Holland confirms that Hudler will play in KHL

[55fan 5,133]

I said in a post in another Hudler thread (search for the word Midol, if you're interested in reading it- it was in that post) that Huds didn't seem to fit here. Not a checker, not a top 6, not really anything. Lines got juggled a lot last year. No one played with the same linemates for very long.

Moreso than others, Huddler never really had a place, as he said in the one article about 7 pages back. Truth is, he was bounced around like a DD boob on a bra-less horseback rider.

He may have fit in well in the locker room. He seemed to get along well with the players. He gave great interviews, and no one will cluck like him. We will never forget the "Let's Go Red Vings" from the parade, but on the ice? Well...he was clutch in the shootout, and did pretty well in the playoffs, but he never really had a place. Whenever I'd try to make up lines, he was the one I always left out and had to think of whom I was missing.

So he has found a place where they have a role for him. He is closer to home. He is getting paid more, which is important at a young age in a career where you can lose it all with one bad hit.

He's the one who has to live his life. He has to live it where he can be happy. If he feels he has the best chance in Moscow, then that's where he needs to go. He has two years to decide if he wants to stay or keep looking for happiness.

I'm going to miss the guy, but I understand that what is best for one person may be miserable for another. Just because Huddie didn't feel that he fit here doesn't make it a bad place; it just means it wasn't the right place for him.

Good luck, Huds. Cluck. Cluck.

[deetroit dario 27]

bounced around like a DD boob on a bra-less horseback rider.

best analogy ever!!!

[egroen 384]

When have the Wings ever really just set Hudler up on a top 2 line and let him play? When? Give me an example of at least 40 games length... Otherwise your argument means nothing their is no reasonable sample which to base it on... This was the year for him to move to the top 2 lines... If I were Hudler I would not sign a 5 year deal for 3 mil per, even if he maintains his scoring at around the same level that is kind of a low deal in your prime... I think the wings offered him 2.5 or so per on long term and sub 2 mil for 1 year...

Everyone around here talks about offensive skill not being the end all be all of the NHL, well it is... There is a premium paid for offensive skill tht is not matched for grit or defensive skill... Offensive skill gets paid because there are a million guys that can lace them up and hit or give up the body, but only a handful with the skill set they crave...

The only time Hudler was ever on the 2nd line for more than a game or two was in the pre-season when he was on a line with Zetterberg and averaged a point per game.

When you start running out of cap space you are not going to pick up another Zetterberg: someone who can put up big points, can grind it out and play good defense -- you need to focus on someone who excels at those aspects you need most, and count on the rest of the team to make up where that person lacks. This team needs to replace some offense, and has a plethora of defensive forwards to pick up any slack -- now Hudler was putting up those numbers, with limited minutes and was never a liability on defense (consistently a + player, despite being on lower lines).... and he was just starting to enter into his prime, improving each year.

It's too bad, and I can't but help feeling Holland could have done better -- if he was willing to let Kopecky and Samuelsson go in order to sign Hudler, he needed to convey that message to Babcock this past year, who favored playing the other two over Hudler on a consistent and almost inexplicable basis.

[VM1138 1,921]

I said in a post in another Hudler thread (search for the word Midol, if you're interested in reading it- it was in that post) that Huds didn't seem to fit here. Not a checker, not a top 6, not really anything. Lines got juggled a lot last year. No one played with the same linemates for very long.

Moreso than others, Huddler never really had a place, as he said in the one article about 7 pages back. Truth is, he was bounced around like a DD boob on a bra-less horseback rider.

He may have fit in well in the locker room. He seemed to get along well with the players. He gave great interviews, and no one will cluck like him. We will never forget the "Let's Go Red Vings" from the parade, but on the ice? Well...he was clutch in the shootout, and did pretty well in the playoffs, but he never really had a place. Whenever I'd try to make up lines, he was the one I always left out and had to think of whom I was missing.

So he has found a place where they have a role for him. He is closer to home. He is getting paid more, which is important at a young age in a career where you can lose it all with one bad hit.

He's the one who has to live his life. He has to live it where he can be happy. If he feels he has the best chance in Moscow, then that's where he needs to go. He has two years to decide if he wants to stay or keep looking for happiness.

I'm going to miss the guy, but I understand that what is best for one person may be miserable for another. Just because Huddie didn't feel that he fit here doesn't make it a bad place; it just means it wasn't the right place for him.

Good luck, Huds. Cluck. Cluck.

This is a great explanation. However, I do find it a riskky move on his part, considering the KHL is still unstable and is basically just throwing money to draw washed up players. Hudler, however, is not washed up and it just seems a little weird. But hey, good luck to him.

[55fan 5,133]

This is a great explanation. However, I do find it a riskky move on his part, considering the KHL is still unstable and is basically just throwing money to draw washed up players. Hudler, however, is not washed up and it just seems a little weird. But hey, good luck to him.

You're right that it is financially risky. Hopefully since Huds is still young, he can get back into the NHL if it all goes south in Moscow. And hopefully we still get the picks if someone else signs him.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I agree with you at that part as I believe Detroit does more for him than he does for Detroit. The players and system in Detroit make him get better numbers than he would elsewhere in the league. We will see the same thing with Sammy this year where he might get 30 points this year in Vancouver. I guess we could say Jiri was the smarter one and is at least running away to a spot where checking might as well be illegal.

The NHL is heads and shoulders above the Euro leagues. Running to Europe is 100% the easy way out. If someone wants to compete in the top hockey league in the World they will do whatever they can to do that. Those are the players you want on your team.

Agree with most of this. I was ambivalent about him coming back. I believe Jiri doesn't want to play for another NHL team and he knows he won't get paid much more here. I'm happy for him that he'll make some cash in Russia.

Huds didn't make or break this Wings team. Wings always come up good replacements.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I'll take me a long, long time to understand this. I can't believe he's gone.

You cannot tell me that it had to come to this.

[Guest mindfly]

According to Freep he was offered 10M$ (5M /year) tax exempt from KHL....

And offered a 3-5year deal of 3M$ per year by the wings and then minus taxes of course... its ALOT more money he will get in KHL

Edited July 9, 2009 by mindfly

[egroen 384]

According to Freep he was offered 10M$ (5M /year) tax exempt from KHL....

And offered a 3-5year deal of 3M$ per year by the wings and then minus taxes of course... its ALOT more money he will get in KHL

******* russians.

I actually feel better -- at least Holland had his head screwed on straight and realized Hudler was worth at least what Filppula makes and was not offering him the peanuts so many posters on this site seem to think he is worth.

I thought him leaving for only $2m tax-free was lunacy -- turns out different and that is a hell of a lot of money to turn down.

I am still peeved at what I consider Babcock's gross mismanagement of Hudler's minutes this past year.

Edited July 9, 2009 by egroen

[StevieY9802 6]

According to Freep he was offered 10M$ (5M /year) tax exempt from KHL....

And offered a 3-5year deal of 3M$ per year by the wings and then minus taxes of course... its ALOT more money he will get in KHL

fourthperiod.com is also saying this. yeah 10mil tax free over 2 years and they say its front laoded, or 15mil (max.) over 5 years. I would live in Russia for 2 years too. Kenny why didn't you get it done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????

Edited July 9, 2009 by StevieY9802

[uk_redwing 495]

fourthperiod.com is also saying this. yeah 10mil tax free over 2 years and they say its front laoded, or 15mil (max.) over 5 years. I would live in Russia for 2 years too. Kenny why didn't you get it done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????

Because Hudler wanted more than we could give. End of.

[Dimaline312000 51]

For all this discussion, I say let him go to Russia.

Not that I don't like Huds but I'd rather keep Filps than Huds. Maybe we'll be able to go after a Free Agent or soemthing. I would personally rather save the Cap Space for a Deadline Deal or something. We'll see what happens but I won't believe it until I see something absolutley Officially Confirmed.

[ashenhigh 9]

The only time Hudler was ever on the 2nd line for more than a game or two was in the pre-season when he was on a line with Zetterberg and averaged a point per game.

When you start running out of cap space you are not going to pick up another Zetterberg: someone who can put up big points, can grind it out and play good defense -- you need to focus on someone who excels at those aspects you need most, and count on the rest of the team to make up where that person lacks. This team needs to replace some offense, and has a plethora of defensive forwards to pick up any slack -- now Hudler was putting up those numbers, with limited minutes and was never a liability on defense (consistently a + player, despite being on lower lines).... and he was just starting to enter into his prime, improving each year.

It's too bad, and I can't but help feeling Holland could have done better -- if he was willing to let Kopecky and Samuelsson go in order to sign Hudler, he needed to convey that message to Babcock this past year, who favored playing the other two over Hudler on a consistent and almost inexplicable basis.

No he had plenty of line 2 minutes during the regular season. He failed each time.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Because Hudler wanted more than we could give. End of.

He was being sarcastic

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

No he had plenty of line 2 minutes during the regular season. He failed each time.

This is not true.

[StevieY9802 6]

I know Sammy was usually put ahead of Hudler but please tell me when Kopecky was? Don't tell me game 6 agaisnt the Ducks in 07. I know what Babs was doing there. He was going for size because the Ducks are goons. Most nights Kopy was lucky to play 10 minutes. And Hudler had some, maybe not a lot, of chances on the 2nd line at times and he always seemed to do better on the 3rd. He just wasn't gonna get ahead of guys, whether it was Babcock or just Huds wasn't the guy thats just the way it was. I'm not gonna pretend I know better than the coach of the 2 time Western Conf. Champs. Honestly I LOVED him down there on the 3rd line and that seemed to be his role. Sometimes guys just have to accept that. Marty Lapointe had his role and it wasn't a first line go-to winger and you saw what happened when he left. How many teams have a guy like Hudler on their 3rd line? And I just don't believe him playing a little more during the season kept him here. $10mil for 2 years tax free and its front loaded! The max the Wings could pay him, cap hit wise anyways, was $6mil over the same 2 years and he would have been taxed on it. And it sounds like he's gonna play on the top line and sorry he wasn't gonna play with Hank and Pavel. That's gonna be Franzen or Homer I think. I don't blame Holland. I don't blame Babcock. I blame Hudler and not in bad way. Go get paid!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

No he had plenty of line 2 minutes during the regular season. He failed each time.

He got bumped up there once or twice for about two games, then was summarily demoted for not recording a hat trick in each one.

[Glubki 17]

If he is making 10M guaranteed over 2 years that means he is getting paid $89,285 for every game he plays during their 56 game season. That is on par with some of MLB's highest paid players and better than most when you calculate their net salaries.

[Slabby 3]

There's a lot of gloom and doom on this thread, but I'd put money on Holland telling Huds to accept the offer. Hudler will be in Detroit next year on the arbitration contract he gets.

[Guest micah]

I would live just about anywhere for $10 mil over 2 years.

I would not live in Russia for $10 mil over 2 years.

I really hope Huds spent some time there with the Russian rich before he made up his mind.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I really hope Huds spent some time there with the Russian rich before he made up his mind.

Have you?

[ShanahanMan 473]

There's a lot of gloom and doom on this thread, but I'd put money on Holland telling Huds to accept the offer. Hudler will be in Detroit next year on the arbitration contract he gets.

Dude, the deal is done. Hudler is gone.

[LeftWinger 5,131]

What are his reasons behind that? I'm hoping that after you tell me that I'll leave with the feeling that "yeah, that's understandable," but it doesn't seem likely.

It is unlikely you would understand, I dont even talk to him about it, but, I cannot say things to him because I cannot pinpoint any reason why I dislike Hudler either, so I just leave it alone....

[LeftWinger 5,131]

you lost me after "why" ...and i'm not your dude, nor am i a hudler fanatic, or even remotely concerned about any certain players leaving. your comments about me thinking wings players are their own deities is plan ignorance. i'd like you to substantiate where i've made such claims, or even in the least suggested such. please, affirm this accusation.

your delivery often lacks credibility, period. as i said, the posts speak on their own without focusing on what they are discussing and they're not telling a good story. the significant majority of them are posturing, attention-seeking rubbish.

often times less is more. but do try the humility as well.

Ok, well, lets just leave it at, I never liked Hudler, never cheered for him, wished he wouldn't have been so greedy, and I am glad he's gone. Oh yeah, and I hope he doesn't come back...

[egroen 384]

Elaborate?