Dallas Stars Report Cards: Ales Hemsky
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars had a wonderful 2015-2016 season, we know that. But how did each player specifically perform? Blackout Dallas has dove into this question over the past few weeks by writing up a report card for each player.
The Dallas Stars are known around the NHL for one thing: their depth on offense. Whether it’s with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn on the first line, or Radek Faksa and Vernon Fiddler on the third and fourth lines, they’ve got an overstocking of talented forwards.
They’ve been in this promising situation for two seasons now, ever since they added Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky in the 2014 offseason. They finished last season second place overall in goals for, and first place this past year. Ales Hemsky played a significant role in the production.
The veteran finally settling in
After a surprising playoff birth but first round exit in 2014, the Dallas Stars looked poised to go very far in the 2014-2015 season. Amidst a flurry of additions in the offseason, the Stars picked up 32-year old veteran Ales Hemsky.
Although his first year was a rather shaky one due to a mixture of moving south for the first time ever (Hemsky had spent his entire career in Edmonton and Ottawa) and a nagging hip injury that later require surgery, his second season is a different story.
Regular season recap
After an off-pace first year in Dallas, Hemsky picked up his play in his second season. Barring a minor injury in the first few weeks of the season, he played in 75 regular season games. Hemsky scored 13 goals and tallied 26 assists, along with a +3 in 13:06 average ice time.
While mainly skating on the third line, Hemsky played the perfect role of a physical scoring grinder. Lindy Ruff found the perfect role for him later in the season when he put Hemsky on the third line with Radek Faksa and Antoine Roussel. The line turned out to be the most consistent line by the end of the season.
Playoff recap
This past year was Hemsky’s first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2005-2006 season when he was with the Edmonton Oilers. He did contribute a decent amount to the Dallas Stars’ run though. Skating in all 13 games, Hemsky put up one goal and three assists, along with a -1 rating in 15:24 average ice time.
Contract situation
Hemsky just finished up the second year of his three-year contract with the Dallas Stars that he signed back in the offseason of 2014. It pays and has a cap hit of $4 million each season and will expire after the 2016-2017 season.
The opinion section
Hemsky is a talented player, and definitely a contributing part of the Stars’ offensive machine. At the end of last season, it seemed as though everyone was calling for him to be shipped out via trade. Even this year there are still similar critics.
While $4 million may be a bit too much for a third-line designated player like Hemsky, he still does his part and possesses excellent chemistry with Faksa and Roussel. The line is great on puck possession and scoring contributions, as well as running the offensive zone. Hemsky provides the veteran experience that the line needs to succeed.
He’s a valuable asset at least for the season ahead, and the Stars will hopefully be able to use him to their full advantage as they did this season.
must read: Dallas Stars' Report Cards
Bottom line
The Dallas Stars picked up Hemsky two seasons back in hopes that they would get a competent veteran forward that could balance out an attack filled with primarily youth. Though the first season was more of a learning process, Hemsky proved this season that he can still contribute to the high-flying offense.
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Hemsky will be back next season and hopefully pick up where he left off as the Stars attempt to continue their drive to the Stanley Cup.