Quote:
Originally Posted by Saqe
I gotta say I've read a lot of people say things about Huberdeau that don't ring a bell with me at all and this is also one of them. And not picking on you specifically but thought I'd set this straight once and for all:
Huby isn't an end-to-end skater, in fact speed is his worst asset. For that reason you don't see him bringing the puck up the ice, it's Bennett or Tippett on that line (or more likely to) and when he played with Barkov it was Barkov. If Huberdeau had speed to drive end-to-end he would probably be a generational talent. But he doesn't, he's an average skater.
What he is though is an elite playmaker, maybe the best in the league and also maybe the best passer in the league. He's strong on the cycle and in the corners and can puckhandle in a booth. You rarely see him drive to the net unless it's a wide open lane, he's more of a setup guy. Bennett driving the net opens up a lot of space for Huberdeau along the boards.
Maybe CaliPanthersfan can chime in if he agrees with this or not but this is my impression of him after watching a decade of him in the league.
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YUP!
Reminds me a LOT of Tanguay, but bigger and a little bit slower. Much more of a board worker, but is an absolute wizard when he gets the puck from the halfboards down.
I will say, he isn't shy about going to the front of the net at all if the opportunity is even a little bit there, so I might disagree a little bit with the assessment. He isn't a mucker like Bennett is though.