Calgary Flames Actively Shopping Jiri Hudler?
Last season would’ve been the perfect year for the Calgary Flames to move Jiri Hudler, given his form.
They didn’t, but could now market him as a rental player albeit with less value. Bob McKenzie of TSN believes Hudler will likely be shipped on the rental market, provided there is a buyer interested.
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Any sort of deal would likely involve a prospect or two or a draft pick, with the Calgary Flames likely to target a second or third round draft choice if at all possible.
Last season, Hudler had a career year, notching 76 points as the Calgary Flames defied all expectations in making the play-offs. This year, his production appears to be back to normal with a lowly 24 points at the halfway mark of the season.
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Obviously if the Calgary Flames had chosen to offer him up last year, his market value could’ve been greatly inflated on that season’s form. This year, with everything back to normal, no team is going to fall for that!
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Looking at the teams that may be in the market for rental players and judging it based on Hudler’s cap hit of $4,000,000 there aren’t going to be too many suitors unless the trade carousel starts moving soon.
In reality, Hudler probably sits best on a third line despite the elevated time he has seen on the Calgary Flames first line.
His situation almost exactly mirrors that of Toronto Maple Leafs winger, Leo Komarov who is seeing career numbers this year in an elevated role you could argue is above his skill set and who may also be shopped, with a cheaper cap hit.
The phones aren’t likely to stop ringing despite the break for the All-Star Weekend in Nashville, but whether or not there is anything out there that’ll entice the Calgary Flames is an unknown.
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What do you think? Is Hudler the right guy to try to dish out as a rental player? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.