True or False: Jiri Hudler will be a contributor

by Casey Richey on Aug 23, 2010 10:04 AM CDT in Opinion

One of the biggest moves the Red Wings made this off-season was bringing back Jiri Hudler after his exodus to the KHL. Hudler was a three-year player at the time of his departure, scoring 15 in his first season in 2006-2007, 13 the following year and 23 during his most recent season in Detroit in 2008-2009. Hudler was never really a goals first type of player though, and it shows in the assist column. He tallied 10, 29, and 34 in his three full seasons as a Red Wing and was a major contributor as a puck distribution guy.

Hudler's time in the KHL was spent with Moscow Dynamo, where he scored 54 points (19 G, 35 A) in 54 games. The season he spent there benefited the Wings greatly as he was still under contract as their player through the arbitration ruling but it allowed him to continue playing without counting against the salary cap. With the level of talent rising in the KHL (although still not quite the same caliber as NHL) Hudler got the most challenge possible while making good money. The dissolution of Moscow Dynamo allowed Hudler to leave his contract in favor of returning to Detroit. So will Detroit's prodigal son be a contributor to the Red Wings next season?

Discussion after the jump...

First, let's define in what sense we are using the word "contributor". An offensive contributor, in my book, is a guy that puts up 45+ points in a season and is a big part of the success of the team with work on the penalty killing/power play units. He not only shows up in the stat column for points and assists but is disruptive to the opposing team's offense or defense.

Why he will be a contributor: Perhaps one of Hudler's most underrated aspects is his speed. He's a quick guy that is capable of stretching the defense by carrying the puck into the zone. He has excellent passing skills and is very alert on the ice. He also has good hands around the net and has a very good nose for where to go as a play develops.

Why he won't be a contributor: Most likely, Hudler will be playing minutes primarily on the third line unless he excels well enough in his return to demote Todd Bertuzzi or Valterri Filppula. On the third line, he will probably be joined by Mike Modano and Dan Cleary. With that line combination, there isn't a real clear-cut scorer that could benefit from Hudler's passing skills. Also, it might be hard for him to crack the power play units with the skill players ahead of him.

My take: Hudler's decision to go to the NHL enraged a lot of Red Wings fans but it really shouldn't. The Red Wings will benefit from the time he spent playing in the KHL. I think that time was well spent and will help him be a contributor to this edition of the Red Wings. However, I think that playing third line minutes and likely on a third line with Modano and Cleary won't result in a 45-point season so I will side with "False", but will definitely hope that I'm wrong.

Your turn, will Jiri Hudler be a contributor to the 2010-2011 Red Wings or a guy that just kind of blends in?

Poll

Will Jiri Hudler be a contributor for the Red Wings?

Yes

812 votes

No

42 votes

854 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

One overlooked facet of his game that the Wings missed is his ability to score in the shootout. As long as this glorified skills competition remains in the NHL, teams are going to have to find guys are specialists at this sort of thing. Hudler’s percentage is almost at 40%, which is better than anyone currently on the team except for Datsyuk. If the Wings have a second legitimate threat to score in the shootout, that should create more points in the standings. The problem is that those sort of stats aren’t counted in their point totals, so there’s no way to know how he is affecting the team.

I say that if he gets 40-50 points and stays around the 35-40% mark in the shootouts (both very do-able), then he’s contributed positively to the team.

"I really like the guys who go for the win in overtime" - HNIC's own Harry Neale

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by Amerinadian on Aug 23, 2010 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

BTW

Just so you know I’m not making up the stats about his proficiency, here’s where I got the shootout scoring percentage – it’s actually a really cool site.

http://www.nhlshootouts.com/CareerShootersHighestShootingPct.htm

"I really like the guys who go for the win in overtime" - HNIC's own Harry Neale

The Hole in the Door

Like to keep your communication short and to the point? Follow me on Twitter

by Amerinadian on Aug 23, 2010 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

But can he pull off triple Datsyukian deke before shooting? That’s all that really matters.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 23, 2010 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

No, but he can nail 3 women at the same time

"I really like the guys who go for the win in overtime" - HNIC's own Harry Neale

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by Amerinadian on Aug 23, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

All on the way to the red line? That’s freaking impressive.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 23, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This is a no brainer poll. Of course he will. He’s a 1st to 2nd line guy playing on the 3rd line. Our third line is Hudler, Modano, and Cleary. Three guys who can, and will, consistently be on the scoresheet.

As much as I resent Hudler for leaving us last summer, I can’t help but get excited at the idea of a more mature and more talented Hudler returning to us. He won’t put up a point per game like he did in Russia, but I think it is very real for us to expect 40-50 points from him, mostly coming from assists to Modano and on the power play.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 23, 2010 11:05 AM CDT reply actions

Power play

It is almost a given that Hudler will see time on the 2nd power play unit with Flip and a net front player, that alone should be good for a solid 15 points.

Modano is a good 2 way player on the 3rd line, Cleary is pretty tough who can go to the net front and fight on the boards, that should create space and opportunity for Hudler as he is not going to be tied up defending and with Cleary getting the puck Hudler will have a lot of possession. That 3rd line is not going to see a lot of time against checkers either, most teams will try to match up their 1st line and checkers against the flip and z lines, so the 3rd line should get some pretty gravy matchups.

by gyldenlove on Aug 23, 2010 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

As far as Hudler on the powerplay, I just am not sure that he beats out any of the other 6 forwards to get time on the powerplay. As I posted on The Production Line’s roundtable hosting discussion, I think the top 6 forwards to get time are Homer-Pav-Hank-Franzen-Fil-Bert but maybe I’ll be wrong. And Babcock does like to switch it up.

As far as your third line analysis goes, I think you’re pretty spot on with it, I’m just still not sure that it necessarily translates into points.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Aug 23, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

In 08-09, Hudler got 3:01 a game on the powerplay. Good for seventh most on the team. By comparison, Franzen got 2:49 and Filpula only got 0:47. I think we should expect to see Hudler on the powerplay quite a bit, probably ending up replacing Bertuzzi or Filpula.

I like arguing about which player deserves more powerplay playtime. Makes me feel good about our team.

Source

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 23, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Hudler would see more power play time than Filppula. Babcock likes to use Flip on the penalty kill more. Thing is with Hudler, he is out there strictly for his offensive talent. If you don’t use him on the power play, he really isn’t going to be as effective. He can eat up those power play minutes, which will leave Flip for more of a defensive role. I also see Modano playing a point once and a while on the PP.

by dewman8810 on Aug 23, 2010 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I like Hudler

No in-depth analysis, I just really like the smiling little Oompa Loompa. I expect big things out of him, as one of three Red Wings players that won’t make me crap myself if he decides to stick-handle at the opposition’s blue line.

by J.J. from Kansas on Aug 23, 2010 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

Most of his assists were his puck distribution on the power play. He can work the puck pretty well between the defensemen and the forwards behind the net. He’ll definitely help the Wings in the puck control department on the power play. It’s where most of his assists are racked up. I never really think of Hudler as a passer though. He’s got a wicked shot that the Wing’s desperately need. Also the question about whether he can contribute on the third line… well, that’s pretty much all he has ever played on the Wings. I don’t really remember him ever playing with Datsyuk very often. And he played with Hank on the power play when Babcock would split Hank and Pav. Hudler’s main linemates were Samuelsson, Cleary, or Filppula. Or else he would play with the fourth liners. He’ll definitely be a good addition to the Wings. The power play should be MUCH better with him out there. He’ll create more room for the guys at the point too. The biggest loss after the 2008-09 season for the Wings was their second line power play guys. Hudler and Samuelsson. Welcome back Happy Hudler!!!

by dewman8810 on Aug 23, 2010 4:11 PM CDT reply actions