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Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
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Huberdeau had a rough start but really he did get better as the season went on - especially at 5v5.
Game 1-20:
GP: 18
Goals: 2
Points: 4
xGF%: 57.4%
First 20 games were interesting because he produced nothing at 5v5, but also had the lowest GA per 60 and xGA per 60 on the team. He was really buying in to being a 200 foot player.
Game 21-40:
GP: 20
G: 2
A: 7
P: 9
xGF%: 50.6%
Offensive production improved, but defensive play actually dropped a bit once on the line with Kadri.
Game 41-60:
GP: 20
G: 3
A: 6
P: 9
xGF%: 53.9%
Third quarter of the season the xGF bounced back vs the second quarter, and he maintained respectable 5v5 production.
Game 61-82
GP: 22
G: 3
A: 11
P: 14 (led the team, T-22nd in the NHL)
GF%: 65.6% (21 GF / 11 GA)
xGF%: 57.8%
Over the last 22 games Huberdeau, Weegar, and Toffoli were the team's three best players at 5v5. His 14 point pace over the last 22 games would actually be his best 5v5 production of his career at 5v5 (52 point pace at 5v5, career high is 50).
As the season went on I find that Huberdeau actually adapted quite well to Sutter's system, and honestly thing long term he's probably a better player for it. Way more well rounded for sure.
It's kind of funny to think but when it comes to xGF% at 5v5 this is actually the best season of Huberdeau's career (55.2%). His second highest xGF per 60, and 5th lowest xGA per 60 of his career.
Now the PP is a whole other question, and in terms of Huberdeau's production that is where I put more of the blame. This is a guy that was 3rd in PP points the 3 seasons prior to this one, and our coaching staff seemed clueless on how to set up a PP around him and Lindholm.
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Certainly helps that he played a lot with Backlund in the final quarter of the season. I know there was a lot of talk about whether he’d fit better with Kadri or Lindholm. But I was always in the Backlund camp from the start. Backs pushes the pace of play up the middle and is a great distributor to his wingers. He opens up a lot of space for Huberdeau and that’s exactly what Huberdeau needs.
Jonathan’s strengths are all about using his vision or ability to stop up and find the trailer or someone cutting hard to the net. So having a guy like Backlund who can push the opposition back and open up lanes is vital. Backs also dominates down low on the cycle and checks extremely well, so he does a lot of the dirty work which helps a skill guy like Huberdeau a lot.