Jiri Hudler

[Aussie_Wing 354]

First of all let me say that I like Hudler a lot, so much so that he’d be in my top 3 favourite players in the team. Babcock tried starting him on the second line and yet it appears that experiment is already over. He is however very effective on the PP as we saw again tonight as he tied up the game on the PP. I get the feeling that he’s always going to be a 3rd, perhaps even 4th line guy who is used somewhat sparingly at even strength but will be one of the first called upon when we have a man advantage.

It’s disappointing that a player with his skill can’t cement his spot on one of the top 2 lines but maybe he’s destined to be a PP specialist who plays 10-12 minutes at ES a night. He might have found his niche. I would however like to see him given a few more chances with Zetterberg on the second line because he, just like Hossa, needs time in order to get comfortable. Babcock is very quick to take him off a scoring line whenever he does something wrong though. It'll be interesting to see where he ends up when Zetterberg is back.

I’d be interested to know what everyone else’s thoughts are.

[russianswede919293 95]

I think he will find his way back to the 2nd line...

I;m calling it 25 goal season,

Only 24 to go

[RedWingNut378 0]

I would love to see Hudler on the 2nd line. He is a good player and scores almost every time i see him on the ice. I think if he was given more time, he would adjust and be a better player.

[The Mule 0]

I like Hudler, but more often that not, he's a step too slow, and he doesn't protect the puck well. However, we've seen that confidence can go a long way (Franzen), so when he manages to develop consistent confidence in himself and his ability, I think we will see a much more productive side of Jiri.

Edited October 19, 2008 by The Mule

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Anyone will tell you that hockey is a game of confidence, and if anyone needs confidence from Babcock, its Hudler. I like Hudlers offensive instincts, but you can see from the product on the ice that Hudler looks discouraged a lot of the time, like - as Disney as it sounds - he doesn't believe in himself.

Ideally, Hudler should be traded. I like him enough, but hes really ill-suited for the Wings. He needs a coach who is willing to give him some confidence. Hudler has NEVER had a coach who was willing to give him a 2nd line spot and tell him to run with it. How many chances did Hudler get this season? Two games on the 2nd line before being demoted? Thats only gonna hurt Hudlers confidence more than anything. Babs is willing to give time and chances to others that are inconsistent and ineffective, but not to Hudler. Ship him off to Toronto or something where he can play alongisde a guy like Antropov and bump up Helm who Babs will give all the time in the world to.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I like Hudler, but more often that not, he's a step too slow, and he doesn't protect the puck well. However, we've seen that confidence can go a long way (Franzen), so when he manages to develop consistent confidence in himself and his ability, I think we will see a much more productive side of Jiri.

Thats the catch though. Hudler needs confidence from Babcock, and when hes the ONLY guy who gets punished for not performing in only his SECOND game on the 2nd line, its completely counter-productive to Hudler's confidence.

[The Mule 0]

Thats the catch though. Hudler needs confidence from Babcock, and when hes the ONLY guy who gets punished for not performing in only his SECOND game on the 2nd line, its completely counter-productive to Hudler's confidence.

I agree to an extent, but you've also got to remember that the players playing ahead of Hudler on the depth chart are proven as productive components. Hudler isn't quite there yet.

[Guest LivingtheDream]

So was Hudler on the second or third line when he lead the AHL in scoring?

I think Babcock is just what he needs - it is like a drill sergeant relationship between those too.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I agree to an extent, but you've also got to remember that the players playing ahead of Hudler on the depth chart are proven as productive components. Hudler isn't quite there yet.

Again thats the catch. Is he not quite there yet because he can't get the time, or is he not getting the time because he's not quite there yet.

Again, the fact that Babcock was quick to demote Hudler after two games, despite his doing no differently - at certain points even standing out in a positive way - than the rest of our forwards says a lot. In fact, Sammy had just come off a terrible shift on the 3rd line, and his next shift out on the ice, hes replaced Hudler as a winger on the 2nd line. If it had been Cleary, a guy who might've earned that bump up to the 2nd line due to the energy he was bringing, it would've been a different story. But to demote Hudler after 2 games in favor of a guy that was doing no better - if not worse - than Hudler is only the continuation of the hard knocks Babcock has unfairly given to Hudler when other guys like Lebda, Lilja, and Samuelsson (over the years) could've used just as much tough love.

[Dabura 12,207]

MB: Huds, you're being demoted.

JH: B-but...but coach!

[babcock walks offscreen. Switch to closeup of Hudler's face. Tears well up in his eyes. Slow pan out, showing Hudler alone in the locker room. A tumbleweed rolls by. It begins to hail...]

Edited October 19, 2008 by Dabura

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Too small and not strong enough to play top 2 lines. Very effective as a 3rd line, 2nd powerplay guy.

I dont like Hudler at all, but he plays his role well.

[Icesurfer 75]

Hudler's line was minus 3 Thursday and minus 2 Saturday. Let's face it. While Hudler may be good on th PP his two way play has something to be desired. Scoring goals is only one aspect of the game. When you take a look at players who should be on the roster next year....Leino, Helm and Abdelkader they all will probably be better two way players than Hudler and all have more upside. So playing the numbers game Hudler is probably one of the ones to go......especially since he is a restricted free agent at the end of the year and will want a raise. If the salary cap goes down or stays the same or goes up very little the Wings simply won't have enough cap space to re-sign Z, Franzen, Sammy AND Hudler. I have a feeling that Hudler was put on the second line to bring up his trade value. So actually I hope he does score 25 goals.....probably most on the PP...... but I can't see the Wings paying him $2-3 million next year.

[Doggy 130]

So was Hudler on the second or third line when he lead the AHL in scoring?

That never happened.

[norrisnick 1]

Hudler's line was minus 3 Thursday and minus 2 Saturday. Let's face it. While Hudler may be good on th PP his two way play has something to be desired. Scoring goals is only one aspect of the game. When you take a look at players who should be on the roster next year....Leino, Helm and Abdelkader they all will probably be better two way players than Hudler and all have more upside. So playing the numbers game Hudler is probably one of the ones to go......especially since he is a restricted free agent at the end of the year and will want a raise. If the salary cap goes down or stays the same or goes up very little the Wings simply won't have enough cap space to re-sign Z, Franzen, Sammy AND Hudler. I have a feeling that Hudler was put on the second line to bring up his trade value. So actually I hope he does score 25 goals.....probably most on the PP...... but I can't see the Wings paying him $2-3 million next year.

If Hudler would have made a play to stop any of those 5 goals scored while he was on the ice, he should have been immediately benched for being wildly out of position and leaving his man undefended.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Hudler's line was minus 3 Thursday and minus 2 Saturday. Let's face it. While Hudler may be good on th PP his two way play has something to be desired. Scoring goals is only one aspect of the game. When you take a look at players who should be on the roster next year....Leino, Helm and Abdelkader they all will probably be better two way players than Hudler and all have more upside. So playing the numbers game Hudler is probably one of the ones to go......especially since he is a restricted free agent at the end of the year and will want a raise. If the salary cap goes down or stays the same or goes up very little the Wings simply won't have enough cap space to re-sign Z, Franzen, Sammy AND Hudler. I have a feeling that Hudler was put on the second line to bring up his trade value. So actually I hope he does score 25 goals.....probably most on the PP...... but I can't see the Wings paying him $2-3 million next year.

Leino maybe but as much as I like Helm and Abdelkader I highly doubt they've got as much upside as Hudler. Hudler could easily put up 50 points this season, the others might never reach that mark, they're more checking line forwards.

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

Leino maybe but as much as I like Helm and Abdelkader I highly doubt they've got as much upside as Hudler. Hudler could easily put up 50 points this season, the others might never reach that mark, they're more checking line forwards.

I think Helm will have a lot more than Hudler when he gets his chance. He aggressive, looks pretty smart, not to mention he'll skin Huds for pace. He's got the potential to be a new Drapes and to say Huds possesses more than Draper I can't really agree with.

[RyanBarnes! 293]

If Hudler can't convince Babcock that he is a second line player then I don't think there's a spot for him at all. There are better and cheaper options for the third and fourth lines.

[uk_redwing 495]

One goal doesnt cover the fact hes had a damn awful season so far.

[taxijim 11]

Everyone says to replace Hudler with Helm.....I actually would love to see the two together even on the fourth line. Last spring in the playoffs the two seemed to develope a chemistry together in rather limited playing time. The two combined on several very important goals during the cup run. I think if Hudler was with Helm,he would get out of being in the minus.

[The Secret 304]

Too small and not strong enough to play top 2 lines. Very effective as a 3rd line, 2nd powerplay guy.

I dont like Hudler at all, but he plays his role well.

Well said! I couldn't agree more. I would look at moving Hudler now hoping his stock around the league could bring a more suited, and hopefully Canadian player, to Detroit or a good draft pick. I will not be sad when he is gone!

[Mickeyisms Rule! 0]

That never happened.

You're right- he was third in the league in 05-06

http://stats.theahl.com/stats/statdisplay....amp;lastActive=

The other guy on his line, Donald McClean, scored 56 goals that season- most of them set up by Jiri.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

If Hudler would have made a play to stop any of those 5 goals scored while he was on the ice, he should have been immediately benched for being wildly out of position and leaving his man undefended.

One of those goals was a direct result of Hudler not moving his feet and coming to the puck on Lidstrom's pass to him along the boards. As a result a forechecking Ranger easily stripped the puck from him which directly led to a goal.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

MB: Huds, you're being demoted.

JH: B-but...but coach!

[babcock walks offscreen. Switch to closeup of Hudler's face. Tears well up in his eyes. Slow pan out, showing Hudler alone in the locker room. A tumbleweed rolls by. It begins to hail...]

You finally found your calling card. You should become a director.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Thats the catch though. Hudler needs confidence from Babcock, and when hes the ONLY guy who gets punished for not performing in only his SECOND game on the 2nd line, its completely counter-productive to Hudler's confidence.

I completely agree with you about the confidence from Babs thing. We saw that in the playoffs- Hudler was fantastic in the playoffs- posting better than 0.5 ppg without playing top 6 mins (he was definitely in the top six scoring forwards for the Wings). Plus Babs put him out in high confidence situations like the last few mins of game 6 of the finals.

In the preseason Hudler was one of the Wings' best forwards as well. He piled up the assists and was fine in the playmaking department.

He has a cold game at the start of the season and Babs boots him down to the 3rd line. That really seems like a poor way to make Jiri perform well after giving him a shot at the top six from the very start of the season.

What this all comes down to is that Jiri did become a Datsyuk like playmaker on the 2nd line with Z and Mule. Babs wanted him to be the sniper and Z the playmaker. But, to be honest, regardless of the fact that Hudler has one of the best shots on the team, he looks at home as a playmaker... and doesn't seem to play with the instincts of a pure scorer right now. Maybe he just needs to score more goals. He is a streaky player (the defining feature of a skill player that ends up on the 3rd line). But he's one of the reasons why the Wings won the cup- superb depth.

[FedorovGurl 2]

Oh.

Just.

Stop.

For real ...can't you all go back to bashing Sammy?