There's been a lot of talk about how the Edmonton Oilers can't win with Ales Hemsky on their team.  Many internet commenters have suggested the team would be well-advised to trade him and move on, or that the Oilers are better off without him, or things of that nature.

Others have suggested that he's a flawed player with some good points but not enough to justify the esteem some hold him in.

While he's probably playing through injury right now, I'm not sure any of them appreciate how truly awful Hemsky's been this season.  Let's run the numbers.

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Steve MacIntyre: How to Fight (via ABS1B)

The Oilers have placed journeyman enforcer Steve MacIntyre, who joined the team after a prolonged career in the minors, on waivers.  Also on waivers this morning: Adam Mair of the Buffalo Sabres; I wonder if he might not be a fit in Edmonton.

There's a theory out there (which I subscribe to, with certain caveats) which states that NHL players have no noticeable impact on on-ice save percentage, and a small impact on on-ice shooting percentage.

Therefore, since these things fluctuate quite a bit between players on the same team, we can chalk much of it up to luck, bounces, and other unrepeatable stuff - and these things can make us regard players as either better or worse than they really are.

Enter PDO numbers.  The PDO number is a simple measure of even-strength on-ice shooting percentage and save percentage.  The league average, for obvious reasons, is 100.  After the jump: those numbers for the Oilers so far this season.

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There's been some griping in certain quarters (including this one) about the use of Jean-Francois Jacques as the left wing on this team's first line from the start of the season.  Last night, Pat Quinn switched out Jacques and Shawn Horcoff for Dustin Penner and Sam Gagner.

I just thought I'd contrast the level of talent the first line was working with, versus what it had last night.

• Dustin Penner, last night: 1 game played, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, +3
• J-F Jacques, career: 69 games played, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, -18

I'm beating up a little bit on Jacques, who had a much better start this season than he ever has previously, but the fact of the matter is that Dustin Penner - just like last year - is better suited to the role than anyone else on this team.

Rob Schremp, the controversial ex-Oilers’ prospect who was a healthy scratch Wednesday night as the New York Islanders won their first game of the season (4-3 in a shootout over Carolina) hasn’t been terribly impressive through five games in Long Island. This has prompted some to write him off – and I think that’s a mistake.

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