Ottawa Senators Acquire Ales Hemsky

Mar 4, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Ales Hemsky (83) carries the puck up ice during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

In a deal that has been talked about for a couple of years, the Ottawa Senators have acquired Ales Hemsky from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a couple of draft picks.

Hemsky put a damper on the Senators’ playoff hopes last night, scoring twice in Edmonton’s 3-2 win over Ottawa, and today he will be joining the Sens down the highway in Calgary tonight, hopefully on a line with Jason Spezza.  He will be counted on to become a player who helps the Senators out of the hole they currently find themselves in.

Hemsky, a former member of the Hull Olympiques, has played his entire professional career in the city of Edmonton, almost 11 seasons.  He has 477 points in 652 career games, but hasn’t played in the playoffs since the Edmonton run of 2005-06.

His recent time in Edmonton has seen him slide down the depth chart with the emergence of the likes of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and the rest of the young Oilers.  He hadn’t scored a goal in the NHL since January 2nd before last night’s pair in Edmonton.  He scored 3 goals and added an assist in the Olympics for the Czech Republic.

Ottawa gives up a 3rd and a 5th round pick, and the Oilers will apparently pick up 50% of Hemsky’s remaining salary for the season.  He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.