Hot Links: Thursday, May 14

Morning, folks!

This morning marks an exciting iteration of the links, because it features an interview with a former Oiler near and dear to my heart: Ales M.F. Hemsky.

Hemsky was criminally underappreciated for most of his time here because, well, he was excellent, but he didn’t block shots, really. That’s typically how it goes around these parts.

Lowetide asks: what if the Oilers run it back with the same group next year and take a real crack at the Pacific Division? How would that look?

Riley Sheahan did a job for the Oilers last year, it’s true. But it is rumored that his new agent is asking somewhere in the neighborhood of $2MM+ for his services moving forward. My take? See ya.

The Oilers have a few key RFAs to deal with. Ethan Bear’s due for a new deal. So are Andreas Athanasiou and Matt Benning. Bear and Benning both deserve raises, with the former commanding a greater increase than the latter, but both having positive contributions last season. Athanasiou’s performance is harder to value after a mostly down season, but he did have some pretty productive years prior, and is still of RFA age.

Ales Hemsky is the man.

From Us

Hot Links: Wednesday, May 13 (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

Green, Green Grass Of Home (Lowetide)

Oilers Need Riley Sheahan To Drop His Asking Price (THW)

The Big Questions: The Other RFAs (Oilersnation)

Oilers May Need To Improve From Within If Salary Cap Remains Stagnant (Sportsnet)

Bettman On Cancelling The Season: “Not Something I’m Even Contemplating” (Oilersnation)

For Money

Ales Hemsky On His Health, Alumni Games, Tough Opponents And The Oilers’ Stars (Athletic)