What to do with Huberdeau?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Huberdeau is essentially buy out proof, due to bonus structure. Little savings.

If he was bought out with 4 years remaining, the savings would amount to about $3.6M.

Per year cap savings? That’s no good. Then again, I’ve always preferred retention over buyout.

[Strange Brew]

Remains to be seen how easily Huberdeau can be moved near the end of his contract. We saw what it cost tomlove one year of Monahan so we’ll have to hope he is playing better by then.

I guess there’s a chance someone today still thinks he can return to form and you could trade him for another large contract with hopefully slightly less term (like Gaudreau).

Honestly it’s just one of those things better not to think about.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Per year cap savings? That’s no good. Then again, I’ve always preferred retention over buyout.

No, total. His contract is largely bonuses, so buyout proof.

[The Fisher Account]

Big takeaway from watching Hubey these past two years:

He's an amazing passer with an absolutely atrocious successful passing %.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Big takeaway from watching Hubey these past two years:

He's an amazing passer with an absolutely atrocious successful passing %.

Because he has almost zero working knowledge of any of the players on this team.

He had a decade’s worth of insight into the Panthers.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

No, total. His contract is largely bonuses, so buyout proof.

I misspoke - I was asking basically what comes off the cap each year, and you answered it if I think enough.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Because he has almost zero working knowledge of any of the players on this team.

He had a decade’s worth of insight into the Panthers.

Him throwing up a careless behind the back pass at centre ice onto the stick of a Knights player last game was definitely due to not being familiar with his teammates

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Him throwing up a careless behind the back pass at centre ice onto the stick of a Knights player last game was definitely due to not being familiar with his teammates

That was one pass. I think the comment was about the bulk of his offensive zone passes. He messed up on a tricky pass (which was behind the back because he was covered on the forehand against the boards). The proper play was to eat the puck but he tried to make something out of nothing and it backfired.

I tend to be less critical of guys trying to make something happen when it backfires. Happens to Weegar a fair bit too. It’s just the DNA of some player to try high risk high reward plays. His big season probably happens because they worked out more than usual. Plus his linemates fit the style.

I haven’t checked but I bet his passing% is quite good. He makes a lot of passes - people only remember the ones which result in a goal or the ones which backfire.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Because he has almost zero working knowledge of any of the players on this team.

He had a decade’s worth of insight into the Panthers.

Players get traded all the time. It doesn't take them a year+ to figure things out.

[Saqe]

I'm not sure why people are still making excuses. It's 100% on Huberdeau at this point.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I'm not sure why people are still making excuses. It's 100% on Huberdeau at this point.

No one is making excuses and who it's "on" is kind of irrelevant. Yelling "play better" doesn't accomplish anything.

What's important is how to fix things. IMO he's looked better with Backlund. Same as the last 10 games of last season in fact.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I haven’t checked but I bet his passing% is quite good. He makes a lot of passes - people only remember the ones which result in a goal or the ones which backfire.

Is there somewhere that actually tracks passing percentage? If so, I would be curious to see those numbers.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is there somewhere that actually tracks passing percentage? If so, I would be curious to see those numbers.

I don't know but on any given shift a player makes 3-4 passes that go unnoticed because they are routine. This particular guy makes passes all the time like that. Big event passes get noticed, one way or another, and I doubt those are tracked at all. And even there, is a pass that would be a great chance but a Dman stretches and manages to deflect it a bad pass or a good defensive play? No play happens in a vaccuum.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No one is making excuses and who it's "on" is kind of irrelevant. Yelling "play better" doesn't accomplish anything.

What's important is how to fix things. IMO he's looked better with Backlund. Same as the last 10 games of last season in fact.

Saying he has "almost zero working knowledge of any player on this team" could not be a better example of excuse making.

If putting him with Backlund helps fix things then great. But if that is what is required, those two should agree to swap contracts.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Saying he has "almost zero working knowledge of any player on this team" could not be a better example of excuse making.

If putting him with Backlund helps fix things then great. But if that is what is required, those two should agree to swap contracts.

Is it an excuse or a possible explanation. And what he is paid is pretty irrelevant to what's going wrong with him and how to get him going. Until it prevents a different signing it's irrelevant to the Flames' cap as well.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Is it an excuse or a possible explanation. And what he is paid is pretty irrelevant to what's going wrong with him and how to get him going. Until it prevents a different signing it's irrelevant to the Flames' cap as well.

To answer your question, it is an excuse. And a poor one at that.

[GFG#1]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That was one pass. I think the comment was about the bulk of his offensive zone passes. He messed up on a tricky pass (which was behind the back because he was covered on the forehand against the boards). The proper play was to eat the puck but he tried to make something out of nothing and it backfired.

I tend to be less critical of guys trying to make something happen when it backfires. Happens to Weegar a fair bit too. It’s just the DNA of some player to try high risk high reward plays. His big season probably happens because they worked out more than usual. Plus his linemates fit the style.

I haven’t checked but I bet his passing% is quite good. He makes a lot of passes - people only remember the ones which result in a goal or the ones which backfire.

I would prefer he makes a lower risk pass and completes it, so we can keep possession instead of giving the puck away.

Especially on the power play, as it seems once we lose possession, we struggle to get set up in the zone again.

Huberdeau needs to be the solution, I am sorry but if you can't find Chemistry with anyone on the team, it is likely that you are the problem not the team. At this point he is what he is, he isn't going anywhere maybe we will get one or two decent seasons with him over the course of his contract, but he is always going to be overpaid, and an anchor. We just have to make the best of it.

I do not think the team should be looking to trade away assets in hopes that Huberdeau will find chemistry with that player. If that player is a throw in on a larger deal ok, but specifically trading someone or a pick for this seems like terrible asset management in my opinion.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by GFG#1

I would prefer he makes a lower risk pass and completes it, so we can keep possession instead of giving the puck away.

Especially on the power play, as it seems once we lose possession, we struggle to get set up in the zone again.

Huberdeau needs to be the solution, I am sorry but if you can't find Chemistry with anyone on the team, it is likely that you are the problem not the team. At this point he is what he is, he isn't going anywhere maybe we will get one or two decent seasons with him over the course of his contract, but he is always going to be overpaid, and an anchor. We just have to make the best of it.

I do not think the team should be looking to trade away assets in hopes that Huberdeau will find chemistry with that player. If that player is a throw in on a larger deal ok, but specifically trading someone or a pick for this seems like terrible asset management in my opinion.

The weirdest thing is that he killed with Bennett and Duclair on his line at 5v5. It isn't like he was sponging off all stars. No idea what the solution is but feel like he just needs to simplify his game and move his feet more. Shoot more and make simple passes.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The weirdest thing is that he killed with Bennett and Duclair on his line at 5v5. It isn't like he was sponging off all stars. No idea what the solution is but feel like he just needs to simplify his game and move his feet more. Shoot more and make simple passes.

My view is that the explanation of why Huberdeau has fallen off the map is unexplainable.

There is really no precedent for it.

I've seen one year wonders turn unproductive, but we are talking about a player with a long history of success.

[sss1]

Well he started shooting last game.

Maybe he can build on that.