MLive blogger extraordinaire George Malik reported on Sept. 8 that Jiri Hudler was among four players that haven't skated with the Red Wings yet this week, leaving many wondering where the diminutive forward is. Apparently, he's having a little trouble getting back into the States after a year in Russia:
↵↵↵The Macomb Daily's Chuck Pleiness reports that returning Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler has a slight problem--he has yet to receive his U.S. worker's visa, and as such, he can't join his teammates at Joe Louis Arena just yet, despite the fact that he trained with Cleary at T.R. Goodman's gym in LA, where Hudler has a small summer home.
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Teammate Dan Cleary offered some insight as to why it's taking so long for Hudler to get back:
↵↵↵Cleary wasn't sure if Hudler had to go to Toronto or his native Czech Republic to get it taken care of. "I told him he should shoot for Toronto and get in here and start skating,'' Cleary said. That little (guy) should have been here by now."
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Hudler left the team before last season after signing a two-year, $10 million tax-free deal to play in the KHL. Detroit still owned his NHL rights however, after an arbitrator awarded Hudler a two-year, $2.875 million NHL deal. After his Dynamo Moscow team folded, Hudler returned to the Red Wings this past offseason, taking the same $2.875 million deal. I don't foresee Hudler being denied a visa for this season; unless he's been doing some things he's not telling us about.
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