Just thoughts on who will have a more productive NHL career. Looking mostly for people who have seen either of them play...especially if you have seen both play.
Don't want to step on anyones toes and start some kind of flamming war.
But am I the only one here who defenitly don't like Muellers style at all?
My opinion on him is that he will be a player who only will have success when he gets the proper support, and when he don't he will only hurt his team. He never gets involved in the early stages of a play, he kind of floats in a good position untill someone else makes a strong play.
He reminds me allot of Jeff O'Neil. Someone who will capatilize playing in a situation were he is a goto player, but never really be a factor when it counts...
He do got allot of talent though. I am just not crazy about him at all.
Ask this question when Mueller get's to the big league because for now it's impossibe to answer this.
Hudler dominated every other league he played in outside the NHL, right now he's ok but he's also not getting enough chances, I don't think he'll be a star but I can imagine a career similar to a guy like Ray Whitney or even Martin Straka.
As of now Mueller has a higher value in a trade, but that does't mean he's the better player since we don't really know.
Kid was 21 last year, not 38....and part of the reason Hudler played with a 50 goal scorer was because he was the one feeding those passes to set it up. And being a top scorer in the AHL with 96 points is pretty damn good to me for someone so young.Hudler hasn't "dominated" in any North American league. He had three seasons in the AHL, two of which were below a ppg. In this third season, he led his team in points. But, he only had 36 goals and he was on a team with a 50+ goal scorer.
Hudler, IMO, lacks the size, grit, and drive to ever make an impact in the NHL. To me, he looks like the kind of guy who can put up big numbers in the AHL (after a few seasons -when he is older and more experienced than other players in the league) but never do anything in the majors.
Mueller, if the stars align, could be a star.
This is an easy choice. Mueller by a landslide.
Kid was 21 last year, not 38....and part of the reason Hudler played with a 50 goal scorer was because he was the one feeding those passes to set it up. And being a top scorer in the AHL with 96 points is pretty damn good to me for someone so young.
But, that was his first full season in the AHL due to injuries and other matters. Also, there are only a handful of guys his age 19 and 20 who are playing in the AHL. Most are either in junior or college.I didn't say that 96 points wasn't "good.' But, that was also his third season in the AHL and 96 points was hardly a "dominating" number as suggested by the above poster. Hudler was NEVER a "dominant" player in any North American league.
And, you could argue that he had a 50 goal scorer on his team because of his own playmaking. But, another possibility is that Hudler's first season with a high number of assists happened to reflect the productivity of other players on his roster.
As for the age issue, Hudler was actually in his third AHL season when he put up those numbers, and he was 22-YO, a few years older and a lot more experienced than the other 19 and 20-YO rookies.
I didn't say that 96 points wasn't "good.' But, that was also his third season in the AHL and 96 points was hardly a "dominating" number as suggested by the above poster. Hudler was NEVER a "dominant" player in any North American league.
And, you could argue that he had a 50 goal scorer on his team because of his own playmaking. But, another possibility is that Hudler's first season with a high number of assists happened to reflect the productivity of other players on his roster.
As for the age issue, Hudler was actually in his third AHL season when he put up those numbers, and he was 22-YO, a few years older and a lot more experienced than the other 19 and 20-YO rookies.
I didn't say that 96 points wasn't "good.' But, that was also his third season in the AHL and 96 points was hardly a "dominating" number as suggested by the above poster. Hudler was NEVER a "dominant" player in any North American league.
And, you could argue that he had a 50 goal scorer on his team because of his own playmaking. But, another possibility is that Hudler's first season with a high number of assists happened to reflect the productivity of other players on his roster.
As for the age issue, Hudler was actually in his third AHL season when he put up those numbers, and he was 22-YO, a few years older and a lot more experienced than the other 19 and 20-YO rookies.
But, that was his first full season in the AHL due to injuries and other matters. Also, there are only a handful of guys his age 19 and 20 who are playing in the AHL. Most are either in junior or college.
Don't get me wrong, I not saying his is the next coming of Gretzky,but he has put up solid numbers when healthy in every league he has played in.
Hudler hasn't "dominated" in any North American league. He had three seasons in the AHL, two of which were below a ppg. In this third season, he led his team in points. But, he only had 36 goals and he was on a team with a 50+ goal scorer.
Hudler, IMO, lacks the size, grit, and drive to ever make an impact in the NHL. To me, he looks like the kind of guy who can put up big numbers in the AHL (after a few seasons -when he is older and more experienced than other players in the league) but never do anything in the majors.
Mueller, if the stars align, could be a star.
This is an easy choice. Mueller by a landslide.
Ask this question when Mueller get's to the big league because for now it's impossibe to answer this.
Hudler is doing well in limited minutes, and I think he'll probably eventually develop into a solid second-tier scorer for Detroit.
But this isn't really a fair comparison. Mueller is (with the possible exception of Backstrom) the best offensive prospect in the game outside of the NHL right now. He's going to be a top-class #1 center putting up 50 assists/year for the next 12-15 years. Oozes vision, talent, and playmaking ability, and makes everyone who plays with him better.