P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Sammy > Hudler IMO. I think Sammy provides more then Hudler does.. Yet Sammy is everyone whipping boy. Luckily Wings has a rational coach who gave Hudler ice time as he made many important plays during playoffs. Hockey games and championships are won by scoring goals and that's what Hudler did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Because he went through a period of games in the season where in the same period Downey has more points than him. (Hudler: 0, Downey: 1) Jiri Hudler's defensive advantage over Downey alone makes up for Downey's career total of 16 points. Anyone who SERIOUSLY argues for Downey to play over Hudler on the Wings has zero credibility when it comes to what will help the Wings win the Stanley Cup. This is backed up by the fact that Hudler was a key contributor to the Cup run, while Downey played nary a game in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 He's a great power-play center, he has a great shot, he's a great passer, and he's very affordable. It's not as if we're paying the guy $3m+ per year; we pay $1m for a lot of scoring. He's one-dimensional, but we don't need him to be two-dimensional. Hudler's not one-dimensional. He's not an elite defensive forward. He IS a good defensive forward. Good enough defensively and gritty enough that he would probably play on most teams' PK units. People look at him and see the combination of Euro+small+doesn't play PK and automatically think 'defensively inept' but fail to realize that neither Euro nor small indicate defensive ineptitude, and the fact that he doesn't play the PK is because his team has the two of the three best defensive forwards in the NHL this season, three of the 20 forwards to receive first-place Selke votes, and ten of the 82 forwards whose names were listed on Selke ballots; himself included in that group. For reference, that is, on average, a top-3 defensive forward for a team. That's not a one-dimensional player. The only defensive liability in the Wings' forward corps is whichever of Downey and McCarty is skating on a given night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dallas27 7 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Because he is the happiest little man ever when he scores a goal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weGotTheCup89 41 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Because he's one of the few people that I've known who he was before we drafted him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holiday 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 (edited) Because he is the happiest little man ever when he scores a goal I DID IT!!!! Edited July 19, 2008 by Doc Holiday Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namingway 146 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 (edited) There are many good things I see in Huds but the one thing that I like best is how he always surprises me with his goals. I usually never see them coming. Of course they doesn't surprise me as much as the few occasions Sammy have scored, but yeah "few occasions" being the keywords here. He is still improving and I'd like to seem him as a winged wheel for a few more years to come, just to see what more he has to offer. Edited July 19, 2008 by Namingway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Yup, that's a great reason. Of course, then Hudler went on to score 14 points in the playoffs (sixth overall on the Red Wings), including two game-winning goals. Not to mention, Hudler put up those stats playing mostly fourth-line minutes. I almost forgot that Hudler is too "small and not tough enough" though to produce when it matters most. I guess that theory is all but dead now. If by any stretch you are arguing that Downey was/is more valuable than Hudler, I feel really sorry for you. Too easy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soultrain 43 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Because he is a Red Wing right!..i still hated uwe krupp as a wing. really glad they didn't put his name on the cup in '02. regardless if scotty drafted him in 1904. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dump-N-Thump Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Luckily Wings has a rational coach who gave Hudler ice time as he made many important plays during playoffs. Hockey games and championships are won by scoring goals and that's what Hudler did. I'am not arguing his playoff performance, It was sound.. I like his role as a 4th liner, and a pp specialist.. Hudler - Helm - Kopecky i think would be a good 4th line, It has the chance to put up points and create energy.. Would i want this? no but i can see it producing.. I dont like Hudler being a top 6 minute guy, But i like him as a 4thline/pp specialist.. anything more isn't deserved. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yemack 1 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Obviously Huds got tons of skill and one of the very few, if any, pure scorer we have right now (minus Hossa) If he can somehow figure out how to maximize his effectiveness despite his size, he is a top quality winger for sure. But where would he fit in next year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 Two different types of players. Everybody goes through bad stretches of games and if Downey ever gets more than 10 - 15 points a season, that'll be a miracle in itself. Pretty silly comparison there. Dont worry Im just an assclown http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php?act=boardrules · DON'T incite flame wars by purposely baiting ("trolling") other members into an online flame war. Members caught doing so will be disciplined appropriately. Jiri Hudler's defensive advantage over Downey alone makes up for Downey's career total of 16 points. Anyone who SERIOUSLY argues for Downey to play over Hudler on the Wings has zero credibility when it comes to what will help the Wings win the Stanley Cup. This is backed up by the fact that Hudler was a key contributor to the Cup run, while Downey played nary a game in the playoffs. 98% of members on this board who have a post per day of at least 1.2 have a 99% hatred of you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
octopusonice 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 I like him because he's a Wing, but I really liked him when he scored the game winning goal against Pittsburgh in the SCF. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stormboy 47 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 i remember last year (i think) this one game where hudler scored a goal...it seemed like mickey was just drunk off his ass in the booth, and after hudler scored, mickey was like, "what a great goal for the tchsezchkoshlowshlackian!" especially since hudler is technically just czech, it was amazing. i dunno...i think hudler is given a bit of a raw deal, and that is small size is given excessive attention. his defensive abilities have really increased in the last year and a half, in my opinion. with the offensive potential he brings and his improved defense, i'll keep him around. he seems like he's been buying into bab's system more, especially late last year, and it's working for him. hopefully he keeps it up next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
overHandright1 2 Report post Posted July 19, 2008 OHR1 was wrong and I think on just about any other team he'd be at least a second liner, so I think you were dead on with your analysis of him. I use to not be able to stand the little runt, but after this years playoffs I have to begrudgingly accept that he is a very skilled tiny player. But we're not talking about Hudler on "any other team." It's not like I think he's absolutely worthless. He has skill as far as puckhandling and shooting and he improved his skating a bit this past year. He also put up some good numbers during the playoffs. To say that he is a "heart and soul" player, however, is a bit of a stretch. It's easy to stick up for your teammates when everyone is paired off and the linesmen are already breaking the scrum up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dump-N-Thump Report post Posted July 20, 2008 I like him because he's a Wing, but I really liked him when he scored the game winning goal against Pittsburgh in the SCF. How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? That was a bad mistake, but he still was good enough to play on the 4th line. He isn't Datsyuk, but he isn't Downey either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holiday 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? That was so not a penalty. The refs just gave pittsburgh that so the NHL could get better ratings. Duh! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J-Swift 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 I think Hudler should be utilized more on the PP, that's where he could really shine if given the oppoortunity. He's got the hands, vision and a wicked shot. Hudler does get power-play time. He's a regular on the second unit, and he did some pretty solid special teams work during the post-season. How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? I think it's hard to judge Jiri on one accidental high-stick. Though he did take a few penalties during the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 That was so not a penalty. The refs just gave pittsburgh that so the NHL could get better ratings. Duh! That's kinda true. In playoff overtimes there are almost no penalties called even though the game doesn't really change. It was bad luck that that one was called. Still it was reckless and unwise from Hudler. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 (edited) How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? I am not a big huge fan of Hudler, and in the past I have felt he was good trade bait, but I don't know, maybe he's human? Humans make mistakes. Even hockey players make mistakes. s*** happens, and s*** happens at bad times. That wasn't a good time to make a mistake. But the Brad Stuart mistake wasn't to timely either in the SCF. Nobody is s*** talking him on here for that. If your going to nit pick players for a mistake, you need to go down the whole roster! Don't just stop for the whipping boy. Edited July 20, 2008 by miller76 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 Because no-one on the Wings - not ever Homer - gets as many face washes as Hudler. And he always goes back for more. He's scrappy in a cute, I'm-not-actually-going-to-hurt-you kind of way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted July 20, 2008 How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? Why'd you even ask other peoples` opinions on the matter when you only created this thread so you could argue that Hudler sucks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reilly 24 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 How about when he gave pittburgh a major penatly for highsticking? At least he never shot the puck in his own net. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holiday 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 At least he never shot the puck in his own net. Did Kronwall ever do that? Really? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
