Thread: [PGT] Flames beat Capitals 5-2
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Old 12-05-2022, 01:06 PM   #199
Naitix
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As I see it the issue is that Huberdeau is trying to play a playstyle he has not played ever/in a while in Florida. Huberdeau's go to are risky east-west passes, playing fast counter-attack and as others have mentioned - takeaways in the offensive/neutral zone that result in odd man situations.

The thing is that Sutter's system is defense first which reduces likelihood of odd man rushes as forwards are further back in our own/neutral zone and back off instead of lingering in the offensive zone. Hub is clearly making a smaller number of risky plays and he is messing them up more often than before as he is probably in his head being "I do not want to mess up". Back in Florida he was able to play more or less how he wanted to and had no pressure from the fans to play safe hockey. Here any time he fails a pass people start complaining, it is just different hockey expectations.

Hub plays best with players who are fast at north-south transition as he is able to make those tight passes for odd man rushes and breakaways, I do think that he is not playing with players that utilize his skillset.

I also think that he is wayyyy better than he was at the start of the season, I am not sure why you guys are complaining so much. Last game he made 2 passes that should have resulted in easy empty net goals in the first period.

I have no doubt that Hub is going to be an 80-100+ point players again with us, but I just do not know if it will work in the current hockey structure with these types of players that we have accumulated. It is Sutter's job to get Hub to play to his potential, and if he won't, hopefully the next coach will, whenever that is.

But, I also think that Hub is one of the most competitive and professional players we had on the team in years, and I think he can find a new way to play that leads him to be successful.

Majority of you are underestimating what it means going from a run and gun style of hockey in Florida with no outside pressure, to playing under Sutter in one the most responsible defensive system in the NHL and in the market that over analyzes every mistake you make
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