tweet me and say, 'You are embarrassing, stand up or you're a piece of whatever,' but I think it is hilarious, and it is good for people to come together on something and help some kids."
Hartnell is having a career year with 28 goals and 56 points. He's also one of the emotional leaders for the Flyers. Hartnell got off to a brutal start. He was on the fourth line. He pinched a nerve in his neck in early August, and he wasn't able to work out for weeks leading up to training camp. That set him back, and early in the year many around the league were wondering if they'd trade him. He had two points in the first seven games, but Peter Laviolette had faith in him and put him with Claude Giroux and he took off.
Hartnell rewarded Laviolette with a breakout season, and he's become way more disciplined. He's cut down on the stupid penalties, and his play combined with Hartnell Down has made him a huge fan favourite in Philly and around the league.
QUICK HITS
- The Oilers are 16-8-6 v. the Flyers in Edmonton. Jeff Deslauriers shutout the Flyers the last time they were at Rexall, 1-0 on February 3rd, 2010.
- Ryan Whitney and Ryan Smyth have the most career goals, 4, v. the Flyers. Eric Belanger, Ales Hemsky and Andy Sutton have two goals and Shawn Horcoff has one v. the Flyers. It is very likely one Oiler will score their first goal against Philly tonight.
- The St. Louis Blues are the first team in NHL history to have two goalies with six shutouts in the same season. Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak each have six. They have 12 as a team. The last team with 15 was Chicago in 1970. Prior to the Hawks, the other teams to do it all came in the 1920s when offence wasn't at a premium. If the Blues reach 16, they will tie the New York Americans, 1929, for 2nd most. The Habs had the most, 22, in 1929 when George Hainsworth earned all 22. The Blues goaltending and team defence has been outstanding.
- Please stop saying Linus Omark will replace Ales Hemsky. It won't happen. Omark might, a big might, score 40 points, but he'll likely never be a 60+ point player. Whether Hemsky is here or somewhere else, I expect he'll top 60 at least three more times in his career. Omark does not have the same skill or drive as Hemsky.
- Speaking of Hemsky, his camp is open to any deal. They made it clear to me today that they aren't set on a long-term deal. Like any player they'd love security, but if the deal is shorter then obviously the term goes up. When I asked about a two-year deal for $11 million it wasn't laughed at and it sounded like they'd seriously consider that option. Hemsky already gave up two years of free agency in his last deal, so I understand if he wants a longer term deal, but he likes Edmonton and his teammates want him here. I think a two or three year deal could be worked out. They have 96 hours to try and figure it out. Make no mistake though, trading Hemsky would set this team back a bit. You can't replace proven top-six forwards very easily.
- The Oilers paid Hemsky $5 million this year ($4.1 cap hit) so his cap hit would go up, but the actual dollars paid out isn't that different. Keep in mind that Ryan Smyth's $6.25 cap hit won't be close to that next season, so I don't see why a $5 to $5.5 million cap hit for Hemsky is an issue.
GAME DAY PREDICTION: We 'll witness an exciting, upbeat game with the Oilers sneaking out a 4-3 victory.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Hartnell gets credit with four "HartnellDown" tonight, and he chips in a greasy goal from the top of the crease.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: With his idol, Jaromir Jagr, in town, Hemsky has a strong game. They went for dinner last night, and tonight Hemsky will display why Jagr almost signed in Edmonton. Jagr is a huge fan of Hemsky, "I think he's one of the most dangerous players in the league at full speed," Jagr said. Hemsky and Hall combine for two highlight reel goals tonight.
Hopefully Tambi gets Hemsky resigned fist and then worries about trading spare parts instead of our star players.
If Hemsky will take a 2 or 3 year deal at 5.5 it is a no brainer to sign him.
Should be a really good game tonight and will certainly be a good test of where this team is.
If you check the latest poll, those that say get rid of him are in the minority and usually offer up the same lame excuses.
1) He's lazy and leaves the ice first after practice - wrong, Renney himself said that he goes for physical therapy and stuff like that. So not lazy.
2) He's not a leader - wrong, why does he wear an A? Do you know something a few NHL coaches don't? Did you see how pumped he gets for his team mates?
3) He's soft - wrong! See the Redwing game? The Kronwall hit? Dude jumped right up and finished the game, would you after a hit like that? How about all the Calgary match-ups with Reghier?
4) His +/- is horrible - Well this is a useless stat... moving on.
5) Umm, I think thats about all of them.
Fact is, Hemsky IS a top 6 player as pointed out numerous times by many posters on here. Fact is, losing Hemsky WOULD set us back in the re-build. Fact is, you DON'T trade away talent just because you have a few more talented guys, you ADD to that talent!
SIGN HEMSKY NOW FFS!!!
Hemsky 2 year, 11 million or 3 year 14 million. Get it done!!
While you are at it, Smyth for 2 years at 2.25 per
Nothing wrong with two solid wingers for 8 million or less.
Even the Dustin Penner trade might be a wash if the 3 prospects don`t turn out. Remember that
Hemsky...dishes it off to Jagr, Jagr over to Grigorenko......Grigorenko scores!
Coming to RX1 in the fall of 2012.
I'd love to see some FISTicuffs** involving Hartnell tonight, doubt it'll happen though.
**Fail
*** Just like my roll up the rim streak, 0-6
This will be the reason the Oilers will get killed tonight, unless Philly goaltending is hilariously bad:
Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn
Matt Carle - Pavel Kubina
Andrej Meszaros - Nicklas Grossman
That's SIX QUALITY top 4 defenseman in their line-up. SIX! Grossman is on the third pairing!
Keep the infinibuild going by trading Hemmer. That way we can pick first again next year and the year after. Eventually our entire team will be #1 overall picks, and we can start trading those away when they get good.
I don't believe that you actually watch games. Hemsky plays the toughs and drives possession (2nd on the team). The kids are still getting the easy competition and the offensive zone starts. Of course they're scoring, but start Eberle and RNH in the defensive zone next year against top competition and watch their production get cut in half.
Maybe the Oilers should start up HallDown.com, I love the way Hall drives to the net but he does seem to end up on his butt a lot.
This might be the Worst Reffing i have ever watched. Unbelievable.
People hell bent on trades make no sense to me. Look at what we are left with after the Ryan Smyth trade.... Plante (which might be let go next year) Nilsons buy-out and Bryan Rodney (for O`marra) It seems like in the rare BEST case we could get a player that has close to Ales`s skill and drive. At the worst and most likely....nothing at all.
Re-signing the Hemmer is a must and a no brainer.
I hope it gets done, but Tambo is pretty incompetent so I'm not sure what to expect.
Imaging Tamb negotiating with qualified GM's like Burke, Chirelli etc, yikes...
Yes, lets pay 5mil+ to a two-time 20 goal scorer who doesn't hit, fight or check. If we do keep him at least he can show the kids how to get off the ice as quickly as possible after practice.
Hartnell you dirty son of a slut!
PS. I hope we trade for you!
These refs are horrible.
Someone said that cock fights in his garage are reffed better. Shame I'm starting to agree with him.
You honestly think he doesn't belong in the NHL? you know he is the captain of an NHL team right?
I'm sure there are 29 other teams in the league that would happily take Horcoff*
He is very much an NHL player.
*Not with his contract**
**And probably not use him on the powerplay either, unless absolutely necessary***
***He also would not be on the top 2 lines (to be fair he isn't a #1 or #2 center on the Oilers either.....Who says this team hasn't improved??
Now in comparison:
Smid - Petry
Whitney - Gilbert
Sutton - Potter
Smid and Petry are playing well and they are a solid pairing. Whitney and Gilbert was great last year, but between the two of them there are only two good legs. Sutton and Potter might get schooled, but we'll see.
In any event, our D by comparison is poor at best so if by some miracle the Oilers pull out a win tonight I will be shocked.
Note: Philly is top ten in the league in possession while the Oilers are in the bottom 5.
Or better yet, lets re-sign him, and screw a re-build. I bet we can find more over priced lazy players that will fit in nice on a line with Hemsky. Gomez in available, lets trade away some of the kids who actually try when they're given ice time. Pair them together and we can call it "The Potential Line : When they feel like showing up, you'll be on the edge of your seat!!!"
I swear, I have never seen a player with so much talent that like to "backcheck" two strides behind a player for the entire length of the ice. 5Mil+ to a player who's almost guaranteed to miss 50% of the games over his contract is asinine.
Actually, if you watch the games the kids attract time against other top players, Hemsky never attracted free agents to Edmonton before, its the kids.Hemsky has taken the punishment and gets hurt because of it. .
Hemsky is my Goat. I've been accused of Excessive goating on a few Occasions, and im sure i'll be accused of it atleast a few more times before the season is up.
BUT
"Speaking of Hemsky, his camp is open to any deal. They made it clear to me today that they aren't set on a long-term deal. Like any player they'd love security, but if the deal is shorter then obviously the term goes up. When I asked about a two-year deal for $11 million it wasn't laughed at and it sounded like they'd seriously consider that option. Hemsky already gave up two years of free agency in his last deal, so I understand if he wants a longer term deal, but he likes Edmonton and his teammates want him here. I think a two or three year deal could be worked out. They have 96 hours to try and figure it out. Make no mistake though, trading Hemsky would set this team back a bit. You can't replace proven top-six forwards very easily."
- If this is true: Sign him. Sign him to a decent 3 year deal and Jesus Mary and Jerome, get it over with!
If the team needs to take a gamble on something, I'd gamble on the FA Market in an attempt to bring in a G or a D (or both). I Understand that contract Count limitations might come into effect so i don't doubt that we'd have to move SOME contracts somewhere.. but I'm sure we can find a couple scrubs to pass along to free up a couple spots.
cause we'd be better off today with penner?
You should probably look up those turnover stats before you try to make your point. By your logic, we should get rid of Taylor Hall. Just sayin...
@will Colford
Hey, that Kessel fellow has 68 giveaways this year... Toronto better get rid of him.
You should see check who Hemsky plays against, before saying +/- is an accurate reflection of his play.
They get worse, because they aren't that good as it is, and losing a PROVEN top-six forward fot another draft pick and prospect makes them worse.
Not sure why people think keeping him for two years, until the kids are ready to be stars and face the tough opposition is a bad thing?
Do the oilers actually need another play making winger in the top six? I get hemmer is a top six talent, but paying a player 5 mil + a year to play second pp minutes doesn't make sense. The chances that Edmonton picks second is pretty good if the big Russian center is available they're taking him. Where does everyone fit? You're going to have Hemsky and Horcoff playing the tough minutes on the third line with Smyth.
That's a very expensive third line.
I'd rather use that money to help out the blue line and resign Gagner and Smyth. We need a big power forward more then we need a "lazy play no system" Hemsky who's skill set is redundant.
I don't care how good his corsi and zone start numbers are. Hemsky needs a new home.
@Johe
Who is Darren Dreger? What does that qoute mean?
What is your problem with thinking?
He's 18 years old and playing in the NHL... I think i'll trust the doctors and training staff's word over his ;)
streaming website, quality is so-so
http://hockeynightt.blogspot.com/2011/10/1.html
Oh gee... and lookie at Horcoff standing in front of the net on that goal blocking the defenceman from getting in a blocking lane. HE'S USELESS ON THE PP TRADE THE BUM!!!
Nope.
I agree that Horcoff is over payed but that horse has been beaten to death eh. I prefer to look past his contract and see that there is still a useful player.
Nice refs. Hartnell is running around cross checking everyone. Do your jobs ref. joke.
Nope.
Many of us on here support Horcoff, your just to blinded by your hate for him to see anything good that he does.
They should send a tape in on these refs what a friggin joke
They of course don't have a the option.
I'm of the opinion though that they should change the rule on penalty shots....if the shooter doesn't score they should then have two sit out the 2 minute minor.
Okay note to everyone who thinks Horc is a bum. He makes too much money. That's NOT his fault.
He's a servicable player that could crack ANY NHL team.
He's playing out of position. He plays too many mins and that again is not his fault. This team has no better options against the toughs and the next in line is Belanger. Who is having a bad season but is another victim of a bad team and a playing out of his position.
Now for something completely different.
Shame on Shanahan for the lack of action. Hartnell was looking for blood and got it when Potter refused to dance. His lack of concern immediately after the hit made it clear that he had achieved his goal, and he should have been punished severely for it.
hopefully we keep Jagrs fist and salutes to a mimimum. Let's go oiler! clap clap clapclapclap!!!!
*fail. to slow
"They have 96 hours to try and figure it out"
Jason, When do they ship out to Winnipeg? I'm thinking if it ain't done while he's in Edmonton he will be traded.
Call me cheesy but I am tired of seeing our favorite players playing for other teams when they become pending ufa's. If you want, join my cheesiness
http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/re-sign-ales-hemsky-do-not-trade-him/806
if not, oh well.
Hope you are still an Oiler this time next week and next year Hemmer.
I was willing to see Hemsky traded rather than sign a new contract which I assumed would be big money plus big term. The risk was too great in that case.
If it's true that he's willing to offer a discount in either price or term then I've changed my mind. You'd have to sign him even just to preserve his value. He's likely worth more on the trade block in a couple years mid-contract and recovered from his slump than he is as a pending UFA right now, and in the meantime he can play top 6 for you.
If he can be had for 2-3 years at a $5-6M cap hit, then I hope the only reason Tambo hasn't done it yet is because he has some sucker on the line who is about to offer him the moon in trade (yeah, right).
so with a Hemsky contract deal being real close, what are we doing with PRV on the third line with the Black Hole Belanger (BHB) and Eager? Either PRV will give Belanger points, or PRV will get sucked into the black hole. Not a nice way to develop a future top 6 player. Smyth is UFA and will get a small deal, Horcoff should not be 2C and Hemsky will likely be injured again soon. Give the guy some minutes or quality linemates.....we will lean on him sooner than later.
flip BHB and Lander
I know Hemsky is a talent, but I don't fully see trading Hemsky as a "step back". The team is young and improving yes, but when your 29th in the league there isn't much to be set back on. I'd hope they keep Hemsky but really if your drafting 2nd overall, Grigorenko's name is calling come draft day = top 6 replacement w/ size via la Hemsky departure
Re-signing Hemsky for the next 2-3 years IS about being patient with the rebuild. Hemsky attracts top players from other teams and gives the kids more time against lesser players. The kids improve and have success/improve confidence as opposed to facing 1-2 defensemen every single shift. Let Hemsky take the punishment if he actually wants to stay here.
I was thinking the same thing!
I'll stop saying Omark can replace Hemskey if you stop saying trading him will make the team worse. I am just at an end that because Oilers management is looking to better our backend, suddenly Hemskey's laziness on backchecking, and poor two way play just gets a pass. Why does Hemskey get away with the third worst plus minus on the team. A guy whose supposed to be a leader, he's showing how to not be solid defensively. What are his turnover numbers? Having a guy that doesn't trun the puck over is just as important as a guy who generates offense.
Are you sure you are not discribing Ryan Smyth's backchecking abilities. How much does he make?
Nice to see a philly in town trade deadline is not as exiting as when you are trying to load up for a playoff run. Go oil! Should be good for a couple powerplay goals