Oilers, Hemsky agree to two-year deal

The Edmonton Oilers and forward Ales Hemsky have agreed to a two-year deal worth $10 million.

The team announced the deal via its Twitter account.

Hemsky, 28, has been plagued by injuries in each of the past three seasons. He has just five goals and 21 assists in 47 games this season, but had 14 goals and 28 assists in 47 games in 2010-11.

"Ales can see the level of skill that's coming," GM Steve Tambellini said of Hemsky, who has nine assists in his last 12 games. "The type of play we've seen lately with him and (Taylor) Hall is exciting."

He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

"For him to give that up at this point is big," Tambellini said.

Had Hemsky not signed a new deal, he figured to be a prime target at Monday's trade deadline.

In 537 regular-season games, the native of Pardubice, Czech Republic, has 119 goals and 302 assists for 421 points, along with 251 penalty minutes. His best season came in 2005-06, when he had 19 goals, 58 assists and 77 points, then added six goals and 17 points in 24 playoff games as the Oilers came within one victory of winning the Stanley Cup.

"Ales is a proud hockey player. He wants to be the guy," Tambellini said. "You want people that demand the ice time and try to be great."

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