TheDetroitRedWings 286 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 Personally, I am willing to forgive and forget. Especially if he's still as good as he was when he last donned the winged wheel. But I do understand people still being ticked off for him leaving. I think his return will be a positive for our team for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 It doesn't look like we're going to have that much cap space this summer (excluding Hudler) so we won't be able to get someone better for the same price. He f***ed us last summer but may as well have him back. I'd ship him off in a trade instantly though if there was a deal worth it. 2 Hockeymom1960 and wingsownnhl43 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 I didn't feel like I was personally affronted when he left, so now that he's coming back for next season, I'm quite happy about it. We need all the depth we can get and whatever way he can help, we're glad to have it. 4 55fan, Casey, Chin_Music and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest screwdahawks Report post Posted May 1, 2010 It doesn't look like we're going to have that much cap space this summer (excluding Hudler) so we won't be able to get someone better for the same price. He f***ed us last summer but may as well have him back. I'd ship him off in a trade instantly though if there was a deal worth it. So what, Bigcock f***ed him so many times he had every right to take the money and run, fly, sail or any effing way to get out from under bigdicks boot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 So what, Bigcock f***ed him so many times he had every right to take the money and run, fly, sail or any effing way to get out from under bigdicks boot. Bigcock? Bigdick? Call me crazy, but it would appear you don't like Mike Babcock. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adtthosa 5 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 Can't blame him for taking the money, I was never mad to begin with. It'll be great to have him back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FedorovGurl 2 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 OMG you guys.. like remember when Hudler left and then was like gone and then is like coming back and stuff?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,789 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 Wher'e does he fit in with this team? I don't see him playing on the top 6, but then again he's not a bottom 6 forward either. We could use his depth, but I doubt he wants to play here as some guy with limited minutes that has to rotate games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted May 1, 2010 Hudler has already proven he can put up above average second line numbers while playing third line minutes, is reasonably defensively responsible (contrary to popular belief he is not lazy or bad defensively inept, but rather relatively slow for the NHL. In terms of defense awareness he is actually far above average), and has untapped potential. Also he already knows our system and has shown good chemistry with Filppula as well as Z and Franzen on the powerplay unit. For 2.8 million he is a steal compared to the market price other free agents will get. Anything under 60 points for him will be a major dissapointment for me, and I would not be surprised to see him hit 70. It doesn't look like we're going to have that much cap space this summer (excluding Hudler) so we won't be able to get someone better for the same price. He f***ed us last summer but may as well have him back. I'd ship him off in a trade instantly though if there was a deal worth it. Out of curiosity, who are these better players for the same price you speak of? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UP Wings Fan 0 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 I'm a bit frustrated that he left the team, but......I don't know anyone that would chose differently than what he chose given the offer! Money talks! I would change companies in a heart beat if someone offered me better money to do the same thing! 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted May 1, 2010 I'm a bit frustrated that he left the team, but......I don't know anyone that would chose differently than what he chose given the offer! Money talks! I would change companies in a heart beat if someone offered me better money to do the same thing! There is a man with a realistic perception of his morals and loyalty. I find it rather unlikely that many of the people bashing Hudler for abandoning the Wings would pass up a short term job from another non-rival company that offered much more respect, responsibility, and three times the money. 2 55fan and Green Wing reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 Wher'e does he fit in with this team? I don't see him playing on the top 6, but then again he's not a bottom 6 forward either. We could use his depth, but I doubt he wants to play here as some guy with limited minutes that has to rotate games. Why wouldn't he fit on the team? Williams is definitely not staying. I think it's obvious that only one of Bertuzzi and Holmstrom is staying. Or if we can sign Holmstrom cheap he can play in the 3rd and 4th line and then on the PP. Franzen has to be more physical though, and I think he can do it if there isn't an another injury like that.Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Filppula-Franzen (kinda like Hossa-Filppula-Franzen) Cleary-Abdelkader-Eaves Miller-Helm-"tough guy" + Draper, Ritola Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCleveland89 122 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 I'm a bit frustrated that he left the team, but......I don't know anyone that would chose differently than what he chose given the offer! Money talks! I would change companies in a heart beat if someone offered me better money to do the same thing! Actually, more money to have a chance to do an even better job since he's considered to be a better player over there. Everyone on this board would have done the same thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted May 1, 2010 Out of curiosity, who are these better players for the same price you speak of? No one's really been able to answer this question in the other Hudler debates either. Maybe it's because Hudler is one of the best - if not THE BEST - player available on the market with that kinda money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weGotTheCup89 41 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 It was definitely frustrating that he left and by then we had already let Sammy go, but I think it may have helped since we didn't really have much cap space for the season to start with. Question: did it make a difference with being able to keep Lilja and everyone on the roster at that point during the season? I definitely don't see it as a bad thing that he left for the season, and really the only unfortunate thing is that he can't play for us right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HelmerFan 28 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 Welcome back Huds. Glad he came home. Some may say he "screwed" the team, but come on. If i said to you, Hey do you want 2.8 Million Dollars taxed or 5 Million Dollars tax free.... what would you say? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 Bigcock? Bigdick? Call me crazy, but it would appear you don't like Mike Babcock. Or really likes him. Out of curiosity, who are these better players for the same price you speak of? I said there aren't any. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McAwesome 754 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 I hold no ill will towards Hudler, sure he put Holland in a tight spot, but if Kenny is excited to have him back, that's good enough for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 Methinks Hudler will be buying the team a few of their meals upon his return. 1 wingsownnhl43 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingfanatic4alltime 32 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 At first i was mad that he left but after awhile and realizing how idiotic it wouldve been to pass up 10 million dollars tax free i understood why he left and also i had a hunch he was coming back. Now that its official welcome back happy huds!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 4,914 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 :puke: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted May 2, 2010 I said there aren't any. "It doesn't look like we're going to have that much cap space this summer (excluding Hudler) so we won't be able to get someone better for the same price. He f***ed us last summer but may as well have him back." This to me sounds like you are implying there are actually better values on the FA market, but the Wings would not be able to acquire due to cap space/Hudler already signed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingsallTheway 383 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 I don't think hudler will be the same player when he comes back. It would be pretty awkward to bail out on your team and then just come back and act like everything is ok. I still think he is going to put up some good numbers though, maybe about 40 points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weGotTheCup89 41 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 I don't think hudler will be the same player when he comes back. It would be pretty awkward to bail out on your team and then just come back and act like everything is ok. I still think he is going to put up some good numbers though, maybe about 40 points. I hadn't thought of that, but that could very much be the case.. The Red Wings locker room seems to hold no ill though, and I'm sure he will feel comfortable reasonably quickly. What players would hold it against him? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted May 2, 2010 I said trade him, but only because it's the closest option to 'try to grab a premier FA sniper, then trade Happy to help make room'. I think that would be the best option, but of course it's easier said than done. Happy as a fall-back plan isn't a bad thing. But I don't think he's a great fit on this team. His best place I would say is depth scoring from the 3rd line, and a PP specialist. But I'm not so sure we can afford the depth to have someone else on the 3rd line for him to play with, and $2.875 is a lot for just a PP guy. If we move Flip down to the third line, we move Cleary up, and also have guys like Bert and Homer in the top 6. The third line would be great (for a third line) but a top 6 like that would be pretty mediocre, especially if we had another key injury. Same goes really if Flip is in the top 6 and Cleary on the 3rd line, except I don't think Cleary and Huds complement each other very well without a good offensive center to make it click. If we keep only one of Bert/Homer, and put Flip and Cleary in the top 6, our speed, defense, net presense, and passing is solid, but we lack goal scorers, and Happy is completely out of place on a third line that probably features 2 of Helm/Miller/Abs/Eaves. So that kind of precludes the luxury of playing Huds on the third, unless we're content with him as a PP specialist. At the same time, I don't think he works very well for what we want our top lines to be. His speed and size severely limit his defensive capabilities and effectiveness banging in the corners or the crease. Mule, despite people thinking he's similar to Holmstrom, isn't very good in those areas either and he's slow, so I don't think you want them both on the same line. Bert/Homer would give us that, but both are slow and defensively suspect. Again, not a great fit with Huds. Cleary is probably the only option that would work well. So maybe we go: Happy-Hank/Pav-Cleary & Flip-Hank/Pav-Mule. Keep Homer as a cheap 4th liner + PP guy. Not terrible certainly, I just think we could do better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites