Dallas Stars Seeing What They Need From Ales Hemsky

The Dallas Stars are currently struggling through a slump. One of the key players keeping them somewhat afloat is Ales Hemsky.

The Dallas Stars are currently in the middle of a scuffle with the Chicago Blackhawks for standing in both their division and conference. The Stars sit with a record of 37-17-6 with 80 points, while the Hawks boast a 38-19-5 record with 81 points. Dallas has two games in hand and need to spend both wisely if they are aiming to take first place back in the Central Division and Western Conference.

It’s an exciting time in the NHL, that’s for sure. The trade deadline is six days away, most teams only have around 20 games to go, and there are about five or six teams in each conference battling for two wild card playoff spots. A lot of moving pieces are in play at the moment, and it can be difficult to keep up.

The Dallas Stars seem to be having some trouble keeping up, though it is in regards to a different subject. The Stars are currently experiencing their third slump of the season. The only difference between the other two slumps and this one is the fact that the Stars have played pathetic defensively and ugly hockey overall.

Over the past three games, the Stars have been outscored 15-7. They are 0-2-1 and slowly forfeiting ground that they fought so hard to gain back in the standings at the beginning of February.

One of the main players that looks to be giving their all in trying to right the ship is Ales Hemsky. That is a rather fascinating idea, considering that for the majority of Hemsky’s career in Dallas, he has been a spotty performer and contributor.

On July 1, 2014, Stars GM Jim Nill took the reins of the opening day of NHL free agency by lassoing in top notch talent. His first move was trading Alex Chiasson and a handful of prospects for Jason Spezza and a prospect. Just moments after the trade was announced, Ales Hemsky signed with the Stars on a three-year, $12 million deal.

While most of the hype was centered around Spezza, many were excited to see Hemsky come in and expected him to become one of the Stars most effective top-six forwards.

But last season, Hemsky never seemed to get going. He had spent his entire career prior to Dallas with the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators, so moving south of the border presented a bit of a challenge. The weight of adjusting to a new environment and a hip that eventually gave out on him contributed to his subpar season. Overall, Hemsky ended the year with 11 goals and 32 points in 76 games.

This season, Dallas Stars fans looked at Hemsky with an inquisitive eye. Sure he had plenty of obstacles plaguing him in 2014-2015, but with a healthy and comfortable season ahead, would he be able to produce? It sure looked like it in the very beginning. Hemsky scored on opening night and tallied six points in the first four games of the season.

He followed that promising performance up with a severe drop-off, logging five points in his next 25 games. Hemsky did not play all that bad in those games either. Back in December, Lindy Ruff contributed Hemsky’s struggle to not being able to find a spot that fit him in the lineup. Combining this performance with a few injuries, many wondered how long it would be before Nill found a way to dish him.

But it looks as though Hemsky is now on the way back up. While his track record is spotty and not entirely trustworthy, it is great to see the 32-year old forward tuning back in and finding ways to contribute.

It might be due to the most recent line juggling by Ruff, or it could be a sign of things to come with Hemsky. In the new line setup, Hemsky is running the right wing alongside Valeri Nichushkin and Mattias Janmark. And it seems to be paying off.

More stars: Could The Stars Target Anyone At The Trade Deadline?

In the last six games, Hemsky has three goals and two assists. His production has been revamped, and is one of the few lights shining in the darkness of the Dallas Stars’ recent slump.

If Hemsky truly is turning a corner, that’s excellent. With playoffs around the corner, the Stars will need all of the veteran assistance they can get. The last thing Hemsky needs to do is slip back into his lacking style of play. It’s a critical moment in the season where the Stars are jockeying for position, and they could use all the Hemsky they can get.

Next: Stars Travel To Winnipeg In Search Of A Win

The Dallas Stars are in Manitoba tonight for the first game of a home-and-home set with the Winnipeg Jets this week. We’ll see if Hemsky, and the Stars as a whole, can halt the slump from growing any bigger.