Ales Hemsky's name has been coming up quite a bit lately in trade rumours. Tonight on Edmonton Sports Night Live with Corey Graham on the TEAM 1260 in Edmonton, my TPS co-host Guy Flaming stopped by and they talked about the possibility of an Ales Hemsky for Brayden Schenn straight trade. They put the question out on the TEAM's facebook page and asked for feed back.If I was Steve Tambellini I would make this trade, and maybe he will. Maybe he's been offered this trade for a while now but has been busy wringing his hands over having to pull the trigger on a major deal. Tambellini has proven to make decisions with the speed of a turtle, and I have it on good authority that the Lubormir Visnovsky deal for Ryan Whitney might not have happened without Kevin Lowe interjecting and making the final call. As for Hemsky for Schenn I think this not only gives the Oilers a centreman they desperately need for the future, but also allows them to draft a blueliner, Adam Larsson, without question.
Schenn and Jordan Eberle have proven to have great chemistry at the World Junior Championship, and they would have shown that in the Memorial Cup last year if Brandon's Kelly McCrimmon could have pulled off the deal to bring in Eberle. The Oiler winger was so sure he was going to Brandon, he had his bags packed and ready to go. Schenn is a more offensive version of Jarret Stoll. A middle man with a defensive conscious, can wins draws, play physical, skate like the wind and put up points. What's not to like?If it's Washington that wants Hemsky, Cody Eakin is a guy I would target. 47 goals last year for Swift Current, played a gritty/skilled role for Canada at the World Juniors, and to show his value to a team, look no further then the Broncos. They shipped him to Kootenay earlier this year and are 1-9 in their last 10. I don't see the Capitals giving up John Carlson or Karl Alzner, but I do like Eakin and Guy's suggestion of Braden Holtby who as Flaming put it would easily become the best pipeman prospect in the organization.
When it comes to Ladislav Smid, I wouldn't be aggressively trying to trade him, but if a team came calling I'd listen. It sounds like Nashville is interested, although I spoke to someone in the Preds organization tonight who said he hadn't heard those rumblings from inside the team...yet.I've liked Blum since his days with the Vancouver Giants. He's not the biggest guy at 6.01 and 187 lbs, but what he lacks in size he makes up with grey matter. Blum is like a surgeon on the ice with a crisp first pass and the ability to quarterback a power play. He won't wow you with his puck rushing skills but gets A+ for his character and work ethic. If the Preds do end up dangling Blum for Smid, hopefully Steve Tambellini will take the deal, or be told to by Kevin Lowe.
5 comments:
I don't think you trade Hemsky or Penner for a offensive player like Brayden Schenn. I think your better off getting that big defensemen for one of them. Also Schenn is a unproven and were do you get the idea that Schenn is good defensively. I'd rather see Edmonton draft Sean Couturier, he's more of the complete package then Schenn.
I won't be disappointed with Courturier if they take him, they are going to get a very good player with the top 4 (likely top) pick and I like all 4 of the top guys:
Larsson
RNH
Couturier
Landeskog
As for Schenn I've watched him play alot against the other teams top lines and he has a above average two way game. He's a complete package and was physical at the junior level, if that translates he's a very good top 6 forward-who could top out at as a #1 C but is probably a great #2 guy.
Interesting perspective, Dean. I'm not sure I'd trade Hemsky for "Stoll". Schenn's offensive abilities would have to be considerably superior to Stoll to make such a deal, imho.
As for Smid, I'm not a Blum fan but I'm sure he would be seen as a fine return, but I think Wilson or Watson would fit our plans better. Of course, Nashville's not exactly bursting with F prospects, so they might balk at such a proposal.
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