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malcolmk14 · 12-09-2022, 09:01 AM

I'll preface this by saying Huberdeau has been below expectations, for sure. But here's why I think things will turn around and he'll put it together.

I think Huberdeau this year is being asked to play a much different role 5 on 5 than he has in the past. He's being asked to be more defensively responsible and careful about puck possession. His Corsi (56%), Fenwick (55%), and On-Ice xGF% (58.2%) is the highest by far that it's been at any point in his career. These are all measures of controlling possession.

He's given the puck away at 5 on 5 this season 7 times in 23 games, which puts him on pace for 24 giveaways in 79 games (.304 giveaways per game). Last season, he gave the puck away 62 times in 80 games 5-on-5 (.775 giveaways per game), and in the last five seasons in Florida he gave it away 269 times in 366 games (.735 giveaways per game).

Again, no question that he's struggled with the offensive side of the game, but I think it's a result of trying to be more defensively responsible and not take the same chances that he has been the last few years. He's on pace for 9.6 xGF at even strength, which is about 63% of his goal production last year, but where he's really hurting are assists. His offensive zone starts are way down and his points per 60 minutes at even strength are about half of what they were last year.

On the Power Play, he's producing pretty much at the clip you'd expect him to. A little down from last year (6.96 P/60 compared to 7.81 P/60 last year), but he's getting way less PP time than he was in Florida (59.2% share of ice time compared to 72.5% in Florida).

Points per 60 on the Power Play the last four years in Florida: 7.81, 5.83, 7.02, 6.96
This year in Calgary: 6.96

Does he need to be better at 5-on-5? Yep. Has he been absolutely dreadful? Not really, he's been much more responsible, and I think as he learns the system and gets more comfortable he will start to take some of those chances again that he's taken in the past and create some magic. He's been over a point per game the last four years, and I have no reason to believe he won't get there again this year.

12-09-2022, 09:01 AM	#729
malcolmk14 Franchise Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Exp:	I'll preface this by saying Huberdeau has been below expectations, for sure. But here's why I think things will turn around and he'll put it together. I think Huberdeau this year is being asked to play a much different role 5 on 5 than he has in the past. He's being asked to be more defensively responsible and careful about puck possession. His Corsi (56%), Fenwick (55%), and On-Ice xGF% (58.2%) is the highest by far that it's been at any point in his career. These are all measures of controlling possession. He's given the puck away at 5 on 5 this season 7 times in 23 games, which puts him on pace for 24 giveaways in 79 games (.304 giveaways per game). Last season, he gave the puck away 62 times in 80 games 5-on-5 (.775 giveaways per game), and in the last five seasons in Florida he gave it away 269 times in 366 games (.735 giveaways per game). Again, no question that he's struggled with the offensive side of the game, but I think it's a result of trying to be more defensively responsible and not take the same chances that he has been the last few years. He's on pace for 9.6 xGF at even strength, which is about 63% of his goal production last year, but where he's really hurting are assists. His offensive zone starts are way down and his points per 60 minutes at even strength are about half of what they were last year. On the Power Play, he's producing pretty much at the clip you'd expect him to. A little down from last year (6.96 P/60 compared to 7.81 P/60 last year), but he's getting way less PP time than he was in Florida (59.2% share of ice time compared to 72.5% in Florida). Points per 60 on the Power Play the last four years in Florida: 7.81, 5.83, 7.02, 6.96 This year in Calgary: 6.96 Does he need to be better at 5-on-5? Yep. Has he been absolutely dreadful? Not really, he's been much more responsible, and I think as he learns the system and gets more comfortable he will start to take some of those chances again that he's taken in the past and create some magic. He's been over a point per game the last four years, and I have no reason to believe he won't get there again this year.