Jiri Hudler Signs 4-Year Deal With Calgary Flames

July 2, 2012 5:48 PM

Jiri Hudler #26 of the Detroit Red Wings fights Kevin Klein #8 of the Nashville Predators for position in front of goalie Pekka Rinne #35 in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) – The Calgary Flames have signed Jiri Hudler to a $16 million, four-year contract.

Calgary added the Czech forward Monday on the second day of NHL free agency.

The 28-year-old Hudler had a career-high 25 goals and 50 points last season with the Detroit Red Wings. He had 87 career goals and 214 points in five full seasons plus parts of two years with the franchise that drafted him in 2002.

Hudler had a career-high 57 points during the 2008-09 season, then played in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League for one season. He returned to the Red Wings with a $5.75 million, two-year deal.

Flames general manager Jay Feaster says Hudler is a highly skilled offensive player and one of the league’s best even-strength scorers.