The Montreal Canadiens have added some scoring upside, inking Ales Hemsky to a one-year contract worth $1MM. Hemsky ranked #44 on our list of the Top 50 Free Agents, noting that he could be a candidate for bounce back player of the year.
Hemsky, 33, played just one game for the Dallas Stars last year before having surgery on his hip to repair a labral tear, an injury sustained at the World Cup of Hockey. He’d return in March for fourteen more contests, actually recording seven points in his last eleven games. It’s that offensive potential that the Canadiens are after, as their negotiations linger with fellow right winger Alexander Radulov. Hemsky represents an effective option for the team on a very inexpensive contract.
In 2015-16, Hemsky’s last full season, he scored 39 points in 75 games even in a sheltered role. Logging just 13 minutes a night he recorded nearly all of his production at even strength, something that Montreal has had trouble with in the past. The veteran winger has 572 points in 838 games, including a career-high of 77 back in 2005-06 with the Edmonton Oilers.
Low risk, at best medium reward. I know Hemsky’s had his detractors for years because he was never a goal scorer but he was once a really good playmaking winger. Could help revitalize Plekanec’s offensive game but not going to hold my breath on that.