Chicago Blackhawks Interested in Ales Hemsky?

The Chicago Blackhawks might be taking a run at the Edmonton Oilers’ Ales Hemsky according to Eklund at HockeyBuzz.com. If that’s truly the case and a deal were to happen, the Blackhawks will be an even more scary team to face.

Eklund says that the Blackhawks have been making some interesting moves recently. He suggests that the Blackhawks have been going that in order to build up pieces for a deal for Hemsky. The Blackhawks last deal was with the New York Islanders, acquiring Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Peter Regin. They have made a few small deals to go along with that and the re-acquisition of Kris Versteeg.

Hemsky is in the last season on a two-year deal with the Oilers and looks to be on his last legs with the organization. The Oilers are more than likely going to be looking for some younger players that have a couple years experience in the NHL.

I don’t see any of the pieces that the Blackhawks have acquired would be of that much interest to the Oilers, other than Versteeg. If the Blackhawks are in fact making a run at Hemsky, they will have to give up something more than they have been acquiring.

Add in the fact that the Oilers might also want a draft pick as part of the deal and the deal might be easier to make depending on how high the pick is. If the Oilers were to find a way to persuade the Blackhawks to give up a first-round pick, it would be a good deal for them no matter what. However, it’s doubtful that the Blackhawks would give up a first-rounder for just Hemsky.

Hemsky is another player to watch out for in the week leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline after the Olympics end.