Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
Hard to say. Maybe the trade or the pressure of an all-star contract mentally screwed him up. Maybe he and Sutter don’t jive at all for whatever reason. But if that’s the case and he’s unique in that regard, whose job is it to figure it out? The coach that is getting the best out of most of the team? Or the star player that’s giving third liner quality when we’re lucky?
Sutter has played him with 85% of the forwards on the team and every time Huberdeau doesn’t produce with guys it’s Sutter’s fault for playing him with those guys. I’ll ask again: what exactly does Huberdeau need to figure it out? Should we go out and trade players until we get ones he likes? Or cycle through coaches until we find one he likes? He’s not McDavid.
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Come on now, be honest about Huberdeau's usage. At even strength his most frequent linemates have been Nazem Kadri (okay) and freaking Milan Lucic. 22.7% of the season.
20.1% with Toffoli and Lindholm
18.6% with Kadri and Pelletier
7.2% with Backlund and Coleman
6.5% with Kadri and Mangiapane
Source:
https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/...L&situation=EV
And a few others for short stints. Milan Lucic has played with him more than Lindholm or Toffoli or Mangiapane. That would have been unthinkable before the season.
I agree that goaltending sunk the season, I really do. But I don't think the players have been used well and I do think it's a miserable atmosphere.