So Hudler was off by $250K this morning.  He’s too busy counting his Rubles…

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/03/09 at 10:44 AM ET

Excellent numbers for the Wings if he decides to come back in two years.

Now to just sit back and watch the NHL and KHL screw this whole thing up.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/03/09 at 10:47 AM ET

I am amazed at the difference between the Hudler and Zherdev rulings.  What makes Zherdev that much better in the eyes of the aribitrator?

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/03/09 at 10:48 AM ET

Based on potential, I’d say Zherdev is worth more than Hudler. Based on production compared to potential, Zherdev is worth far less than Hudler.

If Zherdev would get his act together, he has physical tools Hudler simply does have, such as much better size, a better natural stride and better speed, and the type of soft hands that should be able to make anything happen in any situation on the ice.

For Wings fans getting down on Hudler, look at it this way—if Zherdev worked as hard as Hudler has worked since joining the Wings from GR, Zherdev has the physical tools to where he could be like Pavel Datsyuk.

Hudler has worked hard to improve his foot speed, his shot selection, and his defensive work ethic. He hasn’t floated around for a few years asking for more money than he’s worked to earn. I don’t blame him for taking the KHL money at all. At this stage, he’d be silly not to. And honestly, unless he find he hates the KHL, I wouldn’t come back to the NHL until a new CBA is in place, if I were him.

Hudler’s put in a lot of hard work to become a nice (not great, but nice) player. He doesn’t take shifts off. He might only be a 12 minute per game player because he just doesn’t have the speed and/or size and/or craftiness to be a dominant two-way player, but he has made more of his 12 minutes than just about any guy in the league the last three years.

I wish him well in the KHL, and certainly for selfish reasons hope he hates it and decides to rejoin the Wings in a season or two.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/03/09 at 10:56 AM ET

Hudler said that the deal was made before they went to the arbitrator, and given that Holland told Dave Waddell that neither he nor Petr Svoboda actually went into the room…They may have sent somebody in there and said, “OK, we’ve got a deal, does this sound OK?”

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/03/09 at 11:05 AM ET

Nathan, not a Hudler hater, hell he does more with his small size than most of his teammates.  However his defensive skills are lacking, which is why Babcock benches him quite a bit.

Posted by bababooey on 08/03/09 at 11:08 AM ET

Ok, so my latest breakdown at capgeek.com has us suddenly with $3 Million in cap room with 11 forwards (counting Abdelkader), 7D (with Lilja on long term IR), and 2 Goalies:

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
ROSTER SIZE 20
SALARY CAP $56,800,000
PAYROLL $53,870,653
BONUSES $140,000
CAP SPACE $3,069,347

That being said, hmm, we’ve got some money to spend.  With 3M to play with (or say, $2.5M with some room to breathe), suddenly a few free agents that weren’t affordable become affordable. 

Do you think Kenny springs for two cheap guys and sticks Abs in the AHL, or rolls Abs and picks up a significant player?  I hope it’s the latter.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/03/09 at 11:14 AM ET

HD, I still say Tanguay is an option.  Sign him for 1yr, wait to see what Nick does then the Wings may have more room next season depending on what the cap figure wil be.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/03/09 at 11:18 AM ET

I’d call that a fair deal both ways. Even if he was going to be with the team this season, I’d take it.

I don’t blame him for leaving either. Not for that kind of cash difference. Even if Russian economics means he only gets half of his expected KHL pay, it’s still a significant increase and would be really tough to turn down.  Am I disappointed he’s gone? Sure. But 2 years from now I’ll take him back in Detroit and it’ll be a good price too.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 08/03/09 at 11:21 AM ET

So I’m a little confused here.  Does this contract take effect when Hudler returns from Russia?  Or does it technically start now, and we just have his rights to negotiate a new contract in two years once this one runs out?

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 08/03/09 at 11:23 AM ET

Will Tanguay sign a one year deal worth $2.5 mil to come and play for a contender?  I’m still saying we sign Sykora and a scrub.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 08/03/09 at 11:24 AM ET

So I’m a little confused here.  Does this contract take effect when Hudler returns from Russia?  Or does it technically start now, and we just have his rights to negotiate a new contract in two years once this one runs out?

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 08/03/09 at 12:23 PM ET

It starts if he comes back from Russia - in two years, after his contract with the KHL is up, if he decides he wants to return to the NHL, he will play for the Red Wings according to the contract they have agreed to.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/03/09 at 11:28 AM ET

I was just looking at capgeek’s free agent list:
http://www.capgeek.com/contracts.php

Holy cow Paul, you’re right, we could sign Tanguay if we can get him to drink the kool-ade.  His production and injuries with Calgary lower his market value significantly, and our contendership makes us attractive.  While I’m a little nauseous over the idea of a former bitter rival signing with us, I’d get over it.  I did with Cheli.  In fact after a while I think I’d relish it.  He would flourish in our system.

Sykora is the natural next choice.  We could reign him in.

After scouring the list for other options, I just don’t see much else there.  Does anyone think we could make a reclamation project out of Kyle Calder, Maxim Afinogenov, or Satan?  Out of the three, I’d spring for Afinogenov, but wouldn’t pay him a cent over $2M.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/03/09 at 11:30 AM ET

Paul I agree totally.The arbitrator must be seeing something we missed or maybe something that ain’t there.

I think of Zherdev as the next Kovalev. Tons of skill but so-so drive & desire.On one game off the next. Consistently inconsistent.
I don’t think his potential would lead to a player like Datsyuk. His potential, if fulfilled is more in line with a player like Alexander Mogilny.

Hudler on the other hand to me anyway doesn’t seem like a desire issue. It’s more of a size issue. But we’ve seen many smaller players (St.Louis,Gionta,ect.) excel in the NHL. Also, ice time & money is a nice little bonus. He seems more like a Daniel Alfredsson.

Posted by Lindas1st on 08/03/09 at 11:38 AM ET

via Nolan Finley of the Detroit News,

But if money is the only consideration, Detroit couldn’t have kept Hudler even if the team had matched the Russians’ offer because Hudler will not have to pay income tax on his earnings.

Here, he could expect to pay roughly 45 percent of his salary, or $4.5 million, in federal, state and local income taxes. And if the Obama administration prevails in its array of desired new taxes on the wealthy, that number could easily reach 60 percent or more.

That’s at least $6 million more dollars in Hudler’s pocket than if he stays in the United States. American sport franchises can’t compete.

Expect entrepreneurs and investors to depart next.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/03/09 at 11:44 AM ET

Tanguay wasn’t signed in Montreal because they felt he was milking a shoulder injury.  Word around town was that they wanted Tanguay to step up and play with some pain and he refused until he was 100%.  Even after Gainey had personally lobbied him.  Sounds to be a bit diva-ish behavior.  He has great talent, he’s more than offense the offense lost, but he’s not exactly a money player.

Posted by bababooey on 08/03/09 at 11:45 AM ET

I think Tanguay and Sykora are wet dreams.

If Williams comes cheap, take him, an obvious upgrade over Happy and Kopecky.

I’m going to miss Sammy.

I still like the idea of Grier and/or Dandenault.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 08/03/09 at 11:46 AM ET

Tanguay is often seen as not being “clutch” or a “money player” by fans because they see him playing wing and expect goals.  That’s not who he is and that’s fine.  Put him on a third line with Helm and Leino and you increase what we get out of Leino by 6-8 goals in a season (if not more).

I’m not so sure he wouldn’t be on a top 6 guy, though.  He’d, essentially, give Detroit four great set-up guys (Pav, Fil, Tanguay, Z) to pass to set up their dangerous goal scorers (Franzen, Z, Leino, Datsyuk).  Yes, Datsyuk and Z are on both lists.  Obviously, Pav is the more “playmaker”-ish of the two where Z is going to score more goals because he shoots twice as much and has more sniper-ish instincts.

Either way, top 6 forward or 3rd liner, Tanguay would chip in 15-20 and pick up 30-45 assists.  That’s not so bad, if he’s willing to sign for 2.5-ish, which seems somewhat unlikely to me considering how ridiculous his salaries were recently.

Posted by shanetx on 08/03/09 at 11:56 AM ET

Right shanetx, plus we have to replace three guys from the PP.  Hudler, Hossa and Sammy were all regulars.

Cleary may replace one, Big E maybe on the point to replace Sammy, but we need a 3rd guy to play on the PP and I don’t really see anyone on the current roster that can do that.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/03/09 at 12:00 PM ET

HD, I still say Tanguay is an option.  Sign him for 1yr, wait to see what Nick does then the Wings may have more room next season depending on what the cap figure wil be.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/03/09 at 12:18 PM ET

I like that idea Paul, as I have been hopeful that Tanguay could be a part of a solution. If the price is right.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 08/03/09 at 12:10 PM ET

You all underestimate the offensive dynamic presented by the one, the only, Ville Pelt…wait, he just signed in Sweden…

It’s gonna be a patchwork quilt of an offensive player and probably a grinder at this point, and if a Tanguay and/or Sykora are willing to make things work, awesome, and if not…at least Afinogenov has blinding speed to go along with his maddening inconsistency.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/03/09 at 12:11 PM ET

Hudler on the other hand to me anyway doesn’t seem like a desire issue. It’s more of a size issue. But we’ve seen many smaller players (St.Louis,Gionta,ect.) excel in the NHL. Also, ice time & money is a nice little bonus. He seems more like a Daniel Alfredsson.

Posted by Lindas1st on 08/03/09 at 12:38 PM ET

That is I think one of the more interesting comparisons I’ve read.  Those are two players I never would have put together in a sentence.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/03/09 at 12:19 PM ET

Didn’t Tanguay scored two goals in Game 7 of the ‘01 finals ?
That seems like a “clutch” or “money” player to me.

Posted by mc keeper on 08/03/09 at 12:27 PM ET

Didn’t Tanguay scored two goals in Game 7 of the ‘01 finals ?
That seems like a “clutch” or “money” player to me.

Small sample size/doesn’t really mean much.  Maxime Freaking Talbot scored two this year and I don’t think anyone considers him a “money” player.

I think, Paul, that the PP units probably end up looking fine with the top two lines worth of forwards and Ericsson in place of Sammy.  I say “top two lines” because I see it being either Datsyuk-Z-homer/Filpulla-franzen-cleary or, and I consider this more likely, Homer-Datsyuk-Franzen and Filpulla-Z-Cleary(my logic being you pair your best pure scorer and your best playmaker together, so Pav plays with either Z if it’s the 2007-2008 Z or Franzen if next year’s Zetterberg continues to ring every fifth shot off the goalposts rather than sinking them, then your second best “setup” guy- filpulla- plays with the remaining scorer of the Z/Franzen duo).

I think your PP units will have either Homer or Cleary filling the screening/netfront role, Pav and FIlpulla on the half-boards, Z and Franzen in the slot. 

Leino is a good candidate to be bumped up to the PP units from the third line if for some reason Babcock wants a forward in Sammy’s spot (it would probably not be Leino, but maybe rotate… jeeze.  Not really a big slapshot guy among those top 6 guys… maybe Filpulla back to the point if he’s on a line with Z).

Posted by shanetx on 08/03/09 at 01:12 PM ET

shanetx - Maxime Freaking Talbot also scored a fairly clutch goal in game 6 of the ‘08 finals. I’m no Penguin fan but I think your shot at him is off the mark.

Posted by mc keeper on 08/03/09 at 02:36 PM ET

....that should read “Game 5 of the ‘08 finals”

Posted by mc keeper on 08/03/09 at 02:39 PM ET

I wasn’t actually intending to disparage Talbot.  I don’t really like the guy but I don’t mean to downplay what he’s done two years in a row against Detroit.

Max Talbot is an average player who has a knack of coming up with big goals.  I guess maybe that makes him the definition of a clutch player- performing well above what you’d expect out of him- but I don’t think the average hockey fan would view those three goals and say, “This guy is money.  He’s who I want on the ice in a game 7 with a minute to go”- which is how I, at least, evaluate whether a guy is a clutch goal scorer or not.

Posted by shanetx on 08/03/09 at 02:46 PM ET

I’ll disparage Talbot….

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/03/09 at 05:20 PM ET

... he secretly wears women’s underwear.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/03/09 at 06:17 PM ET