from Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald,

Wearing an ‘A’ on his chest, the wily winger is pacing the Flames in scoring, anchoring the right side of the top line every night.

And, yes, leading.

“His game is still progressing,” coach Bob Hartley says of Hudler, who signed a four-year pact in 2012. “More importantly, I feel his presence around the group in the locker-room, in the gym, around the team. That’s where I’ve noticed in Year 3 a big, big change. Not that there was anything bad before.

“We talked to many veterans about taking a bigger role in the new culture … in a way, they’re a reflection of our team, of our organization. Jiri has been unbelievable. He jumped right with (Mark Giordano) and all the veterans that we have.”

The value of Hudler to the Flames’ flock of kids is well-documented.

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