How happy is Jiri Hudler playing with Pavel Datsyuk?  Of course, anyone playing with Datsyuk has to know the points will pile up.

The worry is that he’ll go back to his old turnover-producing self if he’s not always put on a line with a guy like Datsyuk, who makes his teammates better.

I don’t think that’s the case though.  Granted, Hudler wouldn’t produce quite as well without Datsyuk and Cleary with whom to play, but I think he’s finally got that all-important confidence back - most noticeably in the puck-handling department, where he’s doing a much better job holding on to it without trying to immediately pass off to a teammate.  I’m very happy with the way he’s playing.

I understand what Mario is trying to express and I agree with him.  What I don’t agree with is the issuing of a statement.  He should have kept it private, waited for the NHL to react in a timely fashion, then go public if need be.

Aside from everything else discussed about the statement and its timing and Matt Cooke, I’m getting a little tired of his “if you don’t do what I say, I’m going to take my ball and go home” threats. 

In the 90s, it was “if the league keeps allowing hooking and holding, I’m going to take my ball and go home”  - Ok fine, he was right and this was a perfect opportunity for a star to take a stand.  In a vacuum, this is good.

Next, it was “if Pittsburgh doesn’t build me a new arena, I’m going to move the Penguins.”  - Ok again, he was running down a list of exhausted options and pulled the right play to get the right result.

Now it’s “if the league isn’t going to punish the team that was mean to us farther, I’m going to sell my stake in the league and go home!”  - Ok, see ya!

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/14/11 at 01:34 PM ET

Paul, Mario is 100% wrong.  There was no “message” other than the whining of a spoiled owner who whined until the NHL got him a new arena… so now he figures he can whine and get whatever else he wants as well.

He’s the perfect figurehead for the Pens, at this point.  As this continues, I think it’s hilarious Malkin is out and Crosby probably out for the year as well.  It’s karma for stocking your team with goons, getting away with stuff on the ice for a few years now, and basically being the team forced down everyone’s throats.

It’s also hilarious the Crosby was lost to a type of hit that Mario has never had any comment on when HIS piece of garbage player Cooke has made them on opponents and possibly ended careers.  Funny how Mario never had anythign to say then, isn’t it?

“WAAAAAHHHHHH!!  GARY, MAKE THEM STOP!!!!  GAAAAARRRRRRYYYY!!!”

Have fun golfing in mid-April, Pens.

That it was the ISLANDERS that put them in their place makes it all the funnier still…

Posted by Primis on 02/14/11 at 01:35 PM ET

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/14/11 at 10:34 AM ET

That’s something that hadn’t really dawned on, but you’re right. He keeps going back to that well, and when you realize it, it makes it a little more difficult to take him seriously, doesn’t it?

Posted by Primis on 02/14/11 at 10:35 AM ET

Yikes, man…

I agree with Paul here, that the sentiment was correct. I thought both players should’ve received 12 games, if nothing more than on the principal that they really deserved worse than what Godard got (and I do understand Godard’s penalty is mandatory). I am really disgusted with Gillies in particular, the taunting was almost unbelievable at first.

The big thing about the sentiment is that if Super Mario wants his comments to be taken seriously, he’s going to need to apply his own vitriol to Matt Cooke next time he steps out of line. And he will.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/14/11 at 01:56 PM ET

The big thing about the sentiment is that if Super Mario wants his comments to be taken seriously, he’s going to need to apply his own vitriol to Matt Cooke next time he steps out of line. And he will.

I personally think it’s too late.  If he came out when his players were disrespecting the league and playing without integrity then his words might hold some water, but the fact that he’s only coming out now, when his team was victimized, he loses all credibility in my eyes.

Why didn’t he come out publicly and talk about how Matt Cooke was ruining the integrity of the game when he put Marc Savard out for the majority of the season and the fact that the NHL had a chance to make a statement but didn’t?

Posted by Garth on 02/14/11 at 02:39 PM ET

Is this line shift an attempt to get Hudler on a hot streak right before the trade deadline?

Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 02/14/11 at 02:43 PM ET

Paul with your Mario Spiel you forgot to type BUT !! Because Everything before But is BS !!

Posted by Evilpens on 02/14/11 at 02:56 PM ET

great deconstruction of an opinion!

Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 02/14/11 at 03:15 PM ET

Perhaps their padding Hudlers stats to trade him.

Posted by TheFreak on 02/14/11 at 03:15 PM ET

I sincerely hope that they’re not padding Hudler’s stats to trade him.

I don’t think they need to make a big splash.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/14/11 at 03:25 PM ET

Is this line shift an attempt to get Hudler on a hot streak right before the trade deadline?

Hadn’t thought of that.  Could be the case, or it could just be that they’re giving him a chance to prove that he deserves to stay.

Posted by Garth on 02/14/11 at 03:44 PM ET

Make no mistake Cooke is what he is ! But these are the things he & his wife do off the ice

Posted by Evilpens on 02/14/11 at 04:10 PM ET

That it was the ISLANDERS that put them in their place makes it all the funnier still…

Jumping Max Talbot and Eric Tangradi put the Penguins in their place?  That’s rich.  I don’t really like to defend Matt Cooke at all, and I don’t agree with the hit, but at the time of the Savard hit, let’s not forget it was a legal hit.  Cheap, but legal. 

basically being the team forced down everyone’s throats.

Because the Penguins organization had anything to do with that? (Sorry that Hank Zetterberg can’t sell the league? Though I’d love them try…. Zzzz)  For a fan of such a dominate franchise such as Detroit, many of you have such inferiority complexes it’s laughable.  It’s nice to know you care so much.  You can’t wait to take any shot at Pittsburgh.  It’s fine though.  Maybe with everything that’s happened this season they don’t have what it takes, time will tell.  They’ll reload and come back next year. 

Paul, Nathan, and JJ all make solid points.  Primis, not so much.

Posted by Russian Rocket on 02/14/11 at 05:09 PM ET

I believe Elliote Friedman said it best…

“The Islanders saying they were frustrated because the Penguins get preferential treatment is a total non-starter. There is not a team in the NHL - or its fans - who thinks they are treated fairly.”

Posted by Russian Rocket on 02/14/11 at 05:19 PM ET

But these are the things he & his wife do off the ice

Do those things include helping Marc Savard recover from the concussion Cook gave him?

What he does off the ice is COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.

Jeffrey Dahmer may have tried to make an army of zombie sex slaves, but he had a nice garden, so cut him a break ok?

Posted by Garth on 02/14/11 at 07:49 PM ET

Posted by Russian Rocket on 02/14/11 at 02:09 PM ET

To take a quote from the classic movie Super Troopers… don’t lump us in with that martian.

Seriously though, agree with your posts.

The Pens and Caps both are shoved down our throats, but let’s not forget that the Wings get plenty of national broadcasts as well. Bottom line is, Crosby and Ovechkin were both high picks that came out of the lockout with lots of expectations and hype, and both have lived up to it. You have to market that. As sick of them as I might be, I admit that the NHL would be insanely stupid not to focus on that. Crosby gives you so much pub with the Canadian base and Ovechkin is drawing in a lot of European fans and a younger generation that likes the flash and showmanship of his game.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/14/11 at 09:03 PM ET

Re: Hudler—

If he keeps producing then there’s almost no reason to trade him. There won’t be a more productive veteran player available that would make moving Hudler worthwhile. Only way you’d trade him if he keeps going good is if you get an offer that’s too good to refuse, like a first-round pick or a highly valued prospect… which just never happens.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/14/11 at 09:18 PM ET

There won’t be a more productive veteran player available that would make moving Hudler worthwhile.

If they were to move him I don’t think they’d be looking for offense.  Even with him having a so-so year Detroit is #2 if Goals per game.  If they decided to trade him I would assume they’d be looking for someone to help lift up their 19th place ranking in goals against per game by acquiring a defenceman.

Or to free up some space to re-sign Howard and sign a back-up next year.  But a deal like that would likely be done in the off-season, I suppose.

Posted by Garth on 02/14/11 at 09:53 PM ET

Make no mistake Cooke is what he is ! But these are the things he & his wife do off the ice

For Example:

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/12/red_wings_visit_childrens_hosp.html

Every team does philanthropic PR projects.  I’m not impressed.

Posted by bezukov from the kids are alright. on 02/15/11 at 12:03 AM ET

Or to free up some space to re-sign Howard and sign a back-up next year.  But a deal like that would likely be done in the off-season, I suppose.

Posted by Garth on 02/14/11 at 06:53 PM ET

Hudler for Cooke? 

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 02/15/11 at 01:34 AM ET