Yes, of course, we all know that the Oilers are so lucky to avoid having to sign that millstone that is a crap player in Marian Hossa… 

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/28/08 at 03:37 PM ET

And his production is falling off terribly since he’s pushing 30…. LOLOLOL
We’ll have to check back in with Mr Staples in about 10 months George. 

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 08/28/08 at 03:43 PM ET

Actually, if it was anything like the nine years, $81 million that was rumoured, they are better off.  For that team it would have been pretty crazy - maybe less so if they didn’t have the Sheldon Souray contract?

Posted by Baroque on 08/28/08 at 04:12 PM ET

As players age and their game becomes well-rounded, you will see a bit of a decrease in production.  Yet their value to the team increases.

Mr Staples appears to be a little short of hockey knowledge comparing a 25 yr old to a 29 yr old..let’s
just check this out by subtracting the PP points and looking at the even strength production.
Hossa 47 pts/72 games…. .653 PPG
Hemsky 41 pts/74 games…. .554 PPG
and
last year
Hossa 4 GWG
Hemsky 2 GWG

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 08/28/08 at 04:47 PM ET

Hossa > Hemsky.  That much is simple.  But the contract the Oilers offered Hossa was extreme.  I personally would have loved to see him take the contract. 

It worked out better now because I can laugh at the hypocritical Oiler fans that bitched about Hossa “turning down guaranteed money for a Cup” but bashed the Vinny signing.  God I love being in Edmonton some days

Posted by 41 Long Ones from Edmonton on 08/28/08 at 05:03 PM ET

You know, Hockey Town Todd, you may want to actually read the article.  Staples doesn’t compare Hossa and Hemsky, he links to a blogger who does.

And if you read the blog post, you’d see that that the actual stats do say that in 07-08, Hemsky outscored Hossa on a PER MINUTE base.  Yes Hossa scored more points, but he did it with more time on ice per game.  You can’t measure points per game without taking into account the time the player was actually on the ice.  Kinda hard to score from the bench.

Posted by Julian on 08/28/08 at 09:53 PM ET

Julian, I did read the article, failed to see it your way.  Comparing stats between players on different teams, filling a different role under a different coaching style is rather obtuse.  I did not mean to knock Hemsky in any way, and am impressed with all his assists.  I will make it a point to notice him more in the upcoming season.  I stand behind my statement that production falls a bit when a player matures and becomes more valuable to the team.  Your most productive young players are not often the ones you want out there in the last 3 minutes protecting a one goal lead. That simple fact negates the total ice time argument.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 08/29/08 at 02:03 AM ET

Fair enough, I won’t disagree that more experience doesn’t necessarily count for anything when it comes to GAP, and almost certainly counts in other areas.

I was just pointing out that Staples said Hemsky outscored Hossa on a per minute basis, and you seemed to be disagreeing with that by posting points per game stats, which aren’t really the same thing.

Hossa may have better whatever-things-being-a-vet-gets-you, but that certainly doesn’t make him worth twice Hemsky.

Posted by Julian on 08/29/08 at 09:03 AM ET

This is a conmplete joke (then again what do I expect form anything that comes out of EDM or EDM fans?).  Another example of Oilers and their fans trying to talk themselves into how bad their mediocrity really isn’t. 

Maybe someday they’ll stop making excuses.  First it was the “weak Canadian dollar” to blame.  Then it was “All the players are mean and won’t come to EDM, boo-hoo”, now it’s “Well, Hossa’s no good anyways, we didn’t REALLY want him…”.  Have fun with your team that’s likely to miss the playoffs again I guess.

And Julian, it’s called “winning”. that’s the “whatever-things-being-a-vet-get-you”.  Hossa’s done it and knows what it takes, in OTT and then the run last year in PIT.  I think Hemsky’s maybe HEARD of it, but I don’t know if he realizes it’s real, or just thinks it’s some mythical extinct thing from a time long forgotten in EDM…

Oh yeah, and Hemsky’s never played defense in his life (again he might have HEARD Of defense, maybe).  Hossa’s a regular PKer if you want him to be.  Maybe that might have something to do with different player values?...

Posted by Primis on 08/29/08 at 10:22 AM ET

Oh, right, I forgot about those cups that Ottawa and Pittsburgh won. 

And how certain players “know” how to win, and certain players don’t, until the “winnar” pixie comes down and sprinkles her Winnar pixie dust on them, and then said player is bestowed the knowledge of “how to score more goals than the other team while playing in a team sport where the individual is only on the ice for half the game, at most, unless of course, said individual is a goaltender, in which case they only have the ability to influence on aspect of the team game”. 
It’s a lot of knowledge, really, and apparently it only comes once you’ve played more than 30 playoff games, or maybe once you’re over the age of 25…. Or maybe it comes once you’ve been on a winning team.  I mean, runs to the finals don’t count, apparently, so I’m trying to figure out what makes Hossa a Winnar and Hemsky not. 

That’s the great thing about intangibles, you can give them to anyone you like, and take them away from anyone you like, all without never having met the player or seen what they’re like it the dressing room.  Player X, he’s full of heart, and balls too.  He’s a winner, one great mess of ventricles and aortas and testicles. You need him on your team, or you’ll never win.  How can you win without a winner? It’s just illogical.

Posted by Julian on 08/31/08 at 04:41 AM ET

Fact: Ales Hemsky has played more Stanley Cup Final games—and won more Stanley Cup Final games—than Marian Hossa.

Fact: Nine years and $81M will destroy the salary structure of a young team with a number of up-and-comers a year or two away from payday.  One year and $7M is the perfect complement to a cheap, experienced defending champion.

Fact: You still can’t score from the friggin’ bench.  Hemsky had less ice time than Hossa, but scored more often in the time allotted, particularly on the PP (second to Kovalev in point scoring rate).

Fact: When Hemsky played with Horcoff and Smyth in ‘06, that wasn’t a pure scoring line; it was a two-way line.  He learned to play defence, believe me.  And I’ve seen him come rushing back to help turn a 2-on-1 into a 2-on-2 several times.

Conclusion: Think before you post.  Please.

Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary on 09/02/08 at 01:19 PM ET

Geez doggie, did you forget where you were posting?
This is KuklasKorner.
Things dont get any more biased than right here.
If it aint a winged wheel, it aint right.

Posted by Kevin from Pittsburgh on 09/02/08 at 03:26 PM ET