I like Jiri Hudler - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

albertGQ · 10-11-2013, 10:35 PM

He needs some props too. Tied for the league lead with 7 points.
He's earning his 4 year $16M contract.
He was probably on (somewhat) thin ice at the beginning of the year after hearing Burke's insistence that we need toget bigger and tougher.

In conclusion, I like Jiri Fricken Hudler!!!

dammage79 · 10-11-2013, 10:41 PM

I too share your enthusiasm for the puck wizard.

Five-hole · 10-11-2013, 10:41 PM

He was unreal on Gio's PP goal.

He's super streaky though. Let's hope he avoids the long slumps this year.

soreshins · 10-11-2013, 10:46 PM

I've asked my wife to get me a Hudler shirt for my birthday. She better not fail me.....

Don't piss off the wizards

Calgary4LIfe · 10-11-2013, 10:51 PM

I love having Hudler on the team. Sure, he will disappear for stretches, but having a skilled guy like him benefits the team.

I remember when the Flames didn't really have any skill guys, and it seemed they couldn't ever even connect on a pass. Having a few skilled guys sprinkled through the roster just increases everyone else's skill-level a bit I imagine. That pass for Backlund's break-away goal was perfect.

Kidder · 10-11-2013, 10:59 PM

Flames haven't had a player with such a high hockey IQ AND the skill to make use of it in a long time. My guess would be Huselius and Tanguay, both in their 2006 season.

Love his game. And I swear his creativity rubs off on the rookies and vets alike.

Beauty player.

Red Ice Player · 10-11-2013, 11:15 PM

Glad to see a Hudler thread. I was really impressed with him last year, so much fun to watch. He was seldom mentioned in the off season, really a forgotten man. I'm pretty sure I read a couple of posts where people wanted him bought out, Wideman too. Glad CP aren't running this team. Rebuild or not, we already have a lot of very smart talented hockey players on this team.

Psytic · 10-11-2013, 11:24 PM

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2013/2/4/3945990/jiri-hudler-appreciation-day

Red Ice Player · 10-11-2013, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psytic

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2013/2/4/3945990/jiri-hudler-appreciation-day

Lol...Classic.

puckluck2 · 10-11-2013, 11:58 PM

I think he's our best forward defensively and creates the most chances offensively. Datsyuk was a great teacher.

MrMastodonFarm · 10-12-2013, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I think he's our best forward defensively and creates the most chances offensively. Datsyuk was a great teacher.

To me our best two-way forward is Backlund, Hudler's been good too though.

boogerz · 10-12-2013, 02:47 AM

He's such a smart player. If only he was a little stronger and faster...

I hope Hudler can mentor Granlund and help him develop into a similar type of player. That would be perfect

djsFlames · 10-12-2013, 03:22 AM

Arguably our best forward for most of last season, then for some reason was thrown to the wolves in the offseason, with many here wanting him shipped off somewhere.

Which was incredibly short sighted, because he has a lot of value here and can teach these skilled kids a LOT. And with his background?! How often can you bring in a top 6 capable guy from an organization like Detroit having learned alongside guys like Datsyuk and Lidstrom (while he was still playing) through some of the clubs prime years? If not for what he brings on the ice, then for the experience and knowledge, there is just so much value that wasn't being recognized. The only other really skill-first type vet forward would be Cammy. But Hudler is out there teaching the kids through example on the ice right now and it's paying huge dividends I think.

killer_carlson · 10-12-2013, 08:21 AM

For a little guy he is really strong on the puck. It isnt that other teams arent hitting him, it is more tremendous balance to stay on his feet. Every shift it seems he is contorting himself along the Boards to make a play, with an opponent all over him.

Vulcan · 10-12-2013, 08:55 AM

Yeah, he's been playing very good and I like him. I think the reason for wanting him gone was as a team we were just too small and he was a likely candidate to be swapped for a bigger tougher player. Trading Tanguay instead for Jones partially solved that problem. Now we'll need to make room for Gaudreau.

devo22 · 10-12-2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Now we'll need to make room for Gaudreau.

no worries, Cammalleri will be traded soon

I am as excited about Gaudreau as everyone else, but his arrival should not mean the end of Hudler.

FlamesAllTheWay · 10-12-2013, 09:10 AM

Was curious to see how he'd respond after signing here long term and then seeing the team blown up for a rebuild less than a year later. No complaints so far!

I'm glad Maher pointed out his great play that resulted in (I think) Baertschi's goal against Mtl. No assist but the goal was a direct result of Hudler's work behind the net causing the Mtl D to turn it over.

Vulcan · 10-12-2013, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devo22

no worries, Cammalleri will be traded soon

I am as excited about Gaudreau as everyone else, but his arrival should not mean the end of Hudler.

Yeah sure, sounds reasonable but what happens if at trade deadline, we are in a playoff position and Cammalleri is a big part of our success.

Erick Estrada · 10-12-2013, 10:11 AM

A poster (name escapes me) here in the offseason was talking about the Flames buying him out which in my mind was completely ridiculous as he's the teams best forward. He's earning that deal and is an offensive catalyst for this team. He's not an elite forward or anything but he's a good guy in the locker room and provides offensive creativity on the ice. Seems like the perfect guy to be around young players during a rebuild.

I see much much worse examples of a $4 million player in this league for example would you rather spend $5 million on Hemsky who IMO isn't nearly as good of a player?

Stay Golden · 10-12-2013, 01:52 PM

Its been said over and over, Hudler is a very smart hockey player.
We should be so grateful that Hudler wanted to come to Calgary as a FA he could have wrote his ticket pretty much anywhere, but Feaster brought him to Calgary. Feaster's best signing JMO.
Jiri is a such a multi dimensional player I love watching the guy play.