Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
While those two will have to play well what has shown Hudler cannot play at a high level to help the team make the playoffs? How many other wingers do we have with his experience, leadership, and skillset? You trade Hudler you mail it in. That is fine if the team is far enough out at the deadline that a playoff birth is very improbable but is just wrong if they are not. The goal should always be the dance.
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I really don't think that is the case. He hasn't played like a difference-maker this season at all. We know what he's capable of but for whatever reason he isn't the driving force he was last year.
In all honesty I think Frolik was signed as his replacement this offseason. As a veteran, 2-way forward he's been decent & will get better.
It's not like this team is all riding on Hudler's shoulders. This isn't mid-2000’s Iginla here. Hudler isn't as important to this team's success as Brodie, Giordano, Monahan & Gaudreau. This season he's become a secondary player & he represents enough value in a trade that it could be worth trying to use that asset to get better now & going forward.