2024-25 Huberdeau - new and improved?

[GullFoss]

How do you feel about Huby this year? I see a player that is winning board battles, engaging defensively, less turnovers and blind passes. He's an entirely different player than we got his first two seasons as he's actually positively contributing off the score sheet.

If he can start contributing more offensively, do you think he could become a player that's worth close to his cap hit? He's not going to be putting up 100 points, but he's also a more complete player than the flames traded for.

[The Cobra]

He’s basically on pace for the same number of points as the last two years. And that’s with 4 points in his first game.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

He’s basically on pace for the same number of points as the last two years. And that’s with 4 points in his first game.

Slightly better - 60 point pace.

The crappy team doesn't help this season. He's got more goals than anyone else on the team and more points than any forward (and only trailing Andersson on the entire team).

If he's bad, Kadri, Coleman, Backlund, etc are worse. Especially Kadri, who's been a defensive nightmare.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Not good enough

They traded for a guy who was among league leaders multiple years running and paid him to do that

[traptor]

He is what he is and he's not going to get any better the older he gets.


I just hope reality sets in with the team eventually.

We don't need to bring players in specifically for him.
We don't need to gift him pp1 time.

Just treat him like any other older middle 6 winger.

[Bonded]

It’s nice that’ he is trying and all but he’s playing like a middle six guy and earning top line dollars. This is what I expected in the last two years of his deal

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Slightly better - 60 point pace.

The crappy team doesn't help this season. He's got more goals than anyone else on the team and more points than any forward (and only trailing Andersson on the entire team).

If he's bad, Kadri, Coleman, Backlund, etc are worse. Especially Kadri, who's been a defensive nightmare.

8/12=55 point pace.

He is what he is.

[Ferarri]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

How do you feel about Huby this year? I see a player that is winning board battles, engaging defensively, less turnovers and blind passes. He's an entirely different player than we got his first two seasons as he's actually positively contributing off the score sheet.

If he can start contributing more offensively, do you think he could become a player that's worth close to his cap hit? He's not going to be putting up 100 points, but he's also a more complete player than the flames traded for.

He would have to start contributing a lot more to be worth that cap hit. Flames are paying him to put up points. Being a well rounded Backlund type player was never the plan. As others have said, he is what he is at this point.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

8/12=55 point pace.

He is what he is.

Well, I posted before the end of the game so it was 11 games. Which shows what sample sizes do.

At least I didn't try and minimize his multipoint games.

What he is is the best producing forward on the Flames at the moment.

[DeluxeMoustache]

As for worth his cap hit, or close to it, a hard ‘hell no’

Mikael Backlund has better ES production, doesn’t get PP1 time, is a way better overall player

Not a ####ing chance a slightly more responsible Huberdeau is anywhere near worth his cap hit. He isn’t even worth Backlund’s cap hit

[ComixZone]

He has 8 points in 12 games, on pace for 55 points.

Is there a system out there that could pull more out of him? Probably pretty likely, but the Flames don't seem to think it's worth changing what they've been doing over the last few years - so it's a moot point. I'd say we're getting about as much as we can out of the guy playing hockey the way we play hockey. There just isn't much else there, it seems.

[GioforPM]

Cap hit is pretty much irrelevant at the moment. And for the next few years.

[St. Pats]

I could almost care less about him. He is an annoyance much like Kuzmenko and Mantha. 3 players I would be more than glad to see gone. If Conroy could pull off a miracle and get something of value for any of the 3 he is a miracle worker.

[Flamesfan05]

He is paid to be a dominant player and he is not

He is producing at 50% of what he is paid

And not providing much entertainment value neither


Other than that he is OK. Not a terrible guy.

[heep223]

Giant meh

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

I could almost care less about him. He is an annoyance much like Kuzmenko and Mantha. 3 players I would be more than glad to see gone. If Conroy could pull off a miracle and get something of value for any of the 3 he is a miracle worker.

What the hell does this mean?

[Calgary4LIfe]

I have given up on him ever returning to even a PPG player. I hope he does, and I don't think it is an effort issue, so I can't hate him. That contract is just putrid, however, and it makes me just want the Flames to get rid of Kadri's deal ASAP because every single dollar WILL count sooner than some people realize, and I would rather only have 10.5M in dead cap (relatively dead cap - how much of the 10.5 Huberdeau is worth is arguable), rather than 13-17.5 with Kadri. Kadri is doing really well - hat's off to him - but with his age, those wheels will certainly fall off during this deal. The Flames can't afford to come out of this rebuild with too much dead cap on the books. You don't want to end up with another Tkachuk-type of bridge deal on a burgeoning superstar in 'trying to keep the gang together' (though I think Conroy would be forced to keep the band together, rather than decide to).


I would love for the Flames to find a way to get rid of Huberdeau's deal before then. With that being said, I do generally like him. His effort level is something that I can't criticize, and he does not hide or deflect the situation. Aside from the relatively pedestrian offence (especially considering his contract), he does do a few things well that somehow flies under the radar. I like how he plays with some jam and anger at times, and he is sneaky strong like Lindholm was - but probably even stronger.


I would love to see him continue developing his game and turning into a Mark Stone-Light type of player. Just be a player that is hard to play against and is very strong in all zones, even if he doesn't put up the offence. At least that will help the team. He seems to have the right attitude at least. I am convinced that Buffalo decided to buy-out Skinner probably because of an attitude. Aside from the offence to dollar ratio, there is nothing I can criticize Huberdeau for. The business side of me wants to get rid of his deal at any opportunity, but I really don't hate him and find myself cheering for him often.

[Strange Brew]

I thought he might be better this year because almost all pressure is gone. But it’s pretty clear that he can’t produce in a system with some structure.

Kind of shocking that there are still some who want to blame his teammates. Into year 3 and has yet to make a single player better. His salary won’t be an issue for a few years but what will be an issue hopefully at some point is that Flames have young forward pushing for time in the top 6 and Huberdeau will be blocking them. That will be interesting.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I thought he might be better this year because almost all pressure is gone. But it’s pretty clear that he can’t produce in a system with some structure.

Kind of shocking that there are still some who want to blame his teammates. Into year 3 and has yet to make a single player better. His salary won’t be an issue for a few years but what will be an issue hopefully at some point is that Flames have young forward pushing for time in the top 6 and Huberdeau will be blocking them. That will be interesting.

I'm not blaming his teammates. I'm saying there's no better forward on the team at the moment. This is a bad offensive team and Mackinnon would struggle to produce on it.

[Andrew]

Huberdeau plus player with pospisil kadri negative without. Say what you want about plus minus but I think it speaks something about pospisil. Huberdeau is paid to score until he hits 1 pt per game nothing is enough.