Archive for the 'Jiri Hudler' Category

Qualified Good News on Leino and Hudler

Published
by
Matt Saler
on July 3, 2009
in Free Agency, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Ville Leino
. 0 Comments

According to Helene St. James, the Wings will have Leino signed to a two-year contract very soon, possibly today. That’s great news, if it pans out. The team needs Leino to stick around, obviously, and he needs the Wings to keep him since they probably offer his best chance at regular NHL ice time right now.

The Hudler news is a mix of good and bad: he’s apparently filing for arbitration this weekend. As George Malik points out, that means teams can no longer tender him offer sheets, which is  a definite good thing. The downside, of course, is that the arbitrator can award Hudler a salary higher than the Wings might like to pay.

They could trade his rights at that point if they wanted to, but as long as it’s not too high, they’d probably bite the bullet and keep him. It just could be the difference between signing a veteran forward or bringing up a not-quite-ready Abdelkader.

Also, most of us would consider this good news: it looks like Samuelsson’s priced himself out of returning.

All in all, this is comparatively great news after the pretty crappy events of the first day of free agency (even though I wasn’t a fan of keeping him, losing Hossa to Chicago wasn’t exactly a highlight of the off-season). The summer could have gone even further south had Hudler and Leino played the Wings tougher in negotiations, but it looks like things are headed to a good conclusion.

Meg and I will be on the road in Metro Detroit and away from the computer today, so if the Leino signing happens, I won’t be around to post on it.

That Didn’t Take Long (Updated with Video)

Published
by
Matt Saler
on May 1, 2009
in Ducks, Injuries, Jiri Hudler and Playoffs
. 2 Comments

Update (10:25 PM):

Hudler did return to the game for the second and third periods after receiving 10 stitches.

Will the league have anything to say about that, or will a game misconduct be deemed enough? If they’re serious about policing headshots, as the Brashear punishment seemed to show, Brown ought to get at least a game. - Matt

Just 11:29 for the first possible suspendable offense by the Ducks: Mike Brown’s high, late center ice hit on Jiri Hudler, which earned a five minute interference major and a game misconduct. That was quick even for the Ducks.

Hudler, by the way, has not returned, though he’s likely just getting stitches. The game is tied 1-1 on a Perry goal and a Franzen “Okay I score now” play.

Hudler as Center?

Published
by
Matt Saler
on March 26, 2009
in Jiri Hudler and Ville Leino
. 0 Comments

Ansar Khan reports that Jiri Hudler practiced at center today, though Babcock advised him not to read too much into it. Khan then proceeds to speculate that Hudler-as-center (together with reunited Eurotwins) could be part of the line arrangement for the playoffs.

Hudler hasn’t played in the middle much since turning pro, but given that he’s a solid playmaker, it may not be a bad idea to try it. He’s not quite as strong defensively as the Wings’ other centers, but could be worse.

Khan  also discusses the question of Leino’s assignment for the playoffs, and rightly suggests that Leino likely won’t be with the team if he’s not going to play. He’s better off getting playoff time with the Griffins.

2/17 Notes

Published
by
Matt Saler
on February 17, 2009
in Chris Osgood, Jimmy Howard, Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen, Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson and Ville Leino
. 0 Comments

… Helene St. James’ editors got a little overexcited, I think, in picking the headline for her Wings Corner piece today:

Hossa, Franzen likely to return next season

Too bad nothing in her reporting actually says that. Instead, she only outlines Ken Holland’s likely plan of attack going forward with the effort to keep the two players. It’s all very much in the air, with much dependent on not only their willingness to take less, but the team’s ability to trade some salary away at the deadline as well.

St. James suggests Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson, both free agents this summer, as possible trade items. That kind of talk has to be great for their morale.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, but if Hudler ends up on the block, it won’t exactly be a proud day in Wings history. The guy has worked his tail off (after a lazy start) for this franchise and has become quite the secret weapon. I’d hate to see him become a victim of the numbers, but it’s looking more and more like it’ll be that way. I’d rather the Wings keep him around through July 1 and then take a nice compensation package when someone hands him a substantial offer sheet.

If they can trade Sammy, I’m okay with that.

Back to Hossa and Franzen. I was a little surprised to read that negotiations with Franzen are the most advanced of the two. I was under the impression that Hossa was the focus. If he has been the focus and talks haven’t gotten that far, maybe he won’t be quite as easy to sign as we’ve allowed ourselves to think he’ll be. Still, it’s early in the process.

… St. James offers a brief update on Franzen’s injury status: he skates on his own yesterday while his teammates had the day off. He may play tomorrow night against Nashville if he feels good in today’s skate.

… Ansar Khan has a piece on one of the players that has made the ide of a trade for a low-price, cog-forward seem unecessary from a roster needs standpoint: Ville Leino. Nothing new here, really. I think we all agree he belongs in the NHL.

… An interesting note later in Khan’s piece may excite those of you looking for a change in net: Holland has considered calling up Jimmy Howard to give Chris Osgood a “mental break.” Holland is apparently torn between getting a look at Howard (and getting Osgood a break) and forcing Osgood to get back on track by playing him.

I think calling up Howard isn’t a bad idea. He’s been great the past couple months and deserves the same chance to impress that Helm and Leino have had. The team surely needs another look at him at the NHL level as his future needs to be decided over the next 8 months.

Osgood can handle a couple more games off.

And note the lack of any mention of Daniel Larsson. My guess is the team doesn’t see him as NHL material quite yet, despite his strong debut season in the AHL.

… Khan also provides an injury update for Brad Stuart (two weeks way), but doesn’t have one for Brett Lebda, who is still feeling the effects of a Cal Clutterbuck retribution hit.

… And, finally, Dave Dye points out the obvious: the Wings won’t be trading for a goalie at the deadline.

Red Wings TV: Latest “Birthday Bandit” Strike

Published
by
Matt Saler
on January 4, 2008
in Jiri Hudler, Kris Draper and Video
. 0 Comments

Here’s a hilarious video of Kris Draper doing his usual birthday thing to Jiri Hudler. Gotta love Draper’s strategy of hiding behind the biggest player on the team.

I’d embed it here, but, for whatever reason, it wrecks havoc with the page. Sorry about that.

Hasek to start versus Chicago

Published
by
Matt Saler
on November 16, 2007
in Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek, Jimmy Howard, Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen and Links
. 6 Comments

Kind of a non-news item, but Ansar Khan reports that Dominik Hasek will start tomorrow night. He may or may not be backed up by Chris Osgood, who had to skip practice today because of the flu. If Osgood isn’t better, the team will have to call up Jimmy Howard.

Also, it looks like Jiri Hudler is being rewarded for his production of late, as he skated with the second line today while Johan Franzen was relegated to the fourth.

I apologize for not posting yesterday. A slow day new-wise and a school/work responsibilities sort of dictated that.

11/6 Post-practice Update

Published
by
Matt Saler
on November 6, 2007
in Aaron Downey, Chris Osgood, Dallas Drake, Dominik Hasek, Injuries, Jiri Hudler, Matt Ellis and Tomas Kopecky
. 0 Comments

… Bruce MacLeod, Ansar Khan, Helene St. James, and Ted Kulfan all report that Chris Osgood will be the starter tomorrow night against the Predators while Dominik Hasek will make his return from an aggravated hip Friday versus the Blue Jackets.

… MacLeod is the only one of the beat writers to go beyond the goalie story and report on other items of interest from practice. First of all, he reaffirms that Niklas Kronwall won’t be back Wednesday. Good to know (and to be reminded yet again of how injury prone Nik is).

He then suggests that Jiri Hudler could be a healthy scratch tomorrow, given that he’s been working with the first and second lines all week and hasn’t had reps with the fourth line, to which he was supposedly demoted Sunday. MacLeod’s suggestion is given added weight by the fact that Aaron Downey, Dallas Drake, and Matt Ellis have been the first group of forwards to represent the fourth line in drills lately, and that at the expense of Tomas Kopecky.

Assuming MacLeod’s speculation is correct, it looks like Babcock is gearing up for a physical showdown with the Predators by dumping some offense in exchange for toughness. I still think Hudler’s getting the shaft because he’s shown himself capable of playing against physical teams, but it does make sense to put the biggest and grittiest guys in there against a Nashville team that no doubt will be running and gunning for the Wings’ top line.

If Babcock does make these changes, it’ll be one of those rare instances in which the Wings throw down the gauntlet on physicality. I like it, despite the fact that I think it’s grossly unfair to Hudler.