NHL Trade Rumors: Edmonton's Ales Hemsky the Hottest Name on Trade Deadline Day

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Edmonton Oilers Have The Most Attractive Trade Chip At The Deadline With Ales Hemsky

If you're an NHL fan, then TSN's Tradecentre deadline show is must-watch television. Where else can you see seasoned professionals trying to fill 10 hours of time and reporters watching their computers freeze on live television.

Those crazy Canadians.

Anyway, all that was a segway to Edmonton's Ales Hemsky, who's been one of the biggest names mentioned all morning on TSN. With the Dallas Stars unsure about Brad Richards (which is basically saying he's not going anywhere), Hemsky becomes not only the best forward available, but also the best player available.

The Oilers hold all the cards in terms of what to do with Hemsky, who still has one year left on his contract. They can pick and choose what they want to do in terms of moving him (if they decide to move him at all), so if Oilers GM Steve Tambellini just wants to sit back and see teams throwing offers at him, he can do so.

If Tambellini wanted to move Hemsky, Los Angeles has to be an attractive trade partner in terms of what the Kings can offer in terms of top-end prospects. Of course, like I mentioned, the situation with Brad Richards will dictate what happens with Ales Hemsky and how many calls the Oilers get.

But right now, the Oilers are sitting pretty with a hot trade chip in Hemsky. And if you believe a column by Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun that today is a big day for the Oilers organization, then the Oilers have the opportunity to make a big step forward.

If you put stock in that type of thing, that is.

For more NHL news: NHL Trade Deadline 2011: Analyzing The Day's Trades as They Happen

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