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So…I Was Wrong?
by IwoCPO on 03/14/07 at 09:19 PM ET
Comments (8)
Update 2205: Maltby just scored and the Wings return to their rightful place atop the Central. Put your teeth in and eat it Bubba. Obligatory bad injury news: Filpulla left with a “lower body injury.”
Alright. I’m guessing a few of you are going to be commenting tomorrow that I should be taking back a few of the less than savory things I’ve said about one Jiri Hudler.
The young man is proving his mettle (and I’m certain I’m jinxing us all right now as I write this with 12 minutes left). But dammit if the kid didn’t just score his fourth in 3 games and 3rd in the last two nights.
Since I’m listening, not watching, I have some time on my hands and I’ll just go ahead and give you some ammo.
Really blasting him on December 15th, because I know hockey so well that I should be GM, not Ken Holland.
In 24 games, the kid has 4 points (all goals). Even on the Wings, that is just pathetically low. He’s averaging 9:19/game, but hasn’t played close to that amount since November 27th. He hasn’t registered a point in 9 games, and has only 4 shots over that period of time. He brings nothing to the table defensively, which is an improvement over brief stints in recent years.
It’s time to let him go and take the loss. Hudler’s had his chances, too many of them in my opinion.
What is the infatuation with this kid? Who in the organization is so tied to him that we can’t jettison him? Is Hudler better than Rem Murray or Boyd Devereaux…two players the Wings passed on the last two training camps? Can anyone tell me Hudler fits into the Babcock system…at all?
Proposing a Hudler for anyone, especially Forsberg trade on February 26th.
Who would the Wings offer to compete or at least get in the conversation? Picks? Whatever. Send ‘em. Prospects? Who? Howard? Ummm, Howard? Our stable’s not bare, but there’s no Bobby Ryan down there. Off the roster, Hudler? Flippula? I’ll buy Hudler the ticket.
Whining after a personal attack from many of you on February 26th
I’m still recovering from being compared to Jiri Hudler yesterday, so my head is kind of reeling.
But I started to “get it” on March 3rd.
As much as I’ve ragged Hudler, called for his trade, his benching, suspension of pacifier priveleges and whatever else I could think of, he’s proven that given the right amount of minutes he’s a capable young man.
And by the time I finished that, the Wings had won and I’ve already ordered my #26 jersey. Because that, my friends, is how I roll.
Filed in: Admitting I'm Wrong | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
Awwww don’t get all blurry eyed on us…maybe you were just miss-quoted. Yeah…that’s it….you miss-quoted yourself. See, now you get to explain what you REALLY meant without having to stand by what you really meant.
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 03/14/07 at 11:33 PM ET
If he stays on the second line through the end of the season (doubtful unless some of the injured fail to return) and keeps up any noticeable scoring pace, he won’t be able to slide under the radar come the playoffs.
Let’s see what he does once the stakes are higher.
My guess is our Geico midget (got my car fixed, it’s my birthday) is going to get pounded—hard. He won’t get nearly the time and space to do much of anything with those “magic hands.”
Posted by O-Joe on 03/15/07 at 06:40 AM ET
I think Hudler can play decent in the playoffs, but that’s not necessarily a compliment to his game. It’s actually a knock. Let me explain…
Hudler can shoot the puck exceptionally well. He’s accurate, he’s got soft hands, and he gets a lot on those shots for a guy of his stature. But he hasn’t shown that he can create for himself in the league yet. A player that can pounce on rebounds and finish good passes is great—but he needs to show that he can make plays for himself, in both ends of the rink, before he can be taken totally seriously.
That said, if he’s skating with a guy like Calder in the playoffs, someone that does the dirty work, grinds for pucks, and lets him get in open space, I think he can pot a few goals against the tough competition. But that’s a compliment to gritty guys on the Wings, not to Hudler.
I think it’s just exciting to see that he’s starting to get it. If he follows Babcock’s criticism, and works his rear off this offseason, he could be an impact player for the team next year. If he doesn’t, he’ll just be another floater-type player like Robert Lang, who loses the puck to what are seemingy ghosts.
Posted by Nathan on 03/15/07 at 07:57 AM ET
Read today in a game recap that Flip got one off the foot. Supposedly it isn’t broken, he just needs a few days off of it… but you know, that could mean it is broken and he needs a few weeks off.
Posted by Nathan on 03/15/07 at 09:25 AM ET
Hudler looked good on Lang’s line when Williams was injured, but as soon as Williams returned, Babblecock relegated Jiri to skating on borrowed ice (again). I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the same stupid move as our troops return from sick bay. The wings future lies with guys like Lebda, Hudler and Filpula. They are going to make mistakes as they gain experience, but holding them back to 3-6 minutes of ice time per game, will only get Holland that better draft pick.
Posted by Gramps (hockeytowntodd) from HockeyTown on 03/15/07 at 10:49 AM ET
comparing hudler to the enigma is nonsensical. Are you watching this kid play? Dont get hung up on the scouting report from years ago. The one that said he was a defensivev liability, that he was lazy, a floater that collected power play points. For the smallest guy on the team, this guy might have the biggest set of cajones(always loved that word). Hes fearless. he goes to the net and gets rocked over and over again, he goes into corners against 2 guys that are way bigger than him, and he wins alot of those battles. When he scores a goal it looks like he just won the lottery (which will likely soon be the equivalent of a season salary for him.. but you get the point). This kid is one angry little man, and i love that. Id rather have a 5’ nothing 180 lb skilled player thats willing to pay the price than a 6’3 230 lb lazy turnover machine that avoids contact like the plague.
Hudler is smart, he makes great passes, long stretch passes through lots of bodys, and rarely gives away the puck. That snot to say he never never it over, but he does rarely just GIVE it to the other team, or even have his passes deflected. Hes got boundless energy. Kind of reminds me of a gionta with less speed and more skill. All heart. Hes the anti-enigma.
Posted by aTTicA on 03/17/07 at 03:35 AM ET
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If you’d like to spend the next couple weeks throwing Hasek under the bus, the team could use the boost in the playoffs.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 03/14/07 at 10:07 PM ET