When the Red Wings brought forward Jiri Hudler back after a one-year exile to Russia, it was assumed that the diminutive Czech would simply pick back up from where he left off and start pumping goals into enemy nets.
It was assumed that Hudler would be a key "acquisition" (the Red Wings never really lost his rights) and his offense injected into an already formidable lineup would make the Wings, once again, Stanley Cup contenders in the most serious of ways.
It was assumed that Hudler might even be better than before he left, coming back to North America with an even greater appreciation for how good he had it in the NHL.
For the better part of half of this season, the assumptions were wrong.
You know what can happen when you assume.
Hudler was the magician who reached up his sleeve and pulled out nothing but lint. He was a ying without a yang. The emperor had no clothes.
Goal scorers, and Hudler is certainly one, don't know what to do with themselves when the pucks don't find the net. The hockey scorer is the baseball slugger. And Hudler, for about 50 games, was popping up pitches that he normally swats into the seats.
Then sports' ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Greg Eno
Detroit Red Wings: Poof! Jiri Hudler Reappears Just in Time for the Team
March 2nd, 2011 by Greg Eno Leave a reply »
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