Hudler's career at crossroad

One of the NHL's worst kept secrets this offseason was that the Red Wings would consider trading forward Jiri Hudler. It was also a bit of a joke, since there isn't a team in the league that would pick up the underperforming forward's salary of 2.75 million. Hudler's return to Detroit last season -- after spending the previous year with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League -- was a disaster. He never looked comfortable, finishing the season with only 10 goals and 37 total points in 73 games played. "I had 10 goals, the first thing I was thinking was that's terrible," said Hudler, when asked if he's done any soul searching. "I thought about it and said, 'That's OK, it's behind me, let's put some work into it and do a lot better next year.'" Under the advice from his agent, Hudler spent the last three months sequestered in Montreal, with strength and conditioning coach Jonathon Chaimberg. Chaimberg is well known and highly respected in his profession and has trained several UFC champions. "Time's going to tell," said Hudler about whether the training has paid off. "I feel really good, but I felt good last year and what happened? My first goal was at Christmas. "I put in a lot of hard work for the whole summer, so you've got to be confident, I'm more confident on my skates, that's for sure." A bit apprehensive when he arrived in Montreal, Hudler adapted quickly to his seven-day-aweek, 90-minute workout routine. Chaimberg and his clients are in top shape, and Hudler embraced Chaimberg's all-business approach. "It was all sweating and no talking," said Hudler. After his morning workout, Hudler would take a break and then go on the ice to work on improving his speed and honing his skills. This is an extremely important season for Hudler. Once considered a top -six forward in Detroit, his stock has fallen dramatically. He's being pushed by a younger corps of wingers and is in the last year of his contract. Never a defensive-minded player, Hudler must regain his scoring touch if he hopes to extend his Wings career beyond this season. "A lot of things need to go your way in order to be really good," said Hudler. This isn't the first time that Hudler, 27, is facing a plethora of doubters. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds, he's been fighting the size issue his entire career. Drafted by Detroit in the second round with the 58th pick of 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Hudler was rated the No. 14 prospect in his draft class. NHL teams were enamored with behemoths in '02, and Hudler's draft stock dropped significantly. Detroit was ecstatic when Hudler dropped into their laps. Even though he was taken in the second round, he was the Wings' first pick in the draft. Playing in the Czech Extraliga, the highest level of hockey in the Czech Republic and the third strongest league in Europe, a teen-aged Hudler held his own playing against full grown men. Once he began playing in North America for the Grand Rapids Griffins, he didn't need a long adjustment period. In his final year with the Griffins (2005-06), Hudler was named a second-team AHL All-Star and tallied 97 points, including 36 goals, in 76 games. As a Red Wing, Hudler has been inconsistent. When Detroit won the Cup In 2008, He came up big for the Wings -- five goals and nine assists for 14, including the game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against Pittsburgh. Hudler followed up his solid playoff with what was considered a breakout year in 2008-09. In 82 games, he had 57 points, including 23 goals, in 82 games. In 23 playoff games, he had fours goals, eight assists and was a plus-4. A restricted free agent after the season, Hudler's agent filed for arbitration and eventually agreed upon a two-year, 5.75 million contract with Detroit; however, he signed a contract with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL for 10 million for two years. Russia was not a great experience for Hudler, and after one season he returned to Detroit. Since his return, the happy-go-lucky Hudler hasn't been quite as happy as he was before he left for the KHL. Tuesday afternoon as he faced reporters for the first time this season, Hudler was deadly serious about the season ahead. "It's the last year of my contract, I'm not going to put any pressure on myself," said Hudler. "I put a lot of hard work in all summer, and that's how I'm going to play."