Jiri Hudler Leaves Red Wings, Snatched Up By Calgary Flames

Jiri Hudler has been picked up by the Calgary Flames, signing the unrestricted agent into a four-year contract on Monday.

The Sacramento Bee reports that the contract between Hudler and the Flames is worth $16 million, giving an average annual value of $4 million. Flames general manager Jay Feaster stated that:

“Jiri Hudler is a highly skilled and dynamic offensive player. He is one of the very best goal scorers in the NHL at even strength and he puts a very high percentage of his shots on net, generating scoring chances for himself and rebound opportunities for his teammates. He fits our need to upgrade and improve our skill and we are very pleased to have him on board.”

CBS Sports reports that the Flames have spent a lot of money in the past week by re-signing Cory Sarich, Blair Jones, and Lee Stempniak, and also acquiring Dennis Wideman, a defenseman. Now they also have Hudler, who was originally drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 2002 draft (he was No. 85 overall). He has scored 87 goals in 409 regular career games, and also had 127 assists, all while he wore the Red Wings jersey.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Hudler, a 28-year-old Czech Republic native, won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2008, contributing 12 goals and 33 points over 66 postseason games.

Hudler spent the 2009-2010 season playing for Dynamo Moscow in the KHL, and recorded 54 points in as many games, before returning to the Red Wings. CBS Sports notes that with the acquisition of Jiri Hudler, the Flames now have over $65 million in cap space committed to 22 players for the 2012-2013 season.