Shutemdown 23 Report post Posted September 30, 2008 Taken from the Free Press: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../809300384/1053 There was a great little moment Monday in the Red Wings' locker room when coach Mike Babcock, unsure of how long Jiri Hudler had been a pro, yelled a question at Hudler. "Huds, how many years you been here? This year three if you make the team this year?" Hudler laughed, and Babcock smiled. The exchange shows just how Hudler, 24, has progressed, for not only is there no doubt he will make the team, but Babcock -- who in years past faulted Hudler's inconsistency -- has him slated to play on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Hudler beat out Dan Cleary and Mikael Samuelsson. "He's a pure scorer," Babcock said of Hudler. "Sammy is a streak scorer, and I think Hudler is an all-the-time scorer." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You know with Babs, he's not going to put you in situations if he doesn't trust you," Kris Draper said. "Huds had to go out and earn that trust, and that's really what he did with the way that he played and how responsible he was at both ends of the ice." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Player updates: While discussing Zetterberg's improvement, Babcock nodded at Darren Helm and said, "You want to talk about improvement in one year -- unbelievable. Fantastic. I think his line, whatever line he plays with, and Zetterberg's line have been the best two lines in camp."... Nicklas Lidstrom (broken nose, bloody eye) won't play before Wednesday, and when he does he'll wear a visor that he hopes he'll grow used to and wear permanently. ... Datsyuk (groin) did not practice and won't play tonight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted September 30, 2008 This is why Babs is a great coach, yes the dig at Huds was in jest, but you have to think in some Bowman/Fedorov way that this is motivation for Huds. Also at the same time he gives the guys fighting for positions the nod (pun intended) whenever he can, giving them praise or a compliment even when not asked about them. His praise is high, but so are his expectations, he will make players earn a spot, and when they have his trust he will reward them, look at Huds reward he gets put on a line with one of the top scorers in the league last year and the reigning conn smythe winner. The future for this team looks very bright, at least according to Babs, I hope he is around for a long time to be a part of this Org, I just really like his style and the mixture of Wings Possession hockey and Babs defense first philosophy is like getting the most perfectly mixed drink at a bar, you just sit back and sip in the wonderfulness! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted September 30, 2008 (edited) Reminds me of Bowman and his remarks about Holmstrom... From reading pre-season game recaps it sounds like Hudler's defensive game has really made strides. I'm excited to see what he can do with some serious minutes and great linemates. Just sucks this is a contract year! Edited September 30, 2008 by egroen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T.Low 1,011 Report post Posted September 30, 2008 Thanks for posting the article, good read. Getting excited. To crack into top lines on The Depth Wings is no small feat. Congrats Huds, way to keep your nose to the grindstone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stormboy 47 Report post Posted September 30, 2008 it'll be real interesting to see what happens with hudler this year. part of me wondered if his placement on one of our top two lines was really grooming him for a trade. hudler has taken a lot of s*** over the last few years, and i just think it would be sweet if he silenced the critics this year. i like him better on that line than sammy. good combination of grit, passing, and shooting. i'm hoping for a minimum of 20 goals and 50 points from huds this year. 25-35-60 would be amazing. we'll see. he got 41 last year, but he wasn't playing with z and franzen all year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DatsyukownzU13 1 Report post Posted September 30, 2008 Out of curiosity, what happens if he hits 70 points in a contract year? How much do you think he's going to ask for? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earthhuman 8 Report post Posted October 1, 2008 Out of curiosity, what happens if he hits 70 points in a contract year? How much do you think he's going to ask for? Ugh. So the question, instead of "Franzen or Hossa?" has become "Franzen and Hudler, or Hossa?" I'm telling you (the general LGW body of viewers), signing Hossa after this year would be a major mistake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted October 1, 2008 wow I'd keep hossa franzen i love huds but his a bit too small but whatever hopefully all will fit in cap ... plz cap go up15 million Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LivingtheDream Report post Posted October 1, 2008 Said it many times, but Babcock can take some credit and Hudler a lot of pride because Babs has ridden him HARD, way harder than any other Wing and he has stepped up to the challenge. Good for Hudler. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted October 1, 2008 wow I'd keep hossa franzen i love huds but his a bit too small but whatever hopefully all will fit in cap ... plz cap go up15 million Bit small? We're not still going on about his lack of size are we? I thought he put to bed these thoughts in the playoffs when he had 14 points and looked completely at ease. This was when he was meant to be exposed too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted October 1, 2008 13 points but not facing the other teams top lines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted October 1, 2008 But still playing 4th line minutes.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doggy 130 Report post Posted October 1, 2008 Jiri Hudler may have played on the fourth line but he didn't play 4th line minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
