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Todd Cordell
I absolutely love this deal for the Dallas Stars.
Over the last two seasons Jiri Hudler has been one of the best 5 v 5 point producers in the NHL - he ranks top-20 in that regard - and the Stars landed him without committing much money or term.
Being a contender surely helped their cause but his quality should have warranted a larger contract in both regards. That the Stars landed a player who, in their system, is almost a lock for 50+ points for just $2 million per is insane.
It'll take Matt Martin the length of his contract, for example, to pile up that many points and he landed more money and a few more years than Hudler.
I see almost no scenario Hudler doesn't significantly outperform this contract and that makes it a great one for the Stars.
James Tanner
t's ridiculous that Hudler - who is 10 x the player Vermette is - only gets a one year deal @$2million, while Vermette gets 2 @ $1.75.
While being a better possession player and shot suppressor, Hudler outscored Vermette last season 26 primary 5v5 points to 12.
Adjusting for ice time, Hudler is a first-line player. At worst, he's great second or third line winger and a force on the power-play. Vermette is a fourth liner who could be positively replaced by the best centre on any team's AHL club.
Jiri Hudler is an excellent NHL player - a very good scoring and a very good defensive player. You can play him anywhere in the lineup and reap the rewards. A two million cap-hit on this player is astoundingly good management by Jim Nill and the Stars.
Vermette doesn't score and is terrible defensively, his contract is a bizarre tribute to the power of reputation in player evaluation, even at the highest levels. Hudler's contract is an absolute bargain.
He is three years younger than Vermette and better than him in every conceivable way.
One of these players' agent should be fired, while the others should get some kind of trophy. You can then inverse that for the GM's who respectively signed these contracts.
Why a player as good as Hudler remained unsigned this late and had to take a 1 year deal is a great mystery.
Peter Tessier
Love this deal and so surprised that no other team tired to pull this off, or at least ones in similar position as the Stars. Hudler contributes and does not hurt his team at the other end of the ice.
Vancouver were rumoured to be in on him for a bit and if the cost to get him was a few hundred thousand more than what the Stars paid then it's another swing and miss for Benning.
Hudler is another example of a good roll player who exceeded his contract, much like Lee Stempniak, and Dallas did well to add him at an affordable rate.
Adam French
I love this deal for the Stars. I find it laughable for Hudler. A year ago people would be jumping for joy if he signed for 5 million, let alone 2. Poor playoffs aside, Hudler had a solid enough season for a veteran top-6 winger. At 2 million you can't lose on a player who is one year removed from a 31g 76p season where he was 8th in overall scoring and has a handful of 50 point seasons.
While the Stars have a strong offense anchored by arguably the leagues most dynamic offensive duos in Benn and Seguin; one of the brighest young offensive defenders in the game in Klingberg and one of the best "second line" centre's in the game in Spezza. They certainly need to continue to add depth. Especially with Faksa, Nichushkin and Ritchie perhaps not panning out to be as dynamic offensively as they would have hoped. I think he would be an excellent fit with Spezza and allows him to have an actual threat on his line outside of the PP, especially if they continue to play Sharp with Benn/Seguin.
Janmark/Nichushkin-Spezza-Hudler
is much better than
Janmark-Spezza-Eaves
Great deal for the Stars. They should be a handful offensively again. Just have to pray their defensive prospects can pan out and that their goaltenders can learn to play.
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