How Long has Huds got?

[Shaman 713]

Man oh man, a Hudler and/or Filppula thread can really bring out the best in people.

Just wait until an enforcer thread pops up...you want to see the best of LGWs you'll find it in there.

[Konnan511 1,736]

My dearest Flip slappy:

What does Flip do that puts him on par with any current second line forward in the league? With his (lack of) offensive ability and defensive prowess

I stopped reading right here. I can't tell if you are insinuating if Filppula doesn't posses superior defensive abilities or not. And if you are in fact saying Filppula doesn't have superb defensive instincts, then i don't know what else to say. please, correct me if I misread.

[titanium2 867]

I stopped reading right here. I can't tell if you are insinuating if Filppula doesn't posses superior defensive abilities or not. And if you are in fact saying Filppula doesn't have superb defensive instincts, then i don't know what else to say. please, correct me if I misread.

I don't think it's Fil's instincts he's referring to but rather his display of overt aggression on the defensive end. It's not something we see every game but at the same time I don't think it should be since Fil plays 16-18 minutes a night. The balls to the wall play can come from Helm and Abby since they don't play as much minutes.

[eva unit zero 271]

My dearest Flip slappy:

What does Flip do that puts him on par with any current second line forward in the league? With his (lack of) offensive ability and defensive prowess he really is a 3rd line center. I hate to agree with Eva but hes right, Hudler right now is more a victim of Babcock not putting him on a line where he can produce than just not producing because of lack of will. There are very few players who can make the players around them better, we have 3 in Lids, Z and Dats. Hudler isn't one of them, Flippula definitely isn't one of them so I really can't see why people are blaming Hudler. I think Huds and Flip actually complement eachother very well and I hope they are line mates again. My point here is that the real story here isn't Hudler isn't producing after a quarter of a season on the third line, its that Flip is playing with a power forward who is a legit goal scorer, getting second line minutes and power play time and is still on pace for a 40 point season.

I hate to slam people who say I'm right, but...

Flip is a solid second line forward. He may not be one of the better offensive second liners, but he's very good defensively. As for points, last year the "second line" level of offensive production (91st through 180th among forwards) was 51 points to 33 points. So scoring 40 points puts Flip's offense as a good level for a second line center. Accounting for his defense, that makes him a *gasp GOOD SECOND LINE CENTER.

Hudler has been offensively present this season; he has been creating plays and scoring chances. Unfortunately, he has not ultimately scored many goals or picked up many assists. His normal production is on the edge between first and second line forward. As for defense, he has been less effective defensively this season than he was in 2008-09. However from the games I have seen recently he has started to show more of an effort to serve as a defensive forward, presumably due to his lack of production. Hopefully that carries over when he starts scoring again.

Edited November 27, 2010 by eva unit zero

[brett 1,029]

Hudler just seems weak. He cant win a one on one battle in the corner which kills his whole game. offensively and defensively. if he could be stronger on the puck he would have a much better season

[egroen 384]

Hudler just seems weak. He cant win a one on one battle in the corner which kills his whole game. offensively and defensively. if he could be stronger on the puck he would have a much better season

I have a feeling this is something Babcock harps on and expects from all his players - which is great - but at this point think it might be better to see Hudler concentrating on what he is good at (creating offensive opportunities) versus spending a lot of time and energy on things he is never really going to be good at (defense, digging pucks out of corners, enforcing).

Hull was a lazy floater for the Wings, but he was effective. As stringent as Bowman was, he let Hull play his game while others backchecked and dug pucks out of corners. I do not think it would be the end of the world to allow Hudler to play like that.

I notice Hudler has been going into corners a lot more, probably to earn shifts from Babcock, but he just plain old sucks at it. I'd rather see him skating towards open ice.

Edited November 28, 2010 by egroen

[Guest mindfly]

I have a feeling this is something Babcock harps on and expects from all his players - which is great - but at this point think it might be better to see Hudler concentrating on what he is good at (creating offensive opportunities) versus spending a lot of time and energy on things he is never really going to be good at (defense, digging pucks out of corners, enforcing).

Hull was a lazy floater for the Wings, but he was effective. As stringent as Bowman was, he let Hull play his game while others backchecked and dug pucks out of corners. I do not think it would be the end of the world to allow Hudler to play like that.

I notice Hudler has been going into corners a lot more, probably to earn shifts from Babcock, but he just plain old sucks at it. I'd rather see him skating towards open ice.

Egroen tbh i think you have a big point here...

Although in 08/09 when hudler scored 23goals and 59pts how did he play then, i hardly remember tbh.. with some players for the greater good of the team maybe the coach should allow them to play their style and be fully effective, i think hudler is a lost cause trying to play hard, the grinding game, forecheck etc

Edited November 28, 2010 by mindfly

[egroen 384]

Egroen tbh i think you have a big point here...

Although in 08/09 when hudler scored 23goals and 59pts how did he play then, i hardly remember tbh.. with some players for the greater good of the team maybe the coach should allow them to play their style and be fully effective, i think hudler is a lost cause trying to play hard, the grinding game, forecheck etc

I know he was not going into the corners then like he is now - I have a feeling Babcock did not mind when he was scoring, but now that he isn't he probably demands Hudler is making use of himself in other ways, which unfortunately he sucks at, if he want s to not be scratched. I can understand. I just think he is going to get his game back quicker if he focuses more on what he is actually good at.

[titanium2 867]

Could they use him in a "net front presence" role? Yes I can already hear you all laughing.

Those guys (like Homer and Cleary) mostly have to make sure they retrieve the puck wherever it may go so they can get it back to the other forwards. When they're not doing that they park themselves in front of the net.

Hudler still has great hockey sense and can anticipate where the puck will go. When his mind is on, I think he can be great at that task. What if they simplified his job to those two tasks? Or is this just a really stupid idea?

[kook_10 1,705]

I have a feeling this is something Babcock harps on and expects from all his players - which is great - but at this point think it might be better to see Hudler concentrating on what he is good at (creating offensive opportunities) versus spending a lot of time and energy on things he is never really going to be good at (defense, digging pucks out of corners, enforcing).

Hull was a lazy floater for the Wings, but he was effective. As stringent as Bowman was, he let Hull play his game while others backchecked and dug pucks out of corners. I do not think it would be the end of the world to allow Hudler to play like that.

I notice Hudler has been going into corners a lot more, probably to earn shifts from Babcock, but he just plain old sucks at it. I'd rather see him skating towards open ice.

If Hudler went away for a dozen years or so, came back to the Wings as a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame, and was good for 30 goals a season, then I think I would let him slide on defense and digging out of corners. Those precap teams were stacked and didn't need to be balanced either.

Huds has to establish his game before he should be allowed to play it. I would bet Babs is not making unreasonable demands of him, but I would imagine that his expectations certainly would include fundamentally sound positional play - getting his body in the right place versus just reaching with his stick for pucks.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Could they use him in a "net front presence" role? Yes I can already hear you all laughing.

Those guys (like Homer and Cleary) mostly have to make sure they retrieve the puck wherever it may go so they can get it back to the other forwards. When they're not doing that they park themselves in front of the net.

Hudler still has great hockey sense and can anticipate where the puck will go. When his mind is on, I think he can be great at that task. What if they simplified his job to those two tasks? Or is this just a really stupid idea?

For simple redirection he might be able to do it. Once it turns into a nasty battle or a fight for a lose puck he will get steamrolled because he does not have the strength to do it. Hmmm... that might work in the Wings advantage though as that could draw extra penalties.

Babs, tell Hudler to dress up for battle next game and try him out as a human pinata.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Years ago in days of old when magic filled the air, I thought this would be worth trying when it was clear the Sammy experiment on the point was a terrible, terrible mistake; but alas, Hudler remained a lefty:

Hudler will take Modano’s spot at the point on the second power-play unit, alongside Niklas Kronwall. Hudler played the point on the power play in Grand Rapids several years ago and in Russia last season.

“It’s nothing new to me,” Hudler said. “You just have to make sure you don’t turn pucks over and think ‘shoot.’ Keep your head up and be smart with the puck.”

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Years ago in days of old when magic filled the air, I thought this would be worth trying when it was clear the Sammy experiment on the point was a terrible, terrible mistake; but alas, Hudler remained a lefty:

This scares me.

Holland said he had not seen an injury like Modano’s since he arrived in Detroit. That surprises Babcock.

[kook_10 1,705]

Years ago in days of old when magic filled the air, I thought this would be worth trying when it was clear the Sammy experiment on the point was a terrible, terrible mistake; but alas, Hudler remained a lefty:

are you suggesting Huds should ramble on?

[Konnan511 1,736]

This scares me.

I've never seen an injury like that before since I've been watching hockey. Be Terrified!!!!

[dragonballgtz 273]

He's only got 4 minutes to save the world!!!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

are you suggesting Huds should ramble on?

He went around the world but couldn't find his girl.

[kook_10 1,705]

He went around the world but couldn't find his girl.

I wonder what around the world costs in the Czech Republic.

[chrisdetroit 189]

I wonder what around the world costs in the Czech Republic.

The World is not enough

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

He's got all the time in the world as long as Filppula here, because that'll mean there are unlimited Filppula and Hudler debates which makes some people in here have happy dreams.

[Guest mindfly]

He's got all the time in the world as long as Filppula here, because that'll mean there are unlimited Filppula and Hudler debates which makes some people in here have happy dreams.

Great contribution as always...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Great contribution as always...

I think so to my little ray of sunshine.

[eva unit zero 271]

The World is not enough

Use your Goldeneye to find the Moonraker that Goldfinger has been using.

[Guest mindfly]

Anyone noticed hudler out there tonight? I didn't

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Anyone noticed hudler out there tonight? I didn't

He drew a penalty and had some good shifts on the powerplay.

Didn't seem to get knocked off the puck as much.