Sports
Jiří Hudler
born 1984 · ice hockey forward
Czech forward drafted by Detroit who scored the game-winning goal in the 2008 Stanley Cup Final and won the championship with the Red Wings.
- Born
Olomouc, Czechoslovakia
age 42- Detroit years
- 2002–2009, 2011–2013
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
The Red Wings drafted Hudler in 2002 and brought him along slowly, with his rookie professional season spent mostly with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He broke through to a full NHL role in 2006–07, when the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association named him the team's rookie of the year, and improved again the following season. His signature moment came in June 2008: with five goals and nine assists in that postseason, Hudler scored the game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against Pittsburgh as Detroit won its fourth title in eleven years. He left for two seasons with Dynamo Moscow in a contract dispute but returned to Detroit in 2011 on essentially the same deal he would have received from arbitration, playing two more seasons before moving on. He later won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship with the Calgary Flames.
Highlights
- Drafted by the Red Wings in 2002
- Named Red Wings Rookie of the Year by Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, 2006–07
- Scored the Stanley Cup-clinching game's winning goal in Game 4 of the 2008 Final
- Won the 2008 Stanley Cup with Detroit
- Later won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2014–15
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2005–2009, 2011–2013
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
His NHL home rink, including the 2008 Stanley Cup championship run; demolished in 2019.