While what seems like the entire hockey world waits on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to make their big decisions, the Calgary Flames made a splash on Monday afternoon when they signed former Detroit Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler to a four-year deal, according to a report from TSN analyst Darren Dreger.
"Jiri Hudler agrees to 4 year, $16 million contract with Calgary Flames," Dreger posted on his Twitter account (@DarrenDreger).
The 28-year-old Hudler had 25 goals and 25 assists for the Red Wings in 2011-12, his fifth full-season with the club. A member of Detroit's 2008 Stanley Cup team, the 5-foot-10 native of the Czech Republic has 214 points (87 goals, 127 assists) in 409 NHL games for the Red Wings, who selected him in the second round (58th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
The Flames were relatively quiet on the first official day of free agency, re-signing forward Blair Jones to a two-year contract, but made a splash last week when they acquired Dennis Wideman from the Washington Capitals and signed him to a five-year contract extension worth $5.25 million per year. Calgary also re-signed forwards Blake Comeau and Lee Stempniak.
It's a good deal for the Flames, who continue to undergo a makeover under the leadership of general manager Jay Feaster. In a thin free agent market, Hudler was probably the best forward the Flames were going to get, and credit to Feaster for going out and getting him at a limited markup over the $3 million he earned in Detroit last season.
It will be interesting when the season begins to see how Hudler fits in with the likes of Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri and the rest of the Flames. In the meantime, it's a coup for Feaster and the Flames.
