What to do with Huberdeau?

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well, there's the system v linemates issue. What linemates could possibly complement Huberdeau in the present system? Maybe a Tkachuk.

Tkachuk would be a nice, even Johnny would’ve been quite helpful at doing some of the heavy lifting for Huberdeau. Gaudreau is also one of the best “bad pass” players I’ve ever seen, some of the wild Huberdeau passes we’ve seen probably could’ve been cradled by Gaudreau and turned into a highlight reel play.

But off the top of my head, I think a Mackinnon type player would compliment Huberdeau really well. A power forward who can push the pace of play, back up defenders and dish off to Huberdeau who can then find the trailer wide open or something.

I mean, I’m sure Huberdeau would love a guy who has breakaway speed and a cannon for a shot who can take the middle, or drive the net or who can open up space for him. That’s probably the type of teammate who could unlock Huberdeau’s skillset.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Huberdeau needs to just say **** it, I'm playing my game, you know, the same game which got me a $84 million contract. Piss off Sutter and your defence first/throw it in the corner and retrieve game, I'll be here a lot longer than you'll be.

Gaudreau, Lindholm and Tkachuk would throw it in the corner, come up with it (didn't need JG do do this part), and they seemed to do fine. We are missing the Tkachuk part, but my point is the strategy isn't that dampening to offensive production.

Huberdeau is going to be fine.....just need some confidence/swagger and a different winger maybe.

[Inglewood Jack]

I also agree that a MacKinnon type player would help improve Huberdeau's game. Something management should look into.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Huberdeau could have had at least 4 points tonight. He set up a coulde nice chances aside from his two assists.

He's been invisible in too many games but he's also made way too many beautiful setups all season that ended in no goal due to the finishing ability of his linemates.

This team needs a quality shooter badly if Huberdeau is going to flourish.

[activeStick]

Very good players sometimes have very bad seasons by their standards. I'm guessing Huberdeau finds his game again next season and finishes in the 80ish point range.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I also agree that a MacKinnon type player would help improve Huberdeau's game. Something management should look into.

You have to tank to get a Mackinnon

[Jordan!]

He got his contract but some guys just play better out of the microscope.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I also agree that a MacKinnon type player would help improve Huberdeau's game. Something management should look into.

I am pretty sure a "MacKinnon type player" would help anyone's game.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I am pretty sure a "MacKinnon type player" would help anyone's game.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I also agree that a MacKinnon type player would help improve Huberdeau's game. Something management should look into.

Well why didn't you just say so?!

They can go pluck one off the MacKinnon tree

[Cycling76er]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Well why didn't you just say so?!

They can go pluck one off the MacKinnon tree

Let's just grab two of them while we're there.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Cycling76er

Let's just grab two of them while we're there.

do we really want a repeating of the old testament?

because McJesus won't atone for our sins

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

In Florida’s system, Jonathan would’ve been productive with a lot of different types of skillsets and he proved that throughout his time as a Panther. But the playoffs were a different story and I’m not sure Bennett and Duclair would be enough for Huberdeau right now under these current conditions. The trio certainly was not good enough in last year’s playoffs where their collective production kind of fell off a cliff once the calendar flipped over.

Huberdeau was third in points after Jan 1st 2022 (and 1st in PPG) - so don't think it fell off a cliff once the calendar flipped over at all.

Big thing for that line is things shifted around after they acquired Giroux. And in the playoffs they only played 22 minutes together as a trio.

If anything they should have kept them together because they were less effective apart from one another.

I still think Dube is the closest thing this team has to Bennett or Duclair skill set wise, and we have barely seen those two together.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Huberdeau was third in points after Jan 1st 2022 (and 1st in PPG) - so don't think it fell off a cliff once the calendar flipped over at all.

Big thing for that line is things shifted around after they acquired Giroux. And in the playoffs they only played 22 minutes together as a trio.

If anything they should have kept them together because they were less effective apart from one another.

I still think Dube is the closest thing this team has to Bennett or Duclair skill set wise, and we have barely seen those two together.

I meant the regular season calendar vs the playoff calendar. Big difference going from 1.44 ppg to 0.5 ppg.

Also, I suspect Darryl doesn’t like both those guys out there together because their puck retrieval skills are not their strongest attributes. Conversely, It’s probably the reason why Darryl promoted Lucic to Huberdeau’s line, because Lucic is good at puck retrievals.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Maybe we should play a style that requires limited puck retrievals and plays more to the strengths of the players.

Lucic did not help Huberdeaus game that line was under water they just rode a hot shooting %.

[dissentowner]

If you want to fix Huberdeau you have to have a system that uses his strengths instead of minimizing them.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

He got his contract but some guys just play better out of the microscope.

I recall hearing this past summer/fall from more than one report that Huberdeau had the personality, etc. that suited the spotlight...that he wanted to be "the guy".

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I meant the regular season calendar vs the playoff calendar. Big difference going from 1.44 ppg to 0.5 ppg.

Also, I suspect Darryl doesn’t like both those guys out there together because their puck retrieval skills are not their strongest attributes. Conversely, It’s probably the reason why Darryl promoted Lucic to Huberdeau’s line, because Lucic is good at puck retrievals.

Just stop with the Lucic was great for Huberdeau argument. Yes, Lucic is fairly good at puck retrieval. But he is NOT good at play-making, or finishing plays. Huberdeau needs to be playing with players that can work with him creatively. And he needs to be allowed to make plays.

The only reason Lucic was good statistically on that line (for a while) was that Huberdeau happened to be playing his best hockey of the season at that time.

You don't dumb-down a Huberdeau to play with a Lucic, you find guys to play with him who can help him maximize his value.

[CalgarySames]

What do you do with him?

You put him back on that top line with Lindholm and Toffoli, and give them a little more leash.That is our best chance at a legitimate "high octane" line! They didnt' really mesh early, but Huberdeau came out flat; frankly Lindholm and Toffoli took a while to get going this year too! With Lindholm and Toffoli finding their games again, it's time to get that line rolling. Give our best players the chance to gel, getting those three clicking on a line would likely alleviate our Power Play woes as well.

10-28-73
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Mang and Dube always seem to get something going when they are on the ice together, and Kadri would add the physicality to carry the play with two trigger men who can pounce on rebounds.

Backlund has been a major key to developing both Dube and Mangipane, I think he could provide the right guidance for Pelletier, and Pelletier would bring some offensive spark to that third line.

Ruzicka should be centering that 4th line, he's put up 20 points in 39 games this year, and he can carry the play! Plus I think he could learn a lot from Lucic!

I know we aren't getting the best out of Huberdeau at the moment, but he's also been playing his off wing. Prior to that he was playing with Lucic, (All love to him) but Lucic is definitely a 4th liner at his best.

It feels like we droped a fully tuned F1 engine into my Focus! Could it work? Sure? Is it needlessly tedious? Absolutely! And it is definitely not the most effective use of the engine. I think that the talent is there, it's just not being used effectively. Maybe this is Sutter making him see what it's like defending either side of the ice, so he never feels out of position? I'm just convinced that regardless of tactics, it's time to get our best offensive weapon back on the top line. He's going to need that time to adjust for a Playoff run and it's looking like it might be a sprint to the finish from here on.

[Northendzone]

I’d move into the pocket dawg booth. Get him coring buns or running the cini-malt machine