Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
I think it shows more how player production in general can be situational. Huberdeau was probably the 3rd or 4th best forward in Florida. That gave them the luxury of playing him on the 2nd line where he didn't have the hardest match-ups and could play without the reins on.
Then going to Calgary and expecting him to be the number one forward on the 1st line, it's just not the dude that he is. Even in Florida, when they played him on the top line with Barkov, his production would go down. He's just an easier player to defend against compared to other star players, so the tough match-up just never worked out great for him.
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What? That's just so much revisionist b.s. Maybe 2nd after Barkov, but that's only in terms of his importance to the team and role he played. He was very much their top offensive forward, and he literally turned Anthony Duclair into a 30 goal winger. Reinhart arrived that big year, and Huberdeau was a major part of revitalizing him offensively. To say he didn't drive the offense or wasn't important to the team is utter bull####.
Look, I don't know what happened to Huberdeau when he got traded. It's still one of the most curious and odd things I can remember happening to a hockey player. I watched him a TON in Florida, and he was dynamic, creative, and absolutely could create offense out of nothing. Since being traded and coming to Calgary, he just looks like a completely different player. Whether it's a rapid drop off in his skills, or just losing confidence, or playing a different system, or a combination of all three things, I don't know. All I know is that he is simply NOT the player I watched for years in Florida. He was barely okay defensively, but he was an absolute force offensively. I simply don't know what happened that caused him the change.
The trade was the right call. It just didn't turn out well for the Flames, but it was still absolutely the right move to keep the team at the top of the standings.
What's the lesson? #### happens I guess.¯\_(ツ)_/¯