Jiri Hudler Watch Thread

[eva unit zero 271]

Detroit is the only team in the NHL that doesn't have AT LEAST one guy that will readily scrap. Most teams have multiple guys that are willing to drop the gloves. Come playoff time we aren't gritty enough and we get bounced around.

Abdelkader, Ericsson, Salei?

Sure, they're not heavyweights or enforcers, but they'll drop the gloves. Quit twisting the facts and people might take you seriously.

[Guest Crymson]

Abdelkader, Ericsson, Salei?

Sure, they're not heavyweights or enforcers, but they'll drop the gloves. Quit twisting the facts and people might take you seriously.

I agree.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Abdelkader, Ericsson, Salei?

Sure, they're not heavyweights or enforcers, but they'll drop the gloves. Quit twisting the facts and people might take you seriously.

None of those guys regularly scrap. Would you like a list of players from each team with more fighting majors than the leader of fighting majors on Detroit? I'd be glad to compose one. And for the record, you're the biggest joke this website has to offer, so don't tell me i'm not taken seriously.

[newfy 695]

Abdelkader, Ericsson, Salei?

Sure, they're not heavyweights or enforcers, but they'll drop the gloves. Quit twisting the facts and people might take you seriously.

Maybe you should try geting some facts in that head of yours to replace your love affair with Hudler and youll be taken seriously (might be a little late though). Abdelkader and Ericcson will fight and Ericcson is a pretty solid scrapper if he would fight more.

The jury is still out on Abdelkader, he'll probably fight like 5 or 6 times but he is a middleweight at best

But Salei is down right laughable. Hes 36 (ish) and has like 2 fights in his career and he didnt win any.

Get your facts straight

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I'm not going to bother with Newfy's ridiculous strawmen, especially when he can't even back it up.

That is the point.

The fact that you can name many players like that.

The enforcer topic comes up because the anti-enforcer crowd wanted someone like Hudler and Modano over those useless fighters who never score. Meanwhile, the enforcer crowd wanted tougher players on the bottom two lines, instead of guys who weren't acclimated to not being a top 6 forward. I guess people (myself included) are gloating that numerous enforcers are playing better than Hudler.

Hudler was a previous 50+ point scorer. Modano is planning on going to the hall of fame when he retires and Holland took a chance on him. He hasn't done great but hasn't done all that bad either.

Nobody right now thinks Hudler is doing well by any means. That however doesn't somehow magically prove much other than that Hudler is playing at rock bottom right now.

Hindsight is 20-20, and I still stand by that at the beginning of the season I would have taken Hudler over some "enforcer".

Also Hudler isn't acclimated to being a top 6 forward right now anyway (and had his 57 point season on the third line with a large amount of PP time) so I don't understand where you are going with that.

Also to the poster who insulted me and didn't address the subject at all: grow up.

Bruise: I wouldn't say Detroit getting knocked around is the reason we have lost any series in many years. Though since you can't necessarily disprove that, it is much easier to try and rewrite history to try and make your case.

Edited December 20, 2010 by Doc Holliday

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Detroit is the only team in the NHL that doesn't have AT LEAST one guy that will readily scrap. Most teams have multiple guys that are willing to drop the gloves. Come playoff time we aren't gritty enough and we get bounced around.

Yet somehow the Wings continue to find ways to win playoff games and Stanley Cups. This argument is old, tired, and factually incorrect.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Yet somehow the Wings continue to find ways to win playoff games and Stanley Cups. This argument is old, tired, and factually incorrect.

When we won the Cup in 2008, we had the perfect blend of skill and.....say it with me....griit. Drake, Helm, McCarty..grit. We dont have the blend right now, imo.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

When we won the Cup in 2008, we had the perfect blend of skill and.....say it with me....griit. Drake, Helm, McCarty..grit. We dont have the blend right now, imo.

McCarty was no real influence at all in 2008. Helm is still plenty part of this team and with Drake it was more heart and soul than grit. Drake wanted that Cup more than anyone on that team. That's what made him an excellent player that year, not his "grit". You're placing too much emphasis on grit, which is no real surprise.

[eva unit zero 271]

None of those guys regularly scrap. Would you like a list of players from each team with more fighting majors than the leader of fighting majors on Detroit? I'd be glad to compose one. And for the record, you're the biggest joke this website has to offer, so don't tell me i'm not taken seriously.

Being someone who will fight when it is necessary is not the same as being someone who will fight for no reason. Bob Probert got 398 PIMs in 1988-89 due in large part to his collection of fighting majors. How many of those were random fights off the draw that meant nothing? Sure they were entertaining, but they had no real meaning and served little purpose.

Fighting is a part of the game in the sense that it is used to prevent cheap shots; but having a player who fights a whole bunch just to fight doesn't serve the team.

The words "will readily scrap" are not the same as "regularly scrap" because the first statement indicates that the player will protect his teammates by fighting when necessary, while the second simply states that the player fights on a regular basis.

[Guest Crymson]

When we won the Cup in 2008, we had the perfect blend of skill and.....say it with me....griit. Drake, Helm, McCarty..grit. We dont have the blend right now, imo.

This is such an old, tired argument. Abdelkader can hit just like Drake. Helm is with the team. McCarty was rarely dressed for a game, and when he played, he wasn't given many minutes. In sum, we've got perhaps more grit now than we did back then, and you want to add more. I think that you have an obsession.

[newfy 695]

This is such an old, tired argument. Abdelkader can hit just like Drake. Helm is with the team. McCarty was rarely dressed for a game, and when he played, he wasn't given many minutes. In sum, we've got perhaps more grit now than we did back then, and you want to add more. I think that you have an obsession.

Yeah back then we had effective Maltby adn Drapers still who were fairly gritty. Eaves is ok in my books, Miller should go and be replaced with someone who can do what he does and provide a physical presence.

You honestly dont think if Miller was replaced by a guy who played like Abdelkader our team wouldn't be even a little better going into playoffs?

[kook_10 1,705]

You honestly dont think if Miller was replaced by a guy who played like Abdelkader our team wouldn't be even a little better going into playoffs?

Of course we would be better. I'd rather have another Abby than Eaves as well. There is a reason he has the best +/- on the squad.

The problem is that it's tough to find someone with his combination of desire, work ethic, and skating ability for that price tag. When teams find it they don't want to let it go. I don't think it is entirely realistic to think you could get any big body that likes to hit, put a fire under his ass, and have him play like Abs. Its the desire that's the pixie dust. He seems to have more than Miller, Eaves and maybe even Helm. For that reason you cant say it comes from competing for a spot because they would all have it. That little extra must come from within.

Edited December 20, 2010 by kook_10

[kook_10 1,705]

Oops...

Edited December 20, 2010 by kook_10

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Of course we would be better. I'd rather have another Abby than Eaves as well. There is a reason he has the best +/- on the squad.

I would like to know what makes Eaves so replaceable.

8 goals on the season, fights when he has to, a lot of heart. Seems like a pretty decent bottom 6 forward to me.

[BlueMonk 102]

Went to the game last night and first thing I checked when I got home was the box score. I was relieved to see that Hudler was scratched. Relieved because I hadn't seen him all night and would hate to think he was that invisible on the ice!

[kook_10 1,705]

I would like to know what makes Eaves so replaceable.

8 goals on the season, fights when he has to, a lot of heart. Seems like a pretty decent bottom 6 forward to me.

I never said he was so replaceable. My points were that Abby, to me, has the special sauce and that some people take for granted the ability to go out and get something like that on the open market for cheap. I don't think that is the case. I am grateful to have Eaves here as well (Miller not so much), but if we could clone Abs in exchange for him I would. Unfortunately I think the NHLPA has rules against cloning and we live in the real world.

[newfy 695]

Of course we would be better. I'd rather have another Abby than Eaves as well. There is a reason he has the best +/- on the squad.

The problem is that it's tough to find someone with his combination of desire, work ethic, and skating ability for that price tag. When teams find it they don't want to let it go. I don't think it is entirely realistic to think you could get any big body that likes to hit, put a fire under his ass, and have him play like Abs. Its the desire that's the pixie dust. He seems to have more than Miller, Eaves and maybe even Helm. For that reason you cant say it comes from competing for a spot because they would all have it. That little extra must come from within.

They dont have to be quite as good as Abdelkader. I see a guy like Zenon Konopka who is playing great hockey and is also one of the toughest guys in the league. He could've been had for below 1 million on our 4th line this offseason and our team would look better to me then it does now.

Guys like that aren't that hard to find, Dallas Drake is another great example. The wings just have a back log of bottom 6ers who to me dont offer that much like Miller. If you switch a redundant guy like that with someone like Konopka I think our team benefits greatly.

I would like to know what makes Eaves so replaceable.

8 goals on the season, fights when he has to, a lot of heart. Seems like a pretty decent bottom 6 forward to me.

I like Eaves but dont try to talk up that he fights.. We are talking about the same Eaves who has got his ass kicked by Miro Satan and Glen Metropolit here...

[Guest Stolberg]

his fight with versteeg was pretty decent

[newfy 695]

his fight with versteeg was pretty decent

Yeah ill give him that, but it was his only decent fight to his name and he still came out on the losing side probably. Godd bottom 6 forward just fighting isnt his thing

[Guest Crymson]

Yeah back then we had effective Maltby adn Drapers still who were fairly gritty. Eaves is ok in my books, Miller should go and be replaced with someone who can do what he does and provide a physical presence.

I don't recall many being satisfied with the grit of the '08 team going into the playoffs. The fact that the team was very successful was more important.

You honestly dont think if Miller was replaced by a guy who played like Abdelkader our team wouldn't be even a little better going into playoffs?

I don't think it would make a huge amount of difference. In any event, Miller is significantly better on the PK than Abdelkader is, and he makes up a part of what has been a very effective 4th line.

Edited December 20, 2010 by Crymson

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I like what Eaves brings to the table. We need to hang onto him.

[puckaholic 1]

Miller is good on the pk, has ok speed, can chip in an occasional goal and already has chemistry with the guys. The Wings problems the last couple of weeks have more to do with the top 6 forwards and Ralfsupsthepuckski's turnover machine than the checking line. Eaves, Miller, and whoever centers them has been the best line for stretches of most of the last few games. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Konnan511 1,736]

First I said, "Let's wait til' 10 games in", then it was "Let's wait until 20 games", now it's "I can wait until 30 games and then that's FINAL!"

[titanium2 867]

First I said, "Let's wait til' 10 games in", then it was "Let's wait until 20 games", now it's "I can wait until 30 games and then that's FINAL!"

Then it'll be 31 games. Then 32 games. Then 33 games. Etc. Hehe.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Then it'll be 31 games. Then 32 games. Then 33 games. Etc. Hehe.

I'm not sure what its gonna take to light a fire under his ass. He's been getting scratched on and off and still nothing..