Speculation: How is Jiri Hudler still available?

[The Madrigal]

Most years in free agency there will be a number of quality free agents who wait a few days to a week to sign. This year however pretty much everyone signed on day one of free agency and unless you consider Radim Vrbata and Kris Versteeg top 6 forwards (I don't) there are no legit top 6 forwards left, other than Jiri Hudler.

In Hudler you have a guy who is 32 years old and has produced the following over the last 5 years:

15-16
16 goals / 30 assists / 46 points

14-15
31 goals / 45 assists / 76 points

13-14
17 goals / 37 assists / 54 points

12-13
*42 games*
10 goals / 17 assists / 27 points

11-12
25 goals / 25 assists / 50 points

We are talking about a guy who averages around 20 goals / 30 assists / 50 points over the last 5 years. I just don't understand it. He must have simply been asking for way too much money and got left out in the dark. Chances are someone is going to get a bargain and one of the most economical and solid signings of this off season.

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[M2Beezy]

Nobody wants him

 

[ChaseANA]

Good question. I am really hoping Anaheim gives him a 2/3 year deal. He might be asking for too much.

 

[taylorjonl]

He wants too much money or term?

 

[QcFlames12]

Most likely term.. Jiri wants stability. He's a good player but a great person, I can't see him liking the idea of bouncing around too much. Probably wants a 3 years 4.5m contract and not many teams will line up for that. If he wanted one year he would of already been signed

 

[Captain Timo]

He wasn't very good last year, especially when he went to Florida. Was pretty much invisible in any Panthers game I watched.

 

[StuckOutHere]

Probably a bunch of teams offering $2.5M for one year and he is waiting it out.

 

[mashedpotato]

He's likely asking for a lot of money / term.

His past production isn't really debatable, he's a good player. Just his age combined with his asking price / term are likely cause for delay....

 

[The Madrigal]

Nobody wants him

Yeah, and the question to that would be why. Plenty of teams can use a 20 goal / 50 point 2nd line winger.

 

[Evergreen]

I think he wants 5+ years, which is long for a 32-year-old. I'd take him on the Flyers, but only for 4 years. I think he will sign in Anaheim once the Ducks free up some money (maybe trade Fowler).

 

[Stuzchuk]

I'd love to have him on the SENS lineup but Melnik is now TOO CHEAP to sign what we need the most on our line up

I think he wants 5+ years, which is long for a 32-year-old. I'd take him on the Flyers, but only for 4 years. I think he will sign in Anaheim once the Ducks free up some money (maybe trade Fowler).

Yup 3-4 years would be the right length for him

 

[McYoungGuns]

to me it seems like it has to do with his age and him being somewhat inconsistent

 

[MintyFresh88]

Did anyone watch him play for the Panthers in the playoffs? He couldn't keep up, it was hard to watch. His playing style isn't really built for the type of hockey that is being played now, especially in the playoffs.

If you manage his ice time properly, he's still useful and will contribute on the score sheet, but he might be faced with a PTO at this point or he goes to Europe.

 

[Langdon Alger]

Nobody wants him

Nah.

 

[The Madrigal]

to me it seems like it has to do with his age and him being somewhat inconsistent

Parenteau and Purcell are around the same age and Hudler has been more productive than both. Then again they both took cheap 1 year deals. Hudler must still be holding out for along term deal at over 2 million per year. I can't imagine an offer like that is coming his way at this stage of the game. That's why I think someone is going to get a serious bargain with him eventually.

 

[Habsrule]

It may be that many teams are up near the cap now. Usually the teams who are up near the cap are the ones who are more likely to be Cup contenders. Maybe he just played the waiting game and happened to wait too long.

 

[The Madrigal]

It may be that many teams are up near the cap now. Usually the teams who are up near the cap are the ones who are more likely to be Cup contenders. Maybe he just played the waiting game and happened to wait too long.

Probably right.

 

[Yung Rotini]

Come back Jiri.

 

[Dr Danglefest]

This year's Cody Franson

He'll end up signing a 2 year deal for less money than he wanted and get dealt at the deadline

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

He was absolutely atrocious for the Panthers.

I could see some team giving him under a million or maybe a PTO.

 

[migi]

I think he wants term but no GM is going to give him NMC which he wants. He don't want to go to Vegas!

 

[Thankstoo]

This is a classic case of people getting mesmerized by statistics. He was given the opportunity to produce by playing top 6 minutes, in both Calgary & Florida, including power play time.

I watched him closely in Florida and it was really tough to watch. He's lost a half a step and he is very very soft. I suspect he's off to Europe. If he gets any term in the NHL, it will be a very regrettable signing.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

He wants term more than money I suspect.

Really, really, really like Jiri, but he was BAAAAAD in Florida.

 

[Djp]

he wants more koney and term. teams are not giving him term.

If Buffalo was offering him something it would be 2 yrs max plus a contingent on them making a trade where they moved some forwards for defense.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Yeah, and the question to that would be why. Plenty of teams can use a 20 goal / 50 point 2nd line winger.

Everyone who needs a middle 6 20 goal/50 point winger are cap teams.