75 replies to this topic

[freshy]

Wouldn't mind a fallback plan of Semin for a couple/three years. Look what Franzen & Hudler could do with Pavs/Dats as their centermen. Semin is more skilled than either and has decent size like Mule. As long as we don't have to lock him up for many years he could be golden. Dat's would put the hammer down on him to perform the Redwing way if he was here.
Hudler can walk. Like others have said, to small, and easy to play against. He bounces off players like a flea. At least with Mule & Semin their sheer size makes them harder to play against, even if they don't always use it to their potential. Oh, and on your way out be sure to that Hank/Pavs for getting you paid Happy.

[sleepwalker]

At the article's suggested 3.3 million, I'd be happy to have him come back. At more than that, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Most articles about this also pointed out the fact that Hudler is third in scoring amongst FAs behind Selanne and Parise.

Knowing that Hudler cares about nothing but money, he probably thinks he is worth 6-7 mil after reading that stat over and over, lol.



Honestly though, I wouldn't mind Hudler if he were to magically grow about 4 inches and 40 pounds overnight. As it stands though, his size is a liability.

[haroldsnepsts]

Most articles about this also pointed out the fact that Hudler is third in scoring amongst FAs behind Selanne and Parise.

Knowing that Hudler cares about nothing but money, he probably thinks he is worth 6-7 mil after reading that stat over and over, lol.



Honestly though, I wouldn't mind Hudler if he were to magically grow about 4 inches and 40 pounds overnight. As it stands though, his size is a liability.

And his lack of speed.

Remember Hudler on the point for the PP?

[InKennyWeTrust]

There is a difference between not going to the dirty areas of the ice and being completely useless when you get there. Hudler always struck me as being in the second group. His offensive game was suited for a second line player but he couldn't do enough in the other areas of the game to warrant a perminent position there.

[FlashyG]

Hudler's biggest drawback is that you have to time him with a sundial rather than a stopwatch.

[St. Michael (the Red Wing)]

This thread is funny. Replacing a 50 point person like Hudler isn't going to really happen. Problem with Hudler is he only can score. That's it, no surprise really. I rather have someone who doesn't put up the points he does that works harder, goes to the corners, FORECHECKS, plays defense, doesn't ***** (like a baby when he ditched out on us for the KHL). Sorry people Hudler decent player but his time on our team was up awhile ago. I'm ready for change even if it doesn't have a positive effect on our team for this season. Times are uh changing folks.

[Mors]

This is great news, I hope someone signs Hudler for $4+ million and he has a long successful career. This Wings can't afford to pay this much for a one-dimensional player, I won't be sad to see him go.

[sleepwalker]

And his lack of speed.

Remember Hudler on the point for the PP?

True, but I think his lack of speed, and as the person after stated, going to the dirty areas, but then being generally useless when there and getting immediately knocked off the puck al the time can all be attributed to his small size. If he had a few inches and 40 pounds more he would be a lot faster, would not get knocked off the puck ALL the time, and would be much more helpful in all other areas other than scoring.

I think most of the negatives about his actual game can be directly attributed to his tiny size.

Edited by sleepwalker, 29 June 2012 - 02:34 PM.

[Dimaline312000]

Not really a big suprise. It would be great to have his Cap Space available to be able to throw as much as possible at Parise and or Suter that way money won't be an issue. Huds was good a while back but he has severly dropped off as far as offensive production and I won't really miss him.

[haroldsnepsts]

True, but I think his lack of speed, and as the person after stated, going to the dirty areas, but then being generally useless when there and getting immediately knocked off the puck al the time can all be attributed to his small size. If he had a few inches and 40 pounds more he would be a lot faster, would not get knocked off the puck ALL the time, and would be much more helpful in all other areas other than scoring.

I think most of the negatives about his actual game can be directly attributed to his tiny size.

I think we agree mostly on his downsides and size is definitely a factor, but I don't think that's handicapping everything.

Martin St. Louis is listed at 5'8" and 176 lbs, which is probably close to Hudler's actual size (he's listed as 5'9 178 lbs). But Marty has speed.

To me it's the size and lack of speed that's the killer with him. Because he usually does work hard in the corner, but he's so little and can't get away fast enough that even if he does pull a nice move to get the puck out of the corner, the defender can often negate it with one stride and/or a good stick.

[kook_10]

Don't worry, Flip will make up those 25 goals, right?

...Right?
...Right?
...Guys?
...Anyone?

[drwscc]

Nah, it'll be Brunner. He's going to be the Hudler replacement, and score 30 goals. Maybe Nyquist or Brunnstrom can come up and replace those 50 points.

[Motown4013]

Because at least for me he's a one dimentional player thats bearly even one dimentional. If his only talent and selling point is that he's a stick handeling scorer at least put up more goals than 25g playing with Z a lot of the time. If your a small player you with out a doubt have to play much bigger than you are which Hudler doesn't. He doesn't have speed, defense, size, grit, bearly a scoring touch, doesn't crash to the net. I don't honestly know what Holland see's in him even offering him a contract period just let him go you tried to develope him he didn't work out just let him go.

I watch the game so I know what he brings. I also know that he is not well liked because he took a payday to go to Russia and that did not sit well with most ppl. I too thought it was crappy BUT I don't let that overshadow what I think of him as a hockey player. People make him sound awful n the boards and do not give him credit. He is not a lazy player...he can be tentative but he is not lazy. For a small man, he has very good vision on the ice and he has a good shot and for the price, I don't think there is a better bargain than Hudler. Telling me he doesn't have any grit does not explain why he is the goat for this team or explain the hate ppl have for the guy. If he goes someplace else with DECENT teammates, Hudler will put up 60 plus points easy. I wish him the best

[FlashyG]

I don't think there is a better bargain than Hudler. Telling me he doesn't have any grit does not explain why he is the goat for this team or explain the hate ppl have for the guy. If he goes someplace else with DECENT teammates, Hudler will put up 60 plus points easy. I wish him the best

Considering what Hudler is likely to get on the market, Franzen is a better bargain than Hudler. I have no problem with Hudler's scoring ability or even his compete level, its his lack of speed that makes me wish he were replaced.

I'm also not sure why you highlighted "decent" teammates since its extremely unlikely he'll be playing with anyone better than Zetterberg and Filppula. They were the highest scoring line in the NHL last year.

[hooon]

Brunner and/or Nyquist, plus UFA (Parise, Semin, etc.) seems like a much better option than Hudler and Bert in the top 6. Having our two slowest forwards up in the top 6 definitely softened the 1-2 punch of a Datsyuk-Zetteberg center combo.

Like others have said, I wouldn't be devastated to see Hudler back, but changes need to happen somewhere, and I worry that if we keep Hudler it will be at the expense of a better UFA option.

[Nev]

As for Hudler, I'm not going to be that upset if he takes a larger offer elsewhere. However, it does concern me that the Red Wings are losing 25 goals and were already in need of adding to the top-six with Hudler around. There's nobody internally on the roster that is going to score 25 next season. As one-dimensional as Hudler is as a player, the Red Wings are lacking that dimension. Holland really has his work cut out for him.

This.

I think a lot of Wings fans opinions of him are clouded by the fact he bolted for the KHL, then came back and took half a season to get into NHL shape.

[uk_redwing]

It's worth noting Hudler only peforms when it's a contract year as well.

2007 - 15 goals, 76 games (contract year)
2008 - 13 goals, 81 games
2009 - 23 goals, 82 games (contract year)
2010 - Russian Hooker Year
2011 - 10 goals, 73 games
2012 - 25 goals, 81 games (contract year)

Money motivated indeed.

[frankgrimes]

No bad feelings here, good luck Hudler.

Yeah, Holland has to fill some holes but keep in mind we dove have tons of cap space.

[cusimano_brothers]

Money motivated indeed.

The players still get paid every two weeks, don't they?
That should have been his motivation.

[fixxxer]

If he goes someplace else with DECENT teammates, Hudler will put up 60 plus points easy. I wish him the best

He does have decent teammates already and is spotty goal scorer if anything he should be flourishing in our style of hockey but he doesn't. He's too easy to play against for other teams when it matters and he isn't going to wear anyone down. The general problem imo with this team is having too many playmakers and not enough shoot first mentality. I don't believe huds has shoot first mentality and the already glaring cons of him that everyone has mentioned makes him an easy replacable player.