clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jiri Hudler Feels Like He Never Left

New, 1 comment

After a one year absence, Jiri Hudler feels like he's home again.

↵

Hudler, with his new work visa in hand, skated with his Red Wings teammates for the first time since 2009 this week, and couldn't be happier to be back in Motown.

↵
↵

"I can't get enough of this feeling, just walking in and being around the guys, it's unbelievable,'' Hudler said. "I'm so happy to be back, thrilled.''

↵
↵

Hudler spurned a two-year, $5.75 million deal  from the Red Wings and took a two-year, $10 million contract to play for Dynamo Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League last season. After Dynamo folded, Hudler made a choice to come back to Detroit.

↵
↵

"I didn't have a problem in Russia, but I did miss the locker room, all the guys, Detroit, my friends,'' Hudler said. "I wanted to go back badly because I missed it so much.''

↵
↵

Hudler is currently slated to play on a line with Mike Modano and Dan Cleary this season, where he'll look to build on his career year from 2008-09. Hudler should have no problem with that after playing more than 20 minutes a game for Dynamo last year.

↵
↵

"Mike Modano, you can't get any better than that,'' Hudler said. "And I played with Bear (Cleary) before, know what kind of player he is. It's exciting.''

↵