Hudler Haters - Don't let facts get in the way...

[Buppy 1,720]

More to the point regarding this, one thing that hurt Hudler early on was that Modano is used to playing a high speed run-and-gun game, and is still adapting to our system. Modano is also used to carrying a line that would typically have a defensive safeguard and a secondary skilled forward with some physical presence; Langenbrunner, Guerin, and Morrow are good examples. Hudler's skills don't work for a run-and-gun game, but are very good for puck possession; this is a big part of why he didn't mesh with Mo but clicked big time with Dats.

Hudler and Modano would work fine together. Both have enough talent and hockey sense to work well with prety much anyone.

The reason it didn't work to start the year had much, much more to do with poor effort and poor decision making than the style of the players. Hudler is back to playing at an NHL pace, and while he still needs to shoot more, at least now his passes are mostly on target. He just needs to keep it up.

Barring any trades, our composition of forwards (when all healthy) means someone is going to be playing with less than ideal linemates for their personal production. Of all the candidates, I'd say Huds is the most likely to be successful, and the most likely to turn the third line into a real threat.

[dobbles 252]

buppy, in my mind, your first sentence should be 'could' work together. in theory they make a deadly 3rd line. but those first few games were painful to watch how bad that line was. i sincerely hope they don't get put together again. while some of it was hudler adjusting to the nhl again, i think its just bad chemistry. on paper that line could be good, but on the ice it would be a disaster.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

You dont think Hudler is getting the money he deserves right now? Are you crazy?

And you have to earn getting on a good line, he did nothing until the injuries started, sure he has chemistry now but he didnt earn his ice time

Take a look around the league dude. Hudler's not overpaid based on his production, certainly not based on his production in 2011.

And it's 100% irrelevant whether he 'earned' his ice time when he's putting up excellent numbers right now. Babs could give two s***s about Hudler's production from October to mid-December as long as he keeps producing like he has since Christmas.

The remaining games this season will be won based on how the players are playing NOW. Who cares about their poor production 3 months ago? It's not like the team struggled out of the gate because of Hudler. We're just lucky they're deep enough to have him slump like that without suffering in the standings.

[The Secret 304]

Take a look around the league dude. Hudler's not overpaid based on his production, certainly not based on his production in 2011.

And it's 100% irrelevant whether he 'earned' his ice time when he's putting up excellent numbers right now. Babs could give two s***s about Hudler's production from October to mid-December as long as he keeps producing like he has since Christmas.

The remaining games this season will be won based on how the players are playing NOW. Who cares about their poor production 3 months ago? It's not like the team struggled out of the gate because of Hudler. We're just lucky they're deep enough to have him slump like that without suffering in the standings.

Exactly, the team did not struggle out of the gate because of Hudler and I don't think the team would suddenly collapse with him being traded for a more physical player if available. My hope would be that with his game looking to be on the upswing his value could increase and bring in a good trade.

I'm not suggesting trading him for the sake of trading him or trading him for nothing ...although I will not forgive the little bastard taking us to arbitration then leaving the best and most loyal franchise in pro sports for the KHL only to come crawling back a year later :thumbdown: . I would love to see a trade for a player of equal skill but different skill set better suited for the post season when Jiri will likely vanish to the KHL again. If the right player is there I hope Kenny shows invisible Jiri the same courtesy and trades his ass.... See ya!

[Shaman 713]

Exactly, the team did not struggle out of the gate because of Hudler and I don't think the team would suddenly collapse with him being traded for a more physical player if available. My hope would be that with his game looking to be on the upswing his value could increase and bring in a good trade.

I'm not suggesting trading him for the sake of trading him or trading him for nothing ...although I will not forgive the little bastard taking us to arbitration then leaving the best and most loyal franchise in pro sports for the KHL only to come crawling back a year later :thumbdown: . I would love to see a trade for a player of equal skill but different skill set better suited for the post season when Jiri will likely vanish to the KHL again. If the right player is there I hope Kenny shows invisible Jiri the same courtesy and trades his ass.... See ya!

yes, this is a great idea, trade a 2nd line skilled player playing some of his best hockey over the last two months for a 3rd or 4th liner because the wings don't already have 8 forwards competing for those 6 spots already

He doesn't really disappear in the post season, in fact hes got a higher PPG in the post season as compared to the regular season. And as for what I put in bold what skill set would that be? If its offensive talent, hockey IQ or play making, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone with a similar cap hit with those skills, and if you get some physical defensive player, for under 3 million hes going to have a lot less offensive upside which means hes a bottom 6 player and as I said before the Wings don't need another guy in an already backed up bottom 6.

Edited February 21, 2011 by Shaman464

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

yes, he had a HORRIBLE start, but more than a quarter of the season since - look at the numbers:

Over the last 22 games:

22GP 5G 14A 19P +5

Some people will continue to hate him, but as was touched on in last nights telecast, Cleary, Datsyuk and Hudler have developed some amazing chemistry and that pass last night to Dats was pure beauty...

Hate all you want, but it's really starting to look like the guy just needed to get back up to NHL speed, and he has been one of our best players over the last 20+ games...

this is more or less what i said in another post about hudler. he was baggage for the first 30ish games and then remembered how to play NHL hockey again. the real test for hudler though is to be useful in the playoffs. his disappearing act in 2009 was epic and will hopefully not happen again this year. he's playing good, but still has alot to improve. he's 27 and has 1 good season under his belt. hopefully his near point a game pace continues and he proves he's a valuable part of this organization.

[uk_redwing 495]

I might need to take a look at a huge list of stats before I form a final opinion on the thread.

My only actual contribution to this thread is that Hudler annoys me that he only produces when he's put with our best players. BUT so long as he's actually producing what we'd expect from someone playing with Datsyuk and Cleary I'm happy (no pun) to roll with it. I doubt if we put someone like Helm with Datsyuk he'd be putting up the same amount of points.

[Grim 5]

Hudler looks like his game is coming back. Although he might have sounded like a potential tradeable asset earlier in the season, i can't imagine Kenny pulling the trigger now. Hudler's stickhandling looks vastly improved and he even darts into corners after the puck. I say roll with him into these playoffs. if he whimpers out, dump him in the offseason.