Hudler’s Pact with Russian Team Raises Questions for Red Wings and NHL

On Thursday, Jiri Hudler became the first Red Wing to bolt for the Continental Hockey League, signing a two-year tax-free deal with Moscow Dynamo, at an estimated worth anywhere from $3 million to $5 million per year. Hudler’s defection to Russia is significant because it is only the second time Ken Holland has lost a player to another league since he became General Manager in 1997, the first one being defenseman Danny Markov who signed with signed with a KHL team after the 2006-07 season.  Although less than a month old, it has been a difficult off-season for the Winged Wheel.  First, Marian Hossa signs a twelve-year pact with the rival Chicago Blackhawks, and then the team loses several free agents in a mini exodus.  Although the Hossa experiment seems to have failed, Hudler’s unexpected departure is potentially more troubling for fans because the deal he signed with Dynamo, depending on reports, is not worth substantially more than what he was being offered by Holland.  This ...