224 replies to this topic

[Scott Stevens]

Maybe you should stop caring about reputation points.

Also Hudler is 27. And matches Ruutu's high in points. And looks like he is back to his old form.

But naw, we should trade him straight up for a guy who may not work in the system and provides an arguably negligible advantage in the long run.

This is a good point. Hudler seems to have pulled his head out of his butt. It seems like money and stardom got to him 3 years ago, and he did what 99% of us would do if we suddenly became millionaires and had women flailing themselves at us. If he continues to play well for the Wings and doesn't cause any off ice drama with his contracts and personal issues, I don't know why the Wings wouldn't want to keep him around. He's never going to be Datsyuk, but he's a pretty damn good third line player. If the Wings can get him for 2.5 - 3 million per for the next 5 years of his career, which should be his prime, why wouldn't they want to do that?

[Red Wings Addict]

[eva unit zero]

He's never going to be Datsyuk, but he's a pretty damn good third line player.

He's a top-six forward. If he keeps up his play from last year's second half over the full season this year, he could be considered a first-line forward.

[Lonewuhf]

He's a top-six forward in the KHL.

I c wut u did thar.

[eva unit zero]

I c wut u did thar.

Go to NHL.com and click on "stats" and select "individuals". Sort to forwards only. Then select page six. Look at the bottom. That is the minimum offensive production for a top-six scoring forward in that season. Hudler has cleared that mark in each of his past three seasons (10-11, 08-09, 07-08) and was only seven points shy in his rookie year (06-07) despite the fact that he played a mere 10:02 per game that year and he has not played more than 11:24 at ES or 13:39 total per game in ANY season.


Not a top-six forward my ass. He just as well as Bertuzzi per minute overall last year. Almost as well if you adjust ES and PP individually. And Bertuzzi played top-two lines all year, while Hudler played mostly on the bottom two. Bert is more physical, but no better defensively. He outperformed Holmstrom offensively, and I don't think anyone here would say Holmstrom does anything else better than Hudler except perhaps stand in front of the net. He was on the first line most of the year.That leaves the EuroTwins, Franzen, Flip, and Cleary. So unless you're saying the Wings are thin at forward, it's pretty clear Hudler is a top-six forward.