[Signing] Flames sign Jiri Hudler - 4 Years, $16 Million

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Kipperking

15 goals 20 assists for Hudler next season.

If he misses 25 games, you may be right.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I'm thinking somewhere along those lines too. The guy is really talented though and depending on his PP time and who is he with 5on5 I could see him hitting 25 goals 60 points.

Serious question:

What about the Calgary franchise makes you think Hudler will find an even greater gear here than he did in Detroit?

I mean, realistically, you're saying you think he can match his career high in goals and exceed his career high in pointsby 20% in a year where he shot better than 5 percent more than his career average.

It can't be the linemates.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Serious question:

What about the Calgary franchise makes you think Hudler will find an even greater gear here than he did in Detroit?

I mean, realistically, you're saying you think he can match his career high in goals and exceed his career high in pointsby 20% in a year where he shot better than 5 percent more than his career average.

It can't be the linemates.

Based on what he said, I'd say power play time (of which he received very little last year) and chemistry with new line mates.

It's not inconceivable to think he could click and find chemistry with some players in Calgary. He had great vision and if he's paired with a shooter like Glencross 5 on 5 and sees a great deal more time on the PP than last year it's possible. I'd say it's unlikely he exceeds career highs but it's not like it's impossible.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Serious question:

What about the Calgary franchise makes you think Hudler will find an even greater gear here than he did in Detroit?
.

Fair question. Sometimes it's about opportunity and Hudler received little PP time in Detroit, not saying he should have gotten it but he didn't.

I also think it's about getting back on track. The season prior to going back to Russia the guy seemed poised for a break out. He had then a career high in goals and points and it seemed like the next season he would improve on those numbers even more. He went back to Europe and took a step back IMO. He returned the following year (last season) and looked lost. He never really looked great. I think he got back on track this season and it's possible back on track for a break out of sorts.

mean, realistically, you're saying you think he can match his career high in goals and exceed his career high in pointsby 20% in a year where he shot better than 5 percent more than his career average.

His career high in points is 57 and I said 60. I didn't do the math, is that a 20% improvement?

[transplant99]

His career high in points is 57 and I said 60. I didn't do the math, is that a 20% improvement?

Nope...in fact it is about a 4% improvenemt...far to much to expect apparently.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Fair question. Sometimes it's about opportunity and Hudler received little PP time in Detroit, not saying he should have gotten it but he didn't.

I also think it's about getting back on track. The season prior to going back to Russia the guy seemed poised for a break out. He had then a career high in goals and points and it seemed like the next season he would improve on those numbers even more. He went back to Europe and took a step back IMO. He returned the following year (last season) and looked lost. He never really looked great. I think he got back on track this season and it's possible back on track for a break out of sorts.



His career high in points is 57 and I said 60. I didn't do the math, is that a 20% improvement?

Whoops, I read his career high as 50.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I agree that we atleast have comparable top 9 depth to Detroit if not a chance to have a slight edge this year.

By position of the top 9:
Line 1 LW - Tanguay vs. Filppula - Tanguay has the slight edge IMO
Line 1 C - Cammalleri vs. Datsyuk - Cammy is a good player but is worse at centre and he's going up against Datsyuk so moving on
Line 1 RW - Iginla vs. Franzen - Again moving on
Line 2 LW - Glencross vs. Cleary - Very similar players i'd give Glencross the edge because he's 5 years younger
Line 2 C - Cervenka vs. Zetterberg - lol
Line 2 RW - Hudler vs. Samuelsson - I think I'm giving the edge to Hudler, but it's close
Line 3 LW - Baertschi vs. Brunner (over Miller) - Two Swiss players that are starting their first full years, could go either way.
Line 3 C - Backlund vs. Helm - Helm gets the edge here by a fair margin
Line 3 RW - Bertuzzi vs. Stempniak - Bert is getting older but he is the better player by a mile overall, edge goes to him but Stempniak could be better.

So in summary Flames have the edge in 4, Wings have the edge in 4 and Baertschi and Brunner are the toss ups.

Detroit has two forwards better than Calgary's best forward, and it's a toss up after that, Franzen Vs. Glencross, Filpula vs. Cammalleri, Bertuzzi Vs. Tanguay.

I think Detroit has a better top 6 pretty easily given that they have two centres better than any centre Calgary has, and two players better than any player Calgary has.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Detroit has two forwards better than Calgary's best forward, and it's a toss up after that, Franzen Vs. Glencross, Filpula vs. Cammalleri, Bertuzzi Vs. Tanguay.

I think Detroit has a better top 6 pretty easily given that they have two centres better than any centre Calgary has, and two players better than any player Calgary has.

Not that your opinion really matters to me... but Bertuzzi and Tanguay a toss up? Wow.

I'd also take Cammalleri over Filppula quite easily.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Fair question. Sometimes it's about opportunity and Hudler received little PP time in Detroit, not saying he should have gotten it but he didn't.

I also think it's about getting back on track. The season prior to going back to Russia the guy seemed poised for a break out. He had then a career high in goals and points and it seemed like the next season he would improve on those numbers even more. He went back to Europe and took a step back IMO. He returned the following year (last season) and looked lost. He never really looked great. I think he got back on track this season and it's possible back on track for a break out of sorts.

I agree with your 2nd point as he has shown improvement every year except in the year he returned.

However I am not sure why people think he will get more PP time (and points) in Calgary than Detroit. I do not foresee Hudler making the 1st PP unit here as I expect it will be Iginla, Cammalleri, Tanguay, Giordano & Wideman.

Last season Hudler managed 2:14 in PP time which is more than any of our forwards that wasn't a regular on our top PP unit last year. You also have to consider that Wings spent more time on the PP than the Flames did last year so Hudler may actually see his PP time decrease slightly.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Last season Hudler managed 2:14 in PP time which is more than any of our forwards that wasn't a regular on our top PP unit last year. You also have to consider that Wings spent more time on the PP than the Flames did last year so Hudler may actually see his PP time decrease slightly.

Didn't Hudler play the point on the PP in DET?

Playing as a forward should help him be more productive on the PP.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Detroit has two forwards better than Calgary's best forward, and it's a toss up after that, Franzen Vs. Glencross, Filpula vs. Cammalleri, Bertuzzi Vs. Tanguay.

I think Detroit has a better top 6 pretty easily given that they have two centres better than any centre Calgary has, and two players better than any player Calgary has.

Jokenin came in and was largely out of sync playing with Iginla and Tanguay.

He was put with Glencross and Moss and flourished.

Different players click with certain guys and not others. It depends on what compliments their game.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Didn't Hudler play the point on the PP in DET?

Playing as a forward should help him be more productive on the PP.

I'm not sure. I can't stand the Wings, so I never watched them too often.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I agree with your 2nd point as he has shown improvement every year except in the year he returned.

However I am not sure why people think he will get more PP time (and points) in Calgary than Detroit. I do not foresee Hudler making the 1st PP unit here as I expect it will be Iginla, Cammalleri, Tanguay, Giordano & Wideman.

Last season Hudler managed 2:14 in PP time which is more than any of our forwards that wasn't a regular on our top PP unit last year. You also have to consider that Wings spent more time on the PP than the Flames did last year so Hudler may actually see his PP time decrease slightly.

Well I dunno if I agree with the PP time. I think/hope it will be with the hot hand. Tanguay and Cammaleri and both talented winger but both have cold streaks. I think you'll see Hudler switched in that wing spot. I hope even Iginla, who has been a fixture for 10+ years, isn't given a PP spot if his game is lagging.

The Flames have a plethora of talented wingers so obviously 1st line powerplay minutes will be tough to come by and shouldn't be given out.

As for why Flames fans think Hudler's points should go up. Well I can only speak for myself but part of it, most of it, is a natural progression. He is 28 years old and IMO prime for a bit of a break out. My initial prediction of 60 points is about as safe of a prediction as it gets, a mere 3 points improvement but he is a talented shifty playmaker and when you acquire one of those you think he can improve upon his previous numbers.

If Hudler was 34 I could see this being questioned but he is 28, improved every year but one and still in those prime scoring years.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Whoops, I read his career high as 50.

So now knowing his career high is 57 and not 50 do you see an improvement of three points as a reach, even an improvement to 65 points?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

So now knowing his career high is 57 and not 50 do you see an improvement of three points as a reach, even an improvement to 65 points?

While I don't think it's likely Hudler will have any statistical increase, exceeding a career high by 3 points over 82 games is certainly attainable.

Hopefully I am wrong about the first part.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by dobbles

wanted to drop my 2 cents here since i spent so long as the resident wings troll in years past!

i am torn on hudler. he was widely hated by the fan base the last couple years but i feel much of that was emotional due to him screwing the team over for the khl. i do also think its funny that wings fans are so excited he is gone, yet we brought in samuelsson for 3 mil? i would have rather given hudler 4 myself...

i do feel his numbers were sometimes the product of his linemates, however, this year, as mentioned he was the one going to dirty areas to finish the play. hard to fault the guy for playing his role and getting points for it.

i feel one of his strengths was his even strength play. lots of players can pad numbers on the PP, but jiri was one of the most consistent 5on5 players for the team this year. its also hard to fault him for lack of PP production; the wings team was definitely off this year and his 2nd unit never found any chemistry. personally, i think the scheme was bad and not anything hudler was doing. also, he spent a lot of time on the point which didnt help his numbers. though the thing it did bring out was that his footspeed was so terrible. he gave up many shorthanded chances when coughing up the puck and getting beat down the ice.

many wings fans didnt want hudler back at all. then again, most of them were penciling in parise to replace him in the top 6... personally, i would have welcomed him back at a reasonable salary. for me, 4 mil was the top end of that. i was hoping the wings could bring him back for 3.5ish.i think most reasonable wings fans were close to my opinion where they would want him back but had a specific price they thought was too much.

Thanks for the post dobbles. We appreciate it, great to get an opinion from someone who follows Hudler every day. I remember a comment when Hudler was signed, that in Calgary he will have to work to get the puck whereas in Detriot he usually had the puck to him - I thought that was a really telling comment, and probably the biggest telling tale of how his time goes in Calgary.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Not that your opinion really matters to me... but Bertuzzi and Tanguay a toss up? Wow.

I'd also take Cammalleri over Filppula quite easily.

You'd take today's Cammalleri over Filppula ?

Wow.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

You'd take today's Cammalleri over Filppula ?

Wow.

Easily right now. Flip is a good complimentary top 6 player. Camms has shown he can be a top line sniper.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

You'd take today's Cammalleri over Filppula ?

Wow.

You make it sound as if Cammalleri is washed up.

He's going to have a solid bounce back season this year IMO, and he has a better track record than Filppula.

Filppula is overrated.

[Svensational]

^ Agreed.. Cammy is a total workhorse fitness freak and I suspect having him for a full season is gonna be great for him personally and for the team and the fans.