The play of Alex Hemsky this season isn’t exactly what he was expecting from himself. After two seasons were ended prematurely with shoulder issues, this was supposed to be Hemsky’s year. However, so far this season the winger has missed 11 games with yet another shoulder problem though Hemsky says he feels pretty good. It’s just that his numbers aren’t pretty good. 19 games and 11 points might be good enough for some players, but not for Hemsky.

Listen, count me as one of those guys who felt Hemsky’s point total would finally match his talent. When Wayne Gretzky calls you out as a “special player” then I’m buying what the Great One is selling. If there was anyone on Edmonton prior to the last season or two who had the pure skill to play in the 80’s it would be 83. There were times that Edmonton’s talent cupboards were pretty bare with Hemsky being the only exception. He has the ability to dazzle crowds with the puck on his stick, which is why I thought and almost would have guaranteed that this year Hemsky would hit the 100-point plateau.

My prediction was in part because of the Oilers’ personnel coming into this season. His old buddy and linemate, Ryan Smyth, was coming back. Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall would be a year better and the possible emergence of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as an elite player would at least push Hemsky past his career best 77 points. However, a limited pre-season hampered his start and just two games in, his shoulder became a problem again. Since then, Ales still hasn’t found his stride and doesn’t look like the player who could take your breath away and steal a game from the opposing team.

On Tuesday, he spoke about the fact that his role has changed this season. Once the focal point of the Oilers offence, Hemsky is now deferring to the kids in this department. Now that Tom Renney has other options, the coach hasn’t hesitated to redistribute responsibilities. Hemsky doesn’t look happy and then again, why should he? The 13th pick in 2001 has been to the playoffs exactly twice since he came to Edmonton. That’s once for each shoulder he’s had operated on. Now he’s been relegated to option 1A or 1B instead of the team’s go-to scorer.

In the past, it’s been his body that’s been broken down but right now I would say it’s his spirit that’s taking a beating. He sees a bright future but he hasn’t as of yet, been a big part of the growth. As Ales Hemsky said on Tuesday, they have more good players than in the past and now he’s intent on proving that he’s still one of them. I believe he’ll do that.

If you were at Edmonton Oilers practice Monday morning, you may have wrenched your neck for a second look on the ice to see if that indeed was Ales Hemsky skating with the Oilers. The first and second take were both correct as it was Hemsky practising with his teammates.

“It felt good to get out on the ice, and I felt fine when it came to shooting, skating and handling the puck,” said Hemsky.

It was the first time Hemsky practised with Edmonton since his season ended on Nov. 25 when he was hit from behind by L.A.’s Michal Handzus. It was the final straw on a wonky left shoulder that as a result of that hit and years of wear and tear needed season-ending surgery on Dec. 8.

“The surgeon told me the recovery time to play is about 4-6 months. April 8th will be four months,” explained Hemsky. “But I would say right now I’m about 70-80 percent and it could take up to an entire year to be 100 per cent.”

The right winger had been skating in track pants and on his own for the past two weeks but this was the first time he came in contact with his team. That’s the only contact he’ll be getting; the shoulder isn’t ready for anything physical.

“I’m not prepared for hitting, the shoulder isn’t healed enough for that. It will take some time before I’m able to do that. It still feels a little tight when I move it but it’s getting much better so I won’t be coming back to play.”

While Hemsky hadn’t been seen until Monday, he’s been at the rink working out and says he’s kept himself in very good shape. In good enough shape that if the Oilers weren’t mathematically eliminated and the post-season was a possibility, he might be playing.

“It’s hard to answer that question because it can’t happen, but if we were in the playoffs I would definitely try and play. I don’t know if I could but I would try and see if the shoulder would be strong enough,” said Hemsky.

In the 22 games he did play this year Hemsky averaged a point per game with seven goals and 15 assists and is still the team leader with a plus-seven rating.