Hudler, 32, has 10 goals and 35 points in 53 games with Calgary this season and has spent most of his career with the Red Wings.
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Hudler was in his fourth season with the Flames after signing with the team as a free agent in the summer of 2012.
The Panthers added less than $3 million of pro-rated salary (there are 21 games remaining before the playoffs); Detroit will keep 15 percent of Kindl’s $2.5 million salary this season and $3 million next year.
That trio was one of the most risky lines in the league last season and were a big reason why Calgary surprised many by making the playoffs for the first time in six years.
On Saturday, they took a step to help solidify that position when they acquired three players in three different deals. “Many times you get to the bench, he’d let you know if he didn’t think things were good enough”.
“We are very pleased to welcome Jiri to the Panthers”, general manager Dale Tallon said.
The Florida Panthers are now second in the Eastern Conference and atop the Atlantic Division with 22 games to go.
With the Panthers now on a five-game road trip which started in Columbus on Saturday afternoon, Hudler is likely to meet up with the team in Minnesota for Sunday’s matinee or on Tuesday when the Panthers play the Winnipeg Jets.
Hudler also was excited to reconnect with his former Czech national teammate, Jaromir Jagr. He has 155 goals and 406 points in 657 games and won a Stanley Cup in 2008 with Detroit.
Kindl was a promising young blueliner when he came up in Red Wings organization.
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Picking up Hudler cost Tallon a second-round pick in 2016 and a fourth-round pick in 2018.
