Jiri Hudler’s Breakout Game
Hudler is quickly climbing the rankings in goals scored for Detroit
As could be expected, Jiri Hudler is getting a lot of media focus given this play of late. Here is what the wags are saying about #26.
Ansar Khan - MLIVE
Hudler’s ice time has doubled — from eight minutes a game to between 16 and 17 minutes — over the last seven games. He’s responded with five goals and three assists while playing on the No. 2 scoring line with Robert Lang and Kyle Calder. This was the first multi-goal game of his young NHL career.
“I feel a lot more comfortable with those minutes and Langer and Calds are helping me a lot,” the 5-9, 178-pound Hudler said. “If I make a bad play, they say it’s OK, we got to keep going. I’ve learned a lot. “I’m having a blast right now.”
Hudler has 14 goals, displaying a deft scoring touch that surprises none of his teammates.
“He has more confidence,” Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek said. “Everybody knows he’s a skilled player who can score goals. He’s very good around the net, he can find the little room and he has a quick wrist shot and a good slap shot.”
Helene St. James - Detroit Freep Press
“Feels great, back-to-back games against a great team,” Hudler said. “We just played hard and we came back tonight, and I’m glad we won.”
Hudler had everything to do with that; rallying the Wings with one goal and producing the game-winner with his next…Entering this season, Hudler had one NHL goal in 16 games spread out over the previous two seasons. Now he has 14 in 65 games; all for a $525,000 salary that makes him a very valuable asset under a $44-million cap.
John Niyo - Detroit News
“He has a chance to be a difference-maker,” coach Mike Babcock said. “He has a chance to be one of those players that every organization covets. Now does he want it bad enough? Time’s gonna tell.
“He’s a competitive kid. He just has to keep challenging himself to get better.”
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“I’m not going to lie, it feels a lot better,” said Hudler, who has 14 goals this season. “You get pumped up knowing you’re going to play. I’m glad I’m playing those minutes right now and hopefully it’ll keep going this way.”
Kevin Allen - USA Today
…Hudler’s development may be the most interesting because he was a dominant player in the American League and in Europe.
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The read on Hudler is that he has magic in his hands but needed to work on his skating and two-way play. He seems to have improved in both areas.
Hudler will likely get at least two more games on that second line. If the line plays as well as it has since the trade for Kyle Calder it will be tough for Mike Babcock to break up the one line that has powered Detroit’s offense. One thing that is probably guaranteed is that Calder will stay on Lang’s wing. Here is what Babock had to say about Calder’s play. The quote is from this John Niyo article:
“Calder’s the guy who stirs the drink there,” Babcock said. “Since he has arrived, Lang’s been unreal. He just puts the puck into places and Calder goes and gets it for him. I think Robert Lang, since the trade deadline, has been fantastic.”
Bill over at Abel to Yzerman reviews his previous comments on Jiri Hudler.
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I’ve been saying watch that kid since the beginning! I’m glad to see I’m being proven right lately. The rash of injuries we had has been arguably great for us, when you think about it - not that you ever want to see players injured, especially of the caliber that we had going down, but the way the kids (and the rest of the team as well) have stepped up to make up for it when given the opportunity is astounding, as is the depth we’ve seemed to regain from it.
I’ll be really interested to see how Hudler especially develops - and Filppula too for that matter - it seems like it’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to watch the Wings bring up such promising youth who we might see stick around for a while (though I’m sure there are cases I’m forgetting).
Steph,
No question, it is great to see players come up through the minors and contribute. Kronner and Lebda did, and so did Williams although he was traded for Calder. That has turned out to be a great trade tho.
And don’t forget about Tomas Kopecky. He will hopefully get in a full season next year.