Hudler to Russia?

[redwingfan19 293]

Detroit Free Press

"The Wings have 10 forwards signed to their NHL roster and expect prospect Igor Grigorenko to make the team. Coincidentally, just as it appears Grigorenko is ready to make the jump from Russia to the NHL, the Wings could lose Jiri Hudler to the Russian Elite League.

The Wings have extended Hudler, a 23-year-old restricted free agent, a qualifying offer, but Hudler is drawing considerable interest from teams abroad, and the Wings aren't going to warp their payroll to retain him.

Hudler does have arbitration rights, and given that he scored 15 goals last season despite rarely playing more than seven minutes per game, he has a case to push his salary to around $900,000 (up from $525,000 last season). But Russian teams might throw millions at him, in which case, the Wings would let him go and look for a replacement."

Now we know why its taking so long to sign hudler. We locked up all our other RFA long ago. Maybe he's pissed about his ice time he got.

Edited July 1, 2007 by redwingfan19

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Good, I hope he goes. I want the roster spot opened up.

[Majsheppard 203]

He is dumb as now the Wings may not have the money to get another top six foward he could make the jump to the second line.

[e_mcgrath88 0]

not really a place on the Wings for him anyways.

[spydrwebb 0]

no harm, no foul.

[Offsides 21]

Okay, I officially hate this signing season.

[moocat 1]

meh. I like his potential but with Grigs coming I wouldn't be bothered if he bolted.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Have fun in Russia!

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

I'd like to see him stay, but I'm pretty sure that Grigorenko will have more of an impact than Huds.

[BlakChamber 8]

Meh.

[wingsfan40 0]

I want him to stay...he has untapped potential for scoring goals

[Aki 0]

We should have traded him at the deadline, at least we would have gotten something back

[Guest Crymson]

We should have traded him at the deadline, at least we would have gotten something back

Considering that Bertuzzi was a question mark at that point, we couldn't afford to give away a forward. Hudler was our #12.

[Stevie Y 0]

given his limited ice time he did pretty well, it wouldn't kill us if he leaves but it would still hurt.

[scotzman 29]

Oh well... get the money while you can I guess. Not gonna' hurt the Wings as long as Bert resigns.

[naranja 1]

I would hate to see him go. But I guess it's understandable since Babcock didn't like him for some reason.

[Zata fan 40 6]

Wow, I'd really hate to see him go...he can play here..it's just going to take a bit more time ... Stay Jiri!!!!!

[Guest jaytan]

I wouldn't mind at all.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Why all the hate? If we actually gave him second line minutes he'd have 20-25 goals ez

[Zata fan 40 6]

He didn't play much or last long with Kazan a few years ago...hopefully he remembers that and all the time he has put in in NA to get to the NHL and stays put...

[superstarsingh 23]

Well there is no place for him here sadly.

[kindlwillbegreat 0]

LOL are you kidding me ???? were gonna lose hudler now too lmao great ..... i know most of you dont care too much for him but a young kid who got 15 goals with no ice time is a nice player to have with the potential to put up alot better numbers , dam russians

if we cant keep him id at least try and trade him to some crap team that cant pick up players for a pick , let them take a chance on hudler for a long term deal at 1.5-2 mill per and we get a pick , i was so looking foward to seeing what he'd do this year

[Zata fan 40 6]

Yes, he has some things to work on,but he has been progressing nicely. And he has always been able to score everywhere he has been...man I'm obviously bummed .....

[detroitdan 0]

$900,000 for Hudler? He doesn't deserve more than Cleary and he's only get $675,000

[norrisnick 1]

He didn't play much or last long with Kazan a few years ago...hopefully he remembers that and all the time he has put in in NA to get to the NHL and stays put...

He was destroying the Czech league like no teenager since Jagr had done so he moved up to the RSL to finish the year out. And his numbers were pretty good for a kid in Russia (on par with Pavel at around 23 years of age).

As for the thread, this very same story came out last summer when it was mentioned that Hudler and Kopecky got interesting offers to head back to Europe. It took $550K to keep Hudler here. Unless Holland is braindead he'll keep Jiri because I'm not sure if anyone noticed or not but our entire 2nd line is gone. Jiri will play and he will produce (he'll pot 30+ goals this season or next).