EDMONTON -- I spoke to a Western Conference scout on this road trip who thinks the Oilers could have a trading partner with either the L.A. Kings or New York Rangers for forward Ales Hemsky.
Coincidentally, Jim Matheson, the Hall of Fame columnist for the Edmonton Journal, has a column on Hemsky in Thursdays paper quoting Jaromir Jagr as saying that a change of scenery might benefit the 28-year-old winger.
If Wayne Gretzky got traded, anybody can be traded, Jagr told Matheson. Whatever management wants to do, theyll do. Might be good for them, might be good for Hemsky.
Hes got talent. Maybe if he went to a different team it would like a new start. Maybe he gets 100 points. Hes that skilled.
Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini is likely going to wait to see what happens with Jeff Carter and Rick Nash in Columbus before making a move -- if any -- on Hemsky, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Kings GM Dean Lombardi needs to make a major move to get his club into the playoffs and quite possibly save his own job.
The Rangers could use another scoring forward, but their roster is pretty solid for a Stanley Cup run because they have the No. 1 goalie in the NHL this season in Henrik Lundqvist.
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This scout also told me he has had some talks with the Flyers and believes they are done.
They feel if they can just get their goaltending to come around, theyll be fine, he said.
I think thats the feeling among most Flyer fans, as well.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net