Edmonton Oilers avoid free agency to Ales Hemsky, give him two-year $10 million deal – NHL News
Edmonton Oilers’ forward, Ales Hemsky, is lucky again to have won another extension into his deal from the franchise, despite his insignificant contribution to the team in the last three seasons of his career, which, more or less, have been marred with injuries.
In 47 games Hemsky has played in current (2011-2012) National Hockey League (NHL) season, he managed five goals and 21 assists.
Amid the growing injury concerns for the player, the chances of getting a new deal had increasingly become doubtful until Friday, February 24, 2012, when both sides confirmed to have successfully worked out a new contract.
Hemsky’s last (2010-2011) season was slightly better than the current one, as his overall record included 14 goals and 28 assists. The same injury problems affected his form and performance the year earlier.
This apparently has not affected the opportunity that has again come by for the player in form of the two-year deal.
Steve Tambellini, the team’s general manager, said of the player and new deal:
"Ales can see the level of skill that's coming. The type of play we've seen lately with him and (Taylor) Hall is exciting."
Neither of the parties have confirmed terms of the deal except for its value, which is worth $10 million spread over the period of next two seasons.
It is just in time deal for the team and the player, as the NHL trade deadline runs out today, Monday, February 2012.
If the team had decided against granting the extension, the player was set to become an unrestricted free agent after July 01, 2012, when his current deal runs out.
The prospects on the free agency were reported to be brighter for the player and he was tipped to be hot pursuit for a number of teams, which were awaiting his release. This prompted the need for negotiation of a new deal before the deadline.
It was also lucky for the player himself that the injury problems in the past three years have not affected his career’s progress and he had been successful in turning things into his favour during all these times.
Oilers’ GM said:
"For him to give that up at this point is big."
He added:
"Ales is a proud hockey player. He wants to be the guy. You want people that demand the ice time and try to be great."
Hemsky, who originally comes from Czech Republic, has played as many as 537 NHL regular season games.
In total, he has earned 421 points, with 119 goals and 302 assists. He has been a part of the team during all the seasons, including the one when Oilers had come closer to winning Stanley Cup, but unfortunately failed to grab the title.
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