Should the arbitrator rule for the Red Wings’ bid, believed to be for $3 million a year, Medvedev’s statement indicates that the K.H.L. would honor the decision and not register Hudler’s Dinamo contract. But if the arbitrator rules for Hudler’s bid, believed to be for $4 million a year, the Red Wings would have to choose between paying Hudler that amount or letting him go.

If the arbitrator gives Happy the Wings’ offer of $3M, they’ll either have to trade him or trade someone else on the current roster. The best outcome for the Wings would be for the arbitrator to give Happy the $4M he’s asking for. If that happens, the Wings will refuse it, he’ll become a UFA and he’ll play for Dynamo for the next two years. And since he’s indicated that the Wings are the only team he’s interested in playing for, it’s likely he’d resign with the Wings two summers from now.

Of course, time can change any number of things. He may change his mind and either stay in Russia or decide to sign with some other NHL team. Or the Wings may not have room for him in two years because of the cap or because they just don’t want him anymore.

Whatever happens, we all know Tick Tock will figure out what’s in the long-term best interests of the organ-I-zation. In Ken We Trust.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 11:38 AM ET

What was that a 16 hour vacation Paul? LOL

Posted by PuckCentral.net from NJ on 07/16/09 at 11:49 AM ET

he’s never coming back to detroit

Posted by drw on 07/16/09 at 12:18 PM ET

PC, I said relaxed posting, meaning posting when I feel like it but those types of posts will be few and far between.

Now off to clean the garage.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 07/16/09 at 12:28 PM ET

What Happend Paul? That was quick.

Is that true, the Red Wings offered a mutiple year contract @ $3m per. Anybody know how long the term was? Sounds like it could’ve been a good deal for both parties involved.

If it’s true and he turned it down it might be because he’s trying to get out of Detroit. Maybe he want’s to be THE man .In Detroit there are a few players above him on the totum pole.I think he wants to be a a big fish in a small pond as opposed to a small fish in a big pond. Just a thought.

Posted by Lindas1st on 07/16/09 at 12:30 PM ET

Paul - I know, I was just busting your chops, wasn’t expecting to see a post from you for a few days unless there was major news. Then again for a Red Wings fan I guess this could be considered major news

Posted by PuckCentral.net from NJ on 07/16/09 at 12:46 PM ET

I think he wants to be a a big fish in a small pond as opposed to a small fish in a big pond.

Or maybe he just wants to see what it’s like to have more responsibility than he has in Detroit. That’s what I got out of what he’s said. He wants to be a go-to guy for a change. From the statements he’s made, I think it’s more about personal growth than ego. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a positive thing – and I hope he gets that chance.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 01:09 PM ET

He wants to be a go-to guy for a change.

And that’s not about ego?  Seems to me that he thinks he’s better than his role and I’m not so sure that’s true.

Posted by Garth on 07/16/09 at 01:13 PM ET

I’m worried about the mud slinging that will be necessary when dealing with the arbitrator. I hope Ken puts up a weak argument––no need to have a fallout with Happy––and lets him go.

Posted by Osrt on 07/16/09 at 01:29 PM ET

I’m assuming that the Moscow contract hasn’t been voided, just that the KHL won’t fight the decision to allow the arbitration hearing and will agree to whatever comes out of that (i.e. actually voiding the contract if he signs with the Wings). 

What this means is that Jiri Hudler HAS to play for either Detroit or Dinamo Moscow.  If the Wings take up the offer he gets from arbitration, ge goes there, if they reject, his contract in Russia is still good and he travels across the pond.  I bet the league goes bonkers if the Wings reject the arbitrator’s number because it circumvents the rule set in place that would make him an UFA.  At it’s simplest, it’s a form of tampering.  I mean, by this point, the player has either not gotten nor entertained any offer sheets during the RFA period nor has the team traded away his rights, so it doesn’t look as though anybody is outright benefitting from future situations like this.  But, it’s an interesting question from a purely legal standpoint.  If the Wings reject the arbitration offer, is he truly an unrestricted free agent?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/16/09 at 01:32 PM ET

And that’s not about ego? 

Yes, of course it’s about ego, and pride, and believing he’s capable of better and bigger than what Detroit is asking him to do.

Someone his age with his type of skillset who didn’t feel they deserved more ice time, and couldn’t play as a top six forward, wouldn’t be worth having.  Of course, this isn’t how we’d prefer to see him use it- no, a far better outlet for his frustration would be the weight room, practicing his acceleration and gaining strength so he can prove people wrong in Detroit- but I don’t think you can truly fault the guy for thinking he can produce at a higher level.

Posted by shanetx on 07/16/09 at 01:42 PM ET

Then again for a Red Wings fan I guess this could be considered major news

For a hockey fan of any and all stripes, this is major news. What happens will set a precedent for future deals of this nature.

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 07/16/09 at 01:57 PM ET

OTC, When I wrote that maybe he wanted to be a big fish in a small pond… I wasn’t knocking Hudler. It was just an observation. I think all players have an ego to some degree. Some bigger than others. It’s just another form of confidence.

Posted by Lindas1st on 07/16/09 at 02:06 PM ET

AAAH! OlderThanChelios, your grammar makes me weep for the future of mankind.

I think I’ll make my #1 goal in life to teach people the difference between re-sign and resign. They’re pretty much antonyms, but people use them interchangeably.

Posted by Muero from Ohio on 07/16/09 at 02:59 PM ET

I think I’ll make my #1 goal in life to teach people the difference between re-sign and resign. They’re pretty much antonyms, but people use them interchangeably.

Posted by Muero from Ohio on 07/16/09 at 03:59 PM ET

Considering it’s a personal choice of yours, good luck.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/resign

The hyphen is optional.  Granted, it makes it easier to understand, but you’re probably better served picking other battles online.  If your problem is with the people who make the words themselves, then I suggest looking up “cleave” and picking a fight over that one.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/16/09 at 03:08 PM ET

And that’s not about ego?

Well, every player who wants to be a go-to guy has to have some level of “ego”. What I was referring to is a negative level of ego…like you see in guys like Sean Avery.

What this means is that Jiri Hudler HAS to play for either Detroit or Dinamo Moscow.

Not exactlty, JJ. The Wings could accept the arbitrator’s decision and then trade Happy before the season begins. And I think that’s exactly what they’ll have to do is he gets $4M. They’re not going to trade Fil in order to keep him.

I bet the league goes bonkers if the Wings reject the arbitrator’s number because it circumvents the rule set in place that would make him an UFA.

Not true. It happens all the time. Teams are under no obligation to accept the ruling, and it happens all the time.

If the Wings reject the arbitration offer, is he truly an unrestricted free agent?

He absolutely is. He’ll be no different than any other UFA left on the market. He can sign with any team…here or overseas.

...a far better outlet for his frustration would be the weight room, practicing his acceleration and gaining strength so he can prove people wrong in Detroit..

And I think he’s done exactly that, Shane. He is quicker. He is stronger on the puck. He has improved his defensive play. I think he now wants a legitimate shot at showing what he can do on a top line…even if that’s in the KHL.

...but I don’t think you can truly fault the guy for thinking he can produce at a higher level.

And I completely agree. He’s taking a huge gamble here. If he fails to put up major numbers in the KHL, he may have trouble ever returning to the NHL. But I like the fact that he wants to try.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 03:12 PM ET

AAAH! OlderThanChelios, your grammar makes me weep for the future of mankind.

Yah, Muero, I’m right at the top of the list of those who post here who have no grasp of the subtleties of the English language. I’m sooooo sorry my lousy grammar has led you to weep for the fate of all mankind.

I’ll be looking for similar rebukes from you in the future when those who can’t spell, can’t punctuate and have no idea there actually is a Shift key on the keyboard similarly offend your sensibilities.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 03:19 PM ET

So, OTC, you’re working under the impression that the KHL has voided the contract he signed with Dinamo Moscow?

The way they lay it out with the wording “will wait to register the contract” has me convinced that any action that doesn’t involve the Wings signing him puts him under a contract with the superleague. 

I bet the league goes bonkers if the Wings reject the arbitrator’s number because it circumvents the rule set in place that would make him an UFA.

Not true. It happens all the time. Teams are under no obligation to accept the ruling, and it happens all the time.

In every other case when this happens, the player is not already under contract with a different league.  Say that the Red Wings reject the arbitration amount and then Hudler goes on to sign with Ottawa.  Don’t you think the KHL would immediately file grievance if he did that?  The league doesn’t want RFAs signing contracts with foreign leagues to put pressure on their teams (sign me or get nothing in return when I leave).

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/16/09 at 03:20 PM ET

This Hudler/KHL thing is the biggest non-story of the offseason…  I’m a Wings fan and I’m tired of it and could care less what happens at this point.  Now imagine how sick of it fans are of other teams…

Posted by Primis on 07/16/09 at 04:03 PM ET

What this means is that Jiri Hudler HAS to play for either Detroit or Dinamo Moscow.
Not exactlty, JJ. The Wings could accept the arbitrator’s decision and then trade Happy before the season begins. And I think that’s exactly what they’ll have to do is he gets $4M. They’re not going to trade Fil in order to keep him.

Once a team accepts an arbitration ruling, it can’t trade that player for 1-year.

So, JJ’s right - Detroit or Dynamo (unless Det walks away and Hudler decides to sign with another NHL team).

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 07/16/09 at 04:18 PM ET

Once a team accepts an arbitration ruling, it can’t trade that player for 1-year.

Excellent. We have somone in the crowd who actually understands the nuances of the CBA. I didn’t know that, DC19. So, given those circumstances, I can’t imagine the Wings signing Happy if the arbitrator awards him $4M. They’d have to trade Fil and (probably) Lilja in order to keep him. And I can’t imagine Babs ever allowing that to happen.

It looks like Happy got caught in the KHL’s new-found friendliness towards the NHL. So, the best possible outcome for the Wings now is to have him get his claim for $4M accepted, reject it and allow him to head off to the KHL as a UFA. If the arbitrator accepts the Wings offer of $3M, Tick Tock is going to be doing some fancy maneuvering in the next two months.

So, OTC, you’re working under the impression that the KHL has voided the contract he signed with Dinamo Moscow?

You lost me, JJ. Where did I say that?

Say that the Red Wings reject the arbitration amount and then Hudler goes on to sign with Ottawa.

I think you’re mixing apples with oranges. Having a contract already in place with a rival NHL team would obviously violate the terms of the CBA. But I’m not sure there’s anything in the CBA that addresses the issue of Happy having a signed with the KHL.

I’m sure it will appear in the next CBA, but I don’t think it’s there now. Maybe DC19 knows.

So, Muero, how am I doing…grammatically speaking? Anything in this post make you “weep for the future of mankind”?

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 05:30 PM ET

Added an update to the post in case you are following this by emai.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 07/16/09 at 05:35 PM ET

I think you’re mixing apples with oranges. Having a contract already in place with a rival NHL team would obviously violate the terms of the CBA. But I’m not sure there’s anything in the CBA that addresses the issue of Happy having a signed with the KHL.

I haven’t mixed apples and oranges here.  There may not be a rule in the CBA that covers this, but I still don’t imagine the league being happy about it happening.  That’s the point I was trying to make when I was talking about the league being upset if the Wings reject the arbitrator’s offer.  The fact that he has what will constitute what will be a legally binding contract to play hockey signed before he was officially made an unrestricted free agent would be a huge thorn in the NHL’s side.  If you think that the KHL would let him out of his contract if he were given UFA status by the Wings then I’d like a little bit of what you’re having from the bar.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/16/09 at 05:44 PM ET

OTC - While we can’t trade him after accepting the arbitration award, there’s nothing in the CBA that says we can’t trade his rights prior to the ruling being accepted. 

If he was offered $4M and Detroit didn’t want to accept that offer, we would have 48 hours to trade him to a team that would accept the offer.

My guess is that the Wings and Hudler’s camp will have a side agreement that if it hits the $4M mark, the Wings will accept it and then grant him the opportunity to go to the KHL and suspend him until he gets back.  Whether or not the NHL would allow that to happen is up in the air, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen.

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 07/16/09 at 06:02 PM ET

I think you’re mixing apples with oranges. Having a contract already in place with a rival NHL team would obviously violate the terms of the CBA. But I’m not sure there’s anything in the CBA that addresses the issue of Happy having a signed with the KHL.

If Detroit rejects the award, that makes Hudler a UFA.  He could then sign with any team he wants.  If he signs with Ottawa, that’s okay, as long as he hasn’t officially signed with another team - be it in the NHL or KHL.

In this case, Dynamo Moscow has said that they won’t register the contract unless Detroit rejects the award (if I read that correctly).  If Detroit rejects it, the KHL will register his contract, and he wont’ be able to sign with any other team - NHL or KHL.  If he signed with the Senators, the KHL would file a grievance and win as it would violate the “gentelman’s agreement” brokered between the NHL and KHL last year.  Joel Kwitakowski was caught in the middle of something similar last week.

The “Gentleman’s Agreement” is not part of the CBA and won’t be a part of the next one.  It’s in-lieu of the IIHF transfer agreement that will likely never get done.

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 07/16/09 at 06:07 PM ET

Thanks, DC19.  You’ve managed to put it much more succinctly than I was able to in my bumbling.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/16/09 at 06:13 PM ET

The hyphen is optional.

Wow, you read that entry and that’s what you took away from it?

It clearly defines “re-sign” as “to sign again” and “resign” as “to give up/submit/relinquish”.

Optional?  Read the entry again.  There are two words there, one is hyphenated, the other has a small dot to separate the syllables, like many dictionaries have.  There’s a difference.

(I’m not supporting the grammar nazi who pointed it out, or making any comment on OTC’s proper or improper spelling.  I have the ability to read the comment and realize that he clearly meant Hudler would “sign again”, I’m just laughing at JJ’s ridiculous douchebage response to Muero’s douchebag comment.)

Posted by Garth on 07/16/09 at 06:13 PM ET

Jesus, I hate the internet…

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/16/09 at 06:17 PM ET

I hope you didn’t think I was actually angry or weeping. It was a bit of hyperbole to show my exasperation at how low the average American’s grasp of the English language is. I honestly hope someone read what I wrote and that the next time he writes about re-signing a player, he will remember my rant and use the correct word. I wasn’t trying to make fun of anyone, so I apologize if you felt as if I were attacking you. If anything, you should take my criticism as a compliment, because if I thought you were too dumb to ever get grammar right, like most of the people who comment on YouTube, I wouldn’t have taken the time to make a comment at all. If you really want to know what I thought of your grammar in the followup comment, I could go on about why I think using the serial comma helps make sentences more clear, but even I think that is a pretty stupid thing to bring up for just a random Web comment. I hope everyone reading this is having a nice day and doesn’t take life too seriously.

Posted by Muero from Ohio on 07/16/09 at 06:20 PM ET

I hope people learned that using a sock-puppet is childish.

Posted by Wayne on 07/16/09 at 06:23 PM ET

My guess is that the Wings and Hudler’s camp will have a side agreement that if it hits the $4M mark, the Wings will accept it and then grant him the opportunity to go to the KHL and suspend him until he gets back.  Whether or not the NHL would allow that to happen is up in the air, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen.

And yet another option, along with the trade-within-48-hours option, to make this a complete mess. But thanks for the clarifiaction, DC19. I read quite a bit of the CBA when it first came out, but it’s still a morass of lawyer-generated nonsense to most of us.

But to go back to my original closing remark: “Whatever happens, we all know Tick Tock will figure out what’s in the long-term best interests of the organ-I-zation. In Ken We Trust.” I’m guessing Kenny & Co. do know how to use the existing CBA to their best advantage.

I’m just laughing at JJ’s ridiculous douchebage response to Muero’s douchebag comment.

And now we’ve officially sunk to the lowest depths of hockey posting.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 06:28 PM ET

And now we’ve officially sunk to the lowest depths of hockey posting. smile

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 07:28 PM ET

Can’t leave you people alone for a couple days without returning to see you squabbling over spelling and grammar again, can I?  Sweet 8 lbs 6 oz baby Jesus, why do people continue to think they can clean up the way people type on the internet?

Anyway, I’m going to back Tick-Tock’s play on this one…if we can get him signed, good.  If he leaves…oh well, I’ve already made peace with that.  Maybe he’ll become a free agent and sign with Chicago, seems to be the trend these days.  Oh wait, they fired Tallon.  Maybe then he’ll go the Conklin route and sign to a less hated team in the Central Division like a Columbus or a Nashville.

I throw my hands up at this one.  But if you think Holland is just going to stroll into arbitration, cap in hand, and be passive…think again.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/16/09 at 06:49 PM ET

I STAND CORRECTED.  THIS FROM KHAN:

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2009/07/clarification_on_jiri_huders_s.html

According to the NHL, there are no restrictions on trading a player after arbitration.

Looks like his agent really screwed the pooch on this one….

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 07/16/09 at 06:59 PM ET

According to the NHL, there are no restrictions on trading a player after arbitration.

I knew I was right all along.

Well, at least we all learned something tonight. In the end, Tick Tock is going to come out of this on the winning side. Bet the farm on that.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/16/09 at 07:08 PM ET

If both leagues can shift focus from “getting back” at each other for poaching players back and forth, and concentrate on honoring each other’s legitimate contracts, that would be a big step forward.  Once they get that level of interaction settled they can move on to defining legitimate (non-coerced, RFA status, etc.) contract situations in a more general sense.

It will be interesting to see if Hudler fires his agent, as by filing for arbitration he may have cost him millions.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/17/09 at 06:16 AM ET