Jiri Hudler Watch Thread

[Drake_Marcus 890]

My hands... they're so hot.

[eva unit zero 271]

For those with the "Datsyuk makes Hudler special" attitude...

In the ten games between was formed on Datsyuk's return on Feb. 7th and Feb. 26th, the Huds/Dats/Clears line has produced the following numbers:

Hudler: 3g-9a-12pt

Datsyuk: 6g-5a-11pt

Cleary: 5g-6a-11pt

[Buppy 1,720]

So anyone else hear Reiger's rumor on 97.1? Hudler, Kindl/Ericsson, & a 1st for Bogosian.

I don't beleive it, but it got me wondering. Would anyone (aside from LeftWinger) make that deal?

I think I'd want a 3rd at least coming back. But a big, young, talented righty would be a fantastic addition for the future. I think we're plenty deep enough at forward that losing Hudler wouldn't really hurt. And paying a late 20's (or 30) pick for decent upgrade to one of our young d'men is certainly tempting. I might even settle for a 4th.

[eva unit zero 271]

So anyone else hear Reiger's rumor on 97.1? Hudler, Kindl/Ericsson, & a 1st for Bogosian.

I don't beleive it, but it got me wondering. Would anyone (aside from LeftWinger) make that deal?

I think I'd want a 3rd at least coming back. But a big, young, talented righty would be a fantastic addition for the future. I think we're plenty deep enough at forward that losing Hudler wouldn't really hurt. And paying a late 20's (or 30) pick for decent upgrade to one of our young d'men is certainly tempting. I might even settle for a 4th.

No. And there is a thread about this in the rumor mill, where it belongs.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

For those with the "Datsyuk makes Hudler special" attitude...

In the ten games between was formed on Datsyuk's return on Feb. 7th and Feb. 26th, the Huds/Dats/Clears line has produced the following numbers:

Hudler: 3g-9a-12pt

Datsyuk: 6g-5a-11pt

Cleary: 5g-6a-11pt

You do realize Datsyuk creates the space to allow Hudler to create offense right ? His presence alone is a huge attribute to anyones stats.

[eva unit zero 271]

You do realize Datsyuk creates the space to allow Hudler to create offense right ? His presence alone is a huge attribute to anyones stats.

Datsyuk is like a black hole. He takes any obstruction his teammate might have and swallows it, and it becomes a part of him. This gets really amusing at team parties.

[Buppy 1,720]

No. And there is a thread about this in the rumor mill, where it belongs.

Excuse me for interrupting your Hudler handjob. I'll wait until he goes cold again and you go back into hiding before I mention him again.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

datsyuk is the kid on everyone's junior team that is way better than everyone else and brings up their level. we all had those kids on our teams - its just odd to see someone so much talented than everyone else in professional sports - hes making space and looks for huds.

Just thought id mention - how many consecutive offsides did huds have at the end there? 3? i know hes slow, so he didn't want to lose any of his hard earned speed entering the zone lol. those offsides were boneheaded.

the goal at the end i admit was a good choice to go to the net, but still, anyone on this team would have buried that one. he didn't have that awesome of a game. and he missed on a breakaway off a dirty tape to tape pass from dats.

oh ya, and his SO goal was pretty gutless too. off the post off miller and in.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

datsyuk is the kid on everyone's junior team that is way better than everyone else and brings up their level. we all had those kids on our teams - its just odd to see someone so much talented than everyone else in professional sports - hes making space and looks for huds.

Just thought id mention - how many consecutive offsides did huds have at the end there? 3? i know hes slow, so he didn't want to lose any of his hard earned speed entering the zone lol. those offsides were boneheaded.

the goal at the end i admit was a good choice to go to the net, but still, anyone on this team would have buried that one. he didn't have that awesome of a game. and he missed on a breakaway off a dirty tape to tape pass from dats.

oh ya, and his SO goal was pretty gutless too. off the post off miller and in.

The kid scores the game winning goal with less than a minute left then he ices the cake in the shoot-out and you still s*** on him.

If we're going to talk about missed shots pissing people off please review Franzen's tape from the last dozen games or so. I can't frigging wait for him to regain his scoring touch! The man refuses to cut inside and rush the net right now! Doesn't he remember how many goals he's scored that way?!?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

For those with the "Datsyuk makes Hudler special" attitude...

In the ten games between was formed on Datsyuk's return on Feb. 7th and Feb. 26th, the Huds/Dats/Clears line has produced the following numbers:

Hudler: 3g-9a-12pt

Datsyuk: 6g-5a-11pt

Cleary: 5g-6a-11pt

datsyuk is the kid on everyone's junior team that is way better than everyone else and brings up their level. we all had those kids on our teams - its just odd to see someone so much talented than everyone else in professional sports - hes making space and looks for huds.

Just thought id mention - how many consecutive offsides did huds have at the end there? 3? i know hes slow, so he didn't want to lose any of his hard earned speed entering the zone lol. those offsides were boneheaded.

the goal at the end i admit was a good choice to go to the net, but still, anyone on this team would have buried that one. he didn't have that awesome of a game. and he missed on a breakaway off a dirty tape to tape pass from dats.

oh ya, and his SO goal was pretty gutless too. off the post off miller and in.

And these are examples of what makes following Jiri Hudler so fricken annoying. There can't be one instance where he has a decent game without people who continually insist on humping his leg overvaluing him and others who have to keep undervaluing his performance. Would love to go just one game just leaving it with him having a solid game and not have people going on either extreme regarding him.

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

What's up with this obsession with Hudler?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

What's up with this obsession with Hudler?

Simple. He's divisive. Hudler's incredibly talented offensively but is average defensively. He's capable of making great plays but is streaky. Hudler's undersized and an average skater at best. He left for the KHL last year and many people feel betrayed by it. People end up taking a side on Hudler and just running with it. Hence we always have long threads about the guy.

Right now the Hudler talk is heated because he's done so well since Christmas and because he was rumoured to be part of Atlanta's asking price for Bogosian (a deal Holland denies even discussing with the Thrashers).

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Simple. He's divisive. Hudler's incredibly talented offensively but is average defensively. He's capable of making great plays but is streaky. Hudler's undersized and an average skater at best. He left for the KHL last year and many people feel betrayed by it. People end up taking a side on Hudler and just running with it. Hence we always have long threads about the guy.

Right now the Hudler talk is heated because he's done so well since Christmas and because he was rumoured to be part of Atlanta's asking price for Bogosian (a deal Holland denies even discussing with the Thrashers).

As long as he continues to put up points and plays at least some defense, i'm fine. Big question is whether he will show up come playoff time. Franzen needs to get his head out of his ass and crash the net, for crying out loud. It will be interesting who will sit in the press box come playoff time.

[Datsyerberger 279]

What I find curious is the amount of goals that Datsyuk has put up with Hudler on his line. Now, we all know Pavel can score goals, and do so fairly frequently; ~30g pace is what is expected of him at this point. Hudler seems to have helped speed this up; his vision and pure offensive skill may be somewhere between 2nd and 4th on the team, depending on how much stock you put on size and speed being able to create extra production (Zetterberg and Franzen being the 2 potentially above him in that regard). There's a crazy amount of skill and offensive talent between Datsyuk and Hudler, and it's easy to see how Cleary benefits from this as well, what with his speed and ability to retrieve the puck in corners and around the net. Every time I've seen that line get the puck down low in the offensive zone they've done a remarkable job of hanging onto the puck.

Now, there was something missing from the Hudler earlier this year that was present in the 08-09 Hudler, and I believe he's found it again: the chip on his shoulder. Honestly, I don't think you can be a guy of his size in the NHL and play to any decent level without a certain sort of drive. Look at some other small, skilled players: Theoren Fleury, Brian Gionta, Marty St. Louis. Theoren Fleury was as scrappy as they come, Gionta is quite feisty, and while St. Louis has no reputation for either being dirty or physical, anyone who says St. Louis isn't a bold and aggressive hockey player (in the same sense as Datsyuk) has never watched more than a couple games of Marty St. Louis playing hockey.

While it's unknown whether Hudler could ever play to the same level as the above named players, he is producing at their sort of pace at the present time and with the present linemates. Hudler is best used as a complementary player to other skilled players, and if he can continue to play with the same chip on his shoulder that he's had of late, he could produce as well or better than he did at 08-09. What's astounded me most lately about Hudler is not the numbers himself but rather how he's been producing the numbers; while he's still a mediocre skater and still easily outmuscled in the defensive zone, his willingness to work behind the net, along the boards, and to head to the net have all been quite impressive--especially for a player of his size.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Excuse me for interrupting your Hudler handjob. I'll wait until he goes cold again and you go back into hiding before I mention him again.

No offense but I hope he does not. I mean I am sure you hope this too but it looks like 50+ point Hudler is here and here to stay. His play has been so good since Dec. 27th and that is not even with Pav on his line while he was out injured. It was said earlier in this monstrosity of a thread but a hungry, puck controlling, hard working Hudler +Datsyuk = The result we see today. Keep it up Huds!

As long as he continues to put up points and plays at least some defense, i'm fine. Big question is whether he will show up come playoff time. Franzen needs to get his head out of his ass and crash the net, for crying out loud. It will be interesting who will sit in the press box come playoff time.

Won't be Hudler or Franzen. So I hope you weren't making some insinuation at that. Currently, I would think it's Abby and Miller as the odd men out with Drapes getting to stay. Possibly a Drapes/Abby rotation.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

After the very last play of the game on Saturday v. Buffalo (which I attended), I bellowed, at the top of my lungs: "RETIRE HIS NUMBER...NOWWWWWWW!"

[clutchngrab 12]

Hudler has hit his stride and is playing well within his limitations. The reason he plays so well with Datsyuk is that once in the zone they are both creative play-making type players that can shoot and see the ice well. The difference is that Jiri doesn't have the skating, physicality or creativity to create the time and space he needs that Datsyuk does - however if given space and time Hudler is very good. So, Dats creates time and space for Huds. Of course Dats will elevate anyones game, but I am glad Hudler recognizes the opportunity to play with one of the top 2 or 3 forwards in the game and is working hard - unlike Mule.

[Rivalred 630]

Hudler is not at the level of play when he left this team for the KHL, but he is getting there. And yes, he is very capable by himself, he does not need Pavel. At the same time, it is not hurting anything at the current moment.

Edited March 1, 2011 by Rivalred

[eva unit zero 271]

Hudler/Datsyuk/Cleary stat line:

11 games

Hudler: 4g-10a-14pt

Datsyuk: 7g-5a-12pt

Cleary: 6g-6a-12pt

I find it interesting that Hudler is on a 105-point pace playing on this line (a point-per-game rate which would lead the league in scoring if he posted it over the Wings' season to date), but Datsyuk is on a 90-point pace. Granted, it's only an 11-game sample, but Dats is actually producing points at a lower rate than he did before his injury. He's scoring goals at nearly double the rate, but overall points are fewer. The question to be asked... is Datsyuk still getting the hang of it, and will this line be scoring 2-3 goals per game when everyone's 100%?

Edited March 2, 2011 by eva unit zero

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Hudler/Datsyuk/Cleary stat line:

11 games

Hudler: 4g-10a-14pt

Datsyuk: 7g-5a-12pt

Cleary: 6g-6a-12pt

I find it interesting that Hudler is on a 105-point pace playing on this line (a point-per-game rate which would lead the league in scoring if he posted it over the Wings' season to date), but Datsyuk is on a 90-point pace. Granted, it's only an 11-game sample, but Dats is actually producing points at a lower rate than he did before his injury. He's scoring goals at nearly double the rate, but overall points are fewer. The question to be asked... is Datsyuk still getting the hang of it, and will this line be scoring 2-3 goals per game when everyone's 100%?

Your right.. lets trade Datsyuk.

[eva unit zero 271]

Your right.. lets trade Datsyuk.

OK, and we can safely sign darkmanx up for some reading comprehension classes.

Edited March 2, 2011 by eva unit zero

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

OK, and we can safely sign darkmanx up for some reading comprehension classes.

awesome, when can I start ?

[eva unit zero 271]

awesome, when can I start ?

Check your local community center and see if they have any programs for beginning readers.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Check your local community center and see if they have any programs for beginning readers.

don't think so, you said "we can safely sign". Guess I suck at reading and you suck at writing.

Edited March 2, 2011 by darkmanx

[HankthaTank 1,100]

For eva

Who is the most important Red Wing? Pavel Datsyuk?Henrik Zetterberg? Nicklas Lidstrom? Jimmy Howard? Well, a surprising trend is emerging which suggests another name. How about Jiri Hudler for MIP (most important player)?

Edited March 2, 2011 by HankthaTank