Jiri Hudler update

[dat's sick 1,002]

Hudler Helm and Downey was a line "a lot" too. I can honestly not recall a single even strength instance where Hudler was paired with Hossa or Zetterberg for more than a game at a time. Maybe I just have a very selective memory but Hudler's primary linemates were often the likes of Sammuelson or Filppula. If you can dig up some proof for your claims such as GDT line threads I will chalk it up to my bad memory, but honestly, Hudler did not play under any circumstance "a lot" with either fo those 2 players.

Hudler didn't play a lot with Zetterberg or Hossa. I remember it being a running theme during the season how Babcock refused to give Hudler top 6 minutes, people had all sorts of speculation about how Babs had something against Hudler.

Most of the year he was relegated to the 3rd line with Filppula and Samuelsson.

Edited February 11, 2010 by dat's sick

[Z and D for the C 712]

Also keep in mind, last year Hudler's and Filppula's ESTOI was identical. 100% identical. Pro-rate Hulder's ES Point totals to Filppula's ES TOI and you get the exact same number. Also keep in mind that Filppula was playing not only playing with similar, if not worse (like I said, hulder would play in the top 6 last year), linemates, he also played in all situations, not just the kind of situations that Hudler would play in (ie Filppula played in non-scoring situtaions, something Hudler never would do).

[dat's sick 1,002]

Also keep in mind, last year Hudler's and Filppula's ESTOI was identical. 100% identical. Pro-rate Hulder's ES Point totals to Filppula's ES TOI and you get the exact same number. Also keep in mind that Filppula was playing not only playing with similar, if not worse (like I said, hulder would play in the top 6 last year), linemates, he also played in all situations, not just the kind of situations that Hudler would play in (ie Filppula played in non-scoring situtaions, something Hudler never would do).

Why are you making this into some kind of Filppula vs. Hudler debate?

What people are saying is that it would be nice to have Hudler around. Personally I LOVED our 3rd line with Sammy, Fil and Hudler, but they all became too good to play on the 3rd line for cheap.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

He had 57 points in 82 games last year. With the injuries we've had this year Hudler would have gotten a ton of PP-time and 1st/2nd line minutes with Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg.

Would he have had a point-per-game pace here? Probably not. But even by a very conservative estimation, let's say 30 points in 59 games, he would have been a huge help for us.

The KHL isn't a bad league. Datsyuk had 32 points in 47 games there during the lockout, only to score 87 points in 75 games the next year with Detroit.

Hudler is doing well over there, against players like Jagr, Morozov, Yashin etc.

Exactly. The KHL in general has much lower point totals and secondary assits are rarely awarded. I honestly do not get the Hudler hate on this site, It is really not that inconceivable at all to believe that he could become a ppg player in the NHL. Do people forget he was only 24 and was just ready to hit his peak (based on general trends of players through the DRW development system)? Seriously lets look at Datsyuk's comparitive age season when he was playing on the most talented team of the last decade and had Brett Hull as a linemate and was sometimes placed on a powerplay unit with Hull and Robitallie.

Datsyuk age 24: 11 goals 24 assists 35 Points

Hudler: 23 Goals 34 Assits- 57 points

Hudler was the second best pure offensive player on the team last year in terms of actual talent not physical attributes. If you gave him Hossa's speed and leg strength he would easily be a contender for the art ross year in and year out. To say he would not help is simply ridiculous.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Why are you making this into some kind of Filppula vs. Hudler debate?

What people are saying is that it would be nice to have Hudler around. Personally I LOVED our 3rd line with Sammy, Fil and Hudler, but they all became too good to play on the 3rd line for cheap.

No, shaman 464 is.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Why are you making this into some kind of Filppula vs. Hudler debate?

What people are saying is that it would be nice to have Hudler around. Personally I LOVED our 3rd line with Sammy, Fil and Hudler, but they all became too good to play on the 3rd line for cheap.

Just ignore him, seriously. His hatred for Hudler and longing for Filpulla's dick makes this usually level headed poster into joke in these type of threads. Seriously don't even try, even if you ask for evidence of his claims, he will just ignore it and go on another tangent, leading very few people to actually take him seriously, which is unfortunate since I generally actually agree with a lot of what he is saying.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Also keep in mind, last year Hudler's and Filppula's ESTOI was identical. 100% identical. Pro-rate Hulder's ES Point totals to Filppula's ES TOI and you get the exact same number. Also keep in mind that Filppula was playing not only playing with similar, if not worse (like I said, hulder would play in the top 6 last year), linemates, he also played in all situations, not just the kind of situations that Hudler would play in (ie Filppula played in non-scoring situtaions, something Hudler never would do).

Leino-Filppula-Hossa and Franzen-Filppula-Hossa were both used far more frequently with than any combianation of Hossa and Zetterberg with Hudler. And yes, we get it. Filppula is at this time a more complete player than Hudler. That isn't the point of this thread though. Please go away.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I'm not the one who brought Filppula up.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I'm not the one who brought Filppula up.

All shaman said was that Hudler would be on atleast the same scoring pace that Filppula is on. Which is not an outrageous statement at all. Hudler has always been a better scorer than Fil, while Fil is a lot stronger defensively. You don't need to defend Filppula everytime his name is mentioned.

[Z and D for the C 712]

You don't need to defend Filppula everytime his name is mentioned.

But...but...

And maybe better on the PP

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

For 1.5 mil I'd take him over Williams anyday. For 2.8 or whatever we signed him too, I dont miss him one bit.

[egroen 384]

Obviously he would have been huge to have this year. Certainly hope to see him again... and he's at a nice cap rate too!

[Carman 387]

Hudler is a good hockey player. Just wish he didn't give up on his team.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Esa Pirnes was over a ppg guy in the KHL last season and he has only 31 points in 45 games this season in Finnish SM-liiga.

[EuroTwin 240]

I miss him very much.

I hope he comes back to our team.

[Rivalred 630]

Happy Hudler...

Those were the days

Edited February 11, 2010 by Rivalred

[egroen 384]

Esa Pirnes was over a ppg guy in the KHL last season and he has only 31 points in 45 games this season in Finnish SM-liiga.

Same league Leino was the MVP of?

Though Hudler has proven he can put up the points in the NHL (as well as the AHL, where he carries a Griffins franchise record for assists).

[wings1110 184]

at first i was against him coming back cuz he kinda screwed us..... but lets face it we need him. pleeeeaase come back

[VM1138 1,921]

He'll be back and unless he's picked up bad habits over in the KHL he'll be a big help for the Wings next season.

[Rivalred 630]

Hudler = smaller version of Larionov

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

He'd probably be underachieving or injured like everyone else on the team.

The KHL is a league where a soft player like him can succeed and be one of the league leaders in points. Wouldn't work here in the NHL for him.

Yeah, 57 points is nothing at the NHL level.

[egroen 384]

Hudler = smaller version of Larionov

Hmmm... decent comparison.

Both smaller, lighter, non-physical players.

Larionov obviously was the better playmaker, better skater and had better vision, and was also by far the better defensive player.

But Hudler is more likely to to go to the net (with often hilarious results) and take a shot.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I miss Hudler. To me, that was another player mishandled very badly by Babcock.

Hopefully he can come back and play for the Red Wings in the future. I would rather have what Hudler brings for his contract than Filppula.