Red-Wings-vouch-for-Jiri-Hudler’s-big-catch-during-fishing
Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News
Tampa, Fla. — As fish stories go, this one is for real. There are pictures of Jiri Hudler's catch Wednesday, several players have seen them. Jakub Kindl actually was there, with his and Hudler's dads along on the Red Wings' fathers-sons trip — on a deep-sea fishing excursion.
Hudler isn't much of a fisherman. Hudler doesn't actually remember the name of the fish, but believes it was a marlin, adding that it was several feet in length, very thick, weighed almost 50 pounds, and strong enough to battle Hudler for about 20 minutes.
"It was big," Kindl vouched. "I never seen a fish like that. We were pretty far from the beach. It was amazing seeing the fish (all) around."
Hudler said of his catch: "Really big. I was excited. It was fighting on the pole. I didn't know what it was, but it was big. It was tiring (to reel it in). It was going under the boat. It was (long). Everybody was watching me. The (guide) was giving me tips but I told him I'd fight it myself."
Lightning fan
Wings coach Mike Babcock gave credit to Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Guy Boucher for the Lightning's turnaround.
Yzerman, the Wings icon, has transformed the culture of the organization in a matter of months.
"They're really organized and they're playing hard," Babcock said. "They play fast. I like watching them. Just the way they go about playing, they play an up-tempo game. They try to create turnovers through the neutral zone, then get it and go fast."
The fathers were out in force for Thursday's morning skate, but probably counting the minutes until they could go back out into the Florida sunshine.
Especially Valtteri Filppula 's dad, Raineri , who came over from Finland where it was 12 below. "He loves this," Filppula said.
Filppula skated for the first time since spraining his left knee Feb. 7 against the New York Rangers. He doesn't expect to play in the next two games, but hopes to Tuesday against San Jose.
"I felt OK but not the way I wanted to feel right now," Filppula said.
"It's going in the good direction but just have to wait a little longer and see.
"I can skate calm(ly) no problem but stopping and starting is tough."
Ice chips
Chris Osgood (sports hernia) also did some skating but a return still is a couple weeks away. "I was a lot better today than I expected," Osgood said.
… Ruslan Salei (family reasons) is expected to return to the team today. Brad Stuart played his first game since breaking his jaw Jan. 7, replacing Salei. Stuart played 21 minutes 10 seconds and was plus -1.
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