IIHF reportedly denies Hudler transfer card

by Christy on Aug 27, 2009 2:15 PM CDT in News Comment 6 comments

Detroit Red Wings winger Jiri Hudler (26) of the Czech Republic is seen during the third period of Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series, Sunday, May 3, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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6 months ago: Detroit Red Wings winger Jiri Hudler (26) of the Czech Republic is seen during the third period of Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series, Sunday, May 3, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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According to the Cult of Hockey (which referenced a Sovetski Sport article), the IIHF denied Jiri Hudler a transfer card. Since the transfer card is what allows players to play in IIHF-sanctioned games, the lack of a card supposedly prevents Hudler from playing in the KHL as it is an IIHF-sanctioned league. If he has to return to the NHL, it would completely screw over the Wings when it comes to the salary cap.

The IIHF's stance is baffling to Alexander Medvedev, chief of the KHL, because both the Detroit Red Wings, Hudler's NHL team, and the Czech federation have given permission to Hudler to play for Dynamo, according to Medvedev.

An unconfirmed report (via The Production Line) suggests that the KHL doesn't care and will allow Hudler to play anyways. I never thought I'd say this, but let's hope that's the case or GM Ken Holland is going to have a tough couple of weeks trying to get under the cap before the deadline. The same person gives the reason why the IIHF denied Hudler a transfer card:

KHL officials: "IIHF did not give transfer card to Hudler. Their explanation was Hudler has a contract with Detroit, which is laughable."

So if Hudler does play for Dynamo Moscow against the wishes of the IIHF, he would likely lose his rights to represent his country in the Olympics. Is Hudler willing to do that for a big paycheck? We know it won't bother the KHL, but what about Happy Huds?

If that isn't the case, there is an appeal process as Babcock's Death Stare notes:

The only thorn I see in that plan is, as the article states, both the Red Wings and the Czech hockey federation gave Hudler the okay to play in the KHL. In fact, he’s already played in several exhibition games. To me, that would make it seem like an appeal might be pretty successful since you have the backing of most of the parties involved. However, the NHL did put up a stink about it and they might be able to flex some muscle on the IIHF. And I’m sure if Detroit had the choice between having Hudler at the contract he was awarded in arbitration and giving those minutes to Jason Williams, well, then sorry Williams, but you’re on the 4th line again. Detroit could complicate the arbitration process, I would think.

As Matt at On the Wings asks, what took the IIHF so long to rule on this?

I am out of town this weekend and my internet access is not consistent to say the least. I'll try to update this post as more news comes out, but if it's a bit delayed that's why.

Poll

Do you think Hudler will still play in the KHL? If not, will the Wings trade him or trade someone else to make room for him?

Hudler will play in Moscow

214 votes

Happy Huds will stay in Detroit after Holland trades a couple players

46 votes

Holland will be forced to trade Hudler

68 votes

328 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

If he has to come back to the NHL, I hope Holland trades him. I don’t want him here. He doesn’t want to be here, he chose money over the Wings. Trade him away.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 27, 2009 3:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Don’t be so quick to judge these guys. I think most people would do the same. Would you leave your job for a rival company if you were offered a bigger role AND more than double your salary?? I think most people would at the drop of a hat. I know I would.

by dewman8810 on Aug 27, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would without a doubt. But… that is not the culture of the Wings. The Wings play smaller roles and take less money to fit into the system and to win as a team. Hudler went outside of that team mentality. Lidstrom would have made 9-10 million on the open market last time his contract was up. He could have went to a team that would have paid him that and had an even larger role on the ice (maybe not in the franchise, sure, but on the ice he wouldn’t have had to sacrifice for the better of the team). Yzerman quite possibly could have passed up Howe as the second greatest scorer of all time had he left after we won the first two cups. He could have made a few million a year more too. But, again, he took less money and a smaller role on the ice to stay with the Wings. Hudler does not fit this mentality. I would rather bring up another player (Leino or Abdelkader at this point, perhaps Ferraro in a season or two) and mold him into that system.

In my mind, we failed with Hudler because his mindset does not match the mindset of his fellow Wings. Zetterberg, Franzen, Datsyuk, etc. all did it recently. Osgood makes less money than quite a few backup goalies in the league. Draper, Maltby, and Holmstrom have been doing it for the last decade (taking less money and less of a role). Our homegrown players all seem to do this, really. Hudler broke that mold.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 27, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is...

…quite a problem in my opinion. Moves were made and cap spent to accommodate the loss of Hudler and now he could be back in the NHL? I would love to see him for the Wings but the trades needed to be made would be very unlikely to happen.
I see him playing in the KHL next year though.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Aug 27, 2009 3:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs