Do we re-sign Jiri Hudler?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Came for the resign vs re-sign comment. Leaving happy.

To stay on topic though I am really undecided on this. A part of me would like to trade him for futures or keep him for a playoff run and gain cap space next year. Another part of me fears we will have another Cammy situation where in two years Flames fans are going "we could really use a Hudler right about now".

I for one do not miss the one dimension that Cammalleri would bring. I thought a lot of his points were not exactly clutch either. Probably just perception on the latter. But he's not what this team is missing.

[Robo]

trade him or let him walk he has looked slow and weak on the puck.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Such a simplistic question, but there are many things to consider.

He is a top 6 forward. Do you trade him straight across for another top 6 forward? If you do, you preferably want someone younger. But what about the price tag? And can Brad find a willing dance partner?

If Hudler is willing to take a pay cut, I would re-sign him. If not, I would try trading him. You will likely only get picks or prospects though.

It's also a question of term as well as cost. How long a contract is he going to want? Three years, four years, five?

I'm not so certain keeping a "post-apex" skill and finesse player around is useful considering what cap money will be needed to keep Bennett and Gaudreau long-term.

[BigRed]

Great vet with skill who has shown great mentoring ability. At the right price ($3.5 mln) I sign him for 4 yrs.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Sounds like Oiler logic.

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Well if the shoe fits...
Hey, no matter what lets trade of all the vets because we are rebuilding. A draft pick will always trump a player, no matter what! All your draft picks are ours!!!

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Shall I link all the threads that had people also trying to run Giordano out of town earlier this year? Funny how that seems to be the same posters who want Hudler out as well.

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ok, and next to Brodie whom I do not consider a vet both the other mentioned players have been continually talked about being run out of town as well. As well as Engelland, Smid, Jones(who is overpaid on his current deal but would be a great bottom 6 player at a reduced salary) Wideman, and anybody else over the age of 26 not named Frolik. It is the same broken record from this group all the time. Management will not see it that way however which is a good thing.

Can you actually defend or attack an argument here?

Why should calgary re-sign Hudler? What contract is a fair contract in the same offseason that Giordano's deal comes into play as well as the extensions to Monahan and Gaudreau?

What term and contract value would you be comfortable with and what would be too much for you?

[Stupid]

This is all part of Jiri's master plan. Tank the year so he can re-sign for a bargain and not lose face.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Can you actually defend or attack an argument here?

Why should calgary re-sign Hudler? What contract is a fair contract in the same offseason that Giordano's deal comes into play as well as the extensions to Monahan and Gaudreau?

What term and contract value would you be comfortable with and what would be too much for you?

The number one reason to re-sign Hudler is that the organization is very weak on the RW.

Some in this thread seem to think that 50 point players are easily replaced. This isn't the 80s or 90s anymore. 50 points is a lot now, and there is no-one in the organization that looks like they can replace that coming up in next 3+ years.

Obviously the contract is tricky, because you can't overpay, but something along the lines of 4M AAV for 4 years would be ok to me. Or 4.5M for 3, or 5 for 2.

Just because Hudler won't ever replicate last year doesn't mean he has no value to the Flames any longer.

[442scotty]

I'm a big Hudler fan .... But...Not the same guy this year.... injured? If we got the same guy as last year then all they should do is max two years at 4 Mil They cant really afford him to be truthful ....

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by dammage79

You sure seem to be beating the crap out of this "Oiler logic" drum lately.

No kidding. This is like the equivalent of selling fear in politics.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Hudler has always had his size and his skating work against him. Last year he overcame those with extremely intelligent play, good positioning, good smarts, he could win puck battles you'd think he shouldn't. This year it looks like he's lost a step and that has meant he really can't do the same things he did last year.

He isn't getting any younger. He isn't getting any faster. I think we got the peak of his career on this last deal. We can't afford to pay him for the part of his career he's declining, he's just not that critical to us anymore. Love what he brought over this last contract. I was skeptical of the signing but he proved me wrong. That said I think we need part ways and get value for him because I don't think he's in the long term plans. And I don't think our potential lack of a better option is a reason to commit to him long term, we have to realistically assess his career trajectory and unfortunately I think its on the way down.

I think its exactly the same situation as Glencross. A veteran who we got great value out of during the peak of his career but cannot commit to long term as his game is potentially on the decline from here on out. I'd handle him like we handled Cammalleri, set your price and trade him if we get it. The values were so messed up that year with the Kesler non-trade but I think someone will likely meet the value we need this year just like we got last year for Glencross.

[Erick Estrada]

With Babcock out of Detroit I wouldn't rule out the Wings making a pitch for him at the deadline.

[Red Menace]

I can understand the reasoning behind trading him or letting him walk...but who is going to be the top 6 wingers for the flames next season?
You have Johnny as 1st line LW and Frolik can be a 2nd line RW....but who takes the 1st line RW spot? The list of UFA wingers is pretty bad, certainly none as good as Hudler, despite his poor performance so far.
I think they Flames have to try and sign him....of course we cant afford too pay him what he'll probably demand...so I think he ends up walking, and the Flames roster suffers for it.
Hopefully BT can engineer another miracle trade

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I can understand the reasoning behind trading him or letting him walk...but who is going to be the top 6 wingers for the flames next season?
You have Johnny as 1st line LW and Frolik can be a 2nd line RW....but who takes the 1st line RW spot? The list of UFA wingers is pretty bad, certainly none as good as Hudler, despite his poor performance so far.
I think they Flames have to try and sign him....of course we cant afford too pay him what he'll probably demand...so I think he ends up walking, and the Flames roster suffers for it.
Hopefully BT can engineer another miracle trade

The stars are aligning to sign Iggy

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I can understand the reasoning behind trading him or letting him walk...but who is going to be the top 6 wingers for the flames next season?
You have Johnny as 1st line LW and Frolik can be a 2nd line RW....but who takes the 1st line RW spot? The list of UFA wingers is pretty bad, certainly none as good as Hudler, despite his poor performance so far.
I think they Flames have to try and sign him....of course we cant afford too pay him what he'll probably demand...so I think he ends up walking, and the Flames roster suffers for it.
Hopefully BT can engineer another miracle trade

Who's going to replace Cammy's production? Who's going to play Bouw's minutes?

Realistically I can't see Hudler being in the team's long term plans. If he can be brought back on a very reasonable contract, then sure. I don't want the team to tie up top-6 money on a guy I believe is at the start of a decline though.

I think the Flames should get what they can at the deadline, regardless of position in the standings.

[Redlan]

At the right term and money, sign him. He is a great option for second line forward. Trade him if that is not the value it takes to re-sign.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Redlan

At the right term and money, sign him. He is a great option for second line forward. Trade him if that is not the value it takes to re-sign.

Agreed. The only caveat being is if theres a better UFA option or if its time to bring someone in from the system to take his place.

Sure, it might not be a 1:1 replacement right away but it might be a better fit long-term.

Hudler is not in the long-term plans. Period. Full Stop.

His last final use is 2nd line RW. His skillset doesnt translate into a bottom 6 role, so once hes surpassed on the depth chart at that position then hes no longer pulling his weight.

[flamesfever]

I think he has played a huge part in our early rebuild success by setting an example, and mentoring our younger players. IMO to replace him would be difficult and very expensive. If he wants to stay here and is willing to sign for a reasonable amount, I say KEEP HIM.

There is no doubt in my mind that if we trade him, his absence from the team will be quite noticeable.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Can you actually defend or attack an argument here?

Why should calgary re-sign Hudler? What contract is a fair contract in the same offseason that Giordano's deal comes into play as well as the extensions to Monahan and Gaudreau?

What term and contract value would you be comfortable with and what would be too much for you?

I sure can. Why should the Flames re-sign Hudler? Because he is a leader, a mentor, a solid top 6 winger who plays the right side and because there is nobody that will be available to replace him. Who replaces Hudler on an already weak RW spot? Frolik? A better two way player than Hudler but not as skilled and certainly not a top line winger? Jones? Nope, he is almost certainly gone and again, not a top line winger and not really even a top 6 winger. Colborne? Not nearly talented enough. Poirier? Not even close to ready to fill that role. Free agency? Nope, will be nothing there. You can make moves to re-sign Hudler and I would be fine with something like 3x5.5M per at a high end. Hudler buys the organization time on the right side which they desperately need help at. Maybe the Flames find a way to unload a Smid, Stajan, Raymond, or Backlund as well in the off season to clear up even more cap space because Hudler at present is more valuable to the Flames than those guys are. Or you can deal him a the deadline for a 2nd that odds say will never be an NHL player. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[Hackey]

That's assuming he is willling to take a 3 year 5.5M deal. Not so sure he is. This is his last chance to cash in and he probably wants to take advantage. It also assumes that the best we can get is a 2nd. Glencross fetched a 2nd and a 3rd so it would be worth seeing what actually is available. Were also pressed up against the cap with some pretty big players to sign so who knows if 5.5M for Hudler is even a possibility.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Hackey

That's assuming he is willling to take a 3 year 5.5M deal. Not so sure he is. This is his last chance to cash in and he probably wants to take advantage. It also assumes that the best we can get is a 2nd. Glencross fetched a 2nd and a 3rd so it would be worth seeing what actually is available. Were also pressed up against the cap with some pretty big players to sign so who knows if 5.5M for Hudler is even a possibility.

Again, you can move salary out if the Flames can't get it done after they re-up the kids. Backlund can be moved, Granlund does the same job but better. He might want to take advantage but we all know the market will be stingy with the cap being what it is. He might even get less than that on the market or have to go to a non contending team like Arizona. It also depends on how bad he wants to stay. The bottom line and the question most important to be answered is if you move Hudler who replaces him on RW?