After a constant battle with an unspecified and unknown illness, forward Jiri Hudler has been placed yet again on the injured reserve list by the Dallas Stars. The illness that Hudler is suffering from is rumored to be the flu, but no official diagnosis has been released. Stars head coach Lindsey Ruff says that that Hudler is “Not close (To returning)”, and it is most likely that he will be sidelined for the rest of the weekend, and perhaps the beginning of the week.
Nothing new on Jiri Hudler (illness). Tests haven't shown anything. At this point, Hudler is not close, Ruff said.
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) November 6, 2016
As expected, @therealjdowls recalled by Dallas from Texas Stars (AHL). Expected to play today at Chicago. Jiri Hudler placed on IR.
— Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) November 6, 2016
To take the spot of Hudler, the Stars have called up Justin Dowling from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Texas Stars. Dowling, who went undrafted into the National Hockey League from the Western Hockey League‘s Swift Current Broncos in 2012, has spent nearly his entire career in the AHL. He made his pro debut this season with Dallas, playing in two games, tallying zero points. However, he has scored two goals and seven assists with Texas in eight games played this season. Dowling will most likely not be in the lineup Sunday night against the Chicago Blackhawks due to the fact that Dallas has enough forwards, but he will be kept up due to Jason Spezza suffering a lower body injury Saturday night against the Blackhawks and possibly not being available for Sunday’s match-up.
Hudler, who was signed as a free agent by the Stars earlier this season, has played in only four games, his latest being on November 1st against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In those four games played, Hudler has registered zero points and a negative three plus/minus. Jiri Hudler is expected to return, if all goes well, Thursday, November 10th, when the Stars travel to Calgary to take on the Calgary Flames.
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