What to do with Huberdeau?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

All we have is hope, hope that he pulls a Skinner and remembers how to play hockey.

Jeff Skinner also had a significant injury at the time his points plummeted. He rebounded once he got healthy.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Huberdeau isn’t preventing them from winning games.

You seem to think he’s not trying hard enough and just “being better” is like an on/off switch. It’s not.

You’re correct.

With him, its just an off switch.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Jeff Skinner also had a significant injury at the time his points plummeted. He rebounded once he got healthy.

He missed a month with injury in 19/20 so I guess it's a good excuse for a 23 pt season but he was brutal in 20/21 with 14 pts and a lot of healthy scratches.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

Do you mean in a semantic sense. Like philosophically, he’s not preventing them from winning games.

I hope you’re being cute because in a practical sense yes he’s very much a detriment to the team right now. He’s a net negative towards the goal of winning on most nights. But as importantly, he’s chewing up more than 10% of the team’s cap that could be spent on better players.

Let’s not pretend otherwise

I mean that most games they’ve lost weren’t because of some mistake he made. If you’re saying they’d have won if he scored a goal, maybe. But that applies to every other skater too. Including the ones who did.

His salary isn’t preventing them from signing or spending on anyone else. Who did you have in mind who was available?

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by heep223

Do you mean in a semantic sense. Like philosophically, he’s not preventing them from winning games.

I hope you’re being cute because in a practical sense yes he’s very much a detriment to the team right now. He’s a net negative towards the goal of winning on most nights. But as importantly, he’s chewing up more than 10% of the team’s cap that could be spent on better players.

Let’s not pretend otherwise

His team leading -14 isn't helping the team win now, but it could help the team land their next franchise player. Which is likely more important. A few extra wins this year is meaningless. A few lower spots in the draft could be huge.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, it will never happen, but it should be an option in contracts to have a clause that says if the production declines by a certain amount from one year to the next, then the contract can be cancelled. A player might negotiate a different margin for more or less money to either gamble on themselves or give themselves more security. For example, a team might offer $10 million AAV, but state that if production declines by more than 25% from one year to the next, then the contract can be voided, or offer $8 million AAV, and change the number to 40%.

I think this is part of the issue for Huberdeau, and likely Gaudreau and possibly Kyrou. They did it, they got the bag. Now the reward of a big career contract is no longer a factor to them. Huberdeau can say he is a proud guy and wants to do well no matter what, but he is human and he wouldn't be the first person lay off the pedal once they are set up for life. I don't think it is on purpose, it's just the way things go for a lot of people.

I think this is a great idea but how do you get the league implement it, don't they have to have a vote on it? Will the players association agree? I think it's a great idea because of problem like this really handcuffs a team which bargained in good faith. Hopefully some good comes from it and we get a high draft pick one that plays well with Huberdeau.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The PA would never go for it, but if they did, it would have to work the other way too. Meaning if a player's production increases by a certain % the contract goes up.

Neither side would go for it.

[Freeway]

And given how revenues/HHR/the cap are rising, you are probably never going to see compliance buyouts again. They were given out twice: once in 2005 to ease the transition into a cap system and again in 2013 because the cap rolled backwards for a single season.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Locke

Hey...if Huberdeau can play wing and generate 0 goals, 0 assists and 0 points how much worse could Wolf do?

You could leave him in his goalie equipment and everything.

Not once have I seen Wolf turn the puck over in the offensive zone. It's worth a shot!

[Strange Brew]

The only thing I could see happening on buyouts is a new formula for how they impact the cap. Would have to be collectively bargained.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The PA would never go for it, but if they did, it would have to work the other way too. Meaning if a player's production increases by a certain % the contract goes up.

Neither side would go for it.

Since I assume you are tying production to points, it makes no sense. Production is more than points, and teams can lower production by lower ice time and PP time.

Guaranteed contracts were what players got for agreeing to a salary cap. It’s not going away.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Since I assume you are tying production to points, it makes no sense. Production is more than points, and teams can lower production by lower ice time and PP time.

Guaranteed contracts were what players got for agreeing to a salary cap. It’s not going away.

They always had guaranteed contracts.

What we need is term limits or remove the guaranteed contract.

If you are privileged enough to make this type of money you better perform. People in much worse situation get turfed if they screw up in a job.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I mean that most games they’ve lost weren’t because of some mistake he made. If you’re saying they’d have won if he scored a goal, maybe. But that applies to every other skater too. Including the ones who did.

His salary isn’t preventing them from signing or spending on anyone else. Who did you have in mind who was available?

I don’t want to wade into an argument that maybe has history, but from the outside I cannot grasp what you are trying to say.

He is supposed to be the team’s best player and make a difference.
He is the worst, at least among the players you expected to start in the NHL.

Others can also be better, but nothing would make a bigger difference than the teams best player being their best player.

[Flamesfan05]

Yeah Huberdeau definitely has a big impact on the Flames record

They are missing the production they need from their highest paid player

There isn’t really any impact bigger than that.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

They always had guaranteed contracts.

What we need is term limits or remove the guaranteed contract.

If you are privileged enough to make this type of money you better perform. People in much worse situation get turfed if they screw up in a job.

Ok and none of that matters
Why would the PA agree to any of that?

[kukkudo]

That’s okay he’s doing the little things who needs production from the highest paid player.

[Shummy]

Its difficult to figure out if you are just playing devils advocate here or if you actually believe what you are posting.


Defending Huberbeau at this point is comical. No one in league history has had a drop off in points as large as him, no one in LEAGUE HISTORY. and hes picking up right where he left off from last year. If you dont think he has been directly responsible in games that led us to ultimately lose then you arent paying close attention here.

How many of his constant giveaways have ended up in our net? He went through a stretch last month where he had 3 shots on goal in 5 games thats it. The only time he shows up on the stat line there is a minus attached to his name.

The time to make excuses for this guy has long sailed. When you make the money this guy makes especially in a CDN market you better back it up. The way this is going not only is he going to be the worst contract in the league but it could end up one of the worst contracts in league history.

[Shummy]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I mean that most games they’ve lost weren’t because of some mistake he made. If you’re saying they’d have won if he scored a goal, maybe. But that applies to every other skater too. Including the ones who did.

His salary isn’t preventing them from signing or spending on anyone else. Who did you have in mind who was available?

Its difficult to figure out if you are just playing devils advocate here or if you actually believe what you are posting.


Defending Huberbeau at this point is comical. No one in league history has had a drop off in points as large as him, no one in LEAGUE HISTORY. and hes picking up right where he left off from last year. If you dont think he has been directly responsible in games that led us to ultimately lose then you arent paying close attention here.

How many of his constant giveaways have ended up in our net? He went through a stretch last month where he had 3 shots on goal in 5 games thats it. The only time he shows up on the state line there is a minus attached to his name.

The time to make excuses for this guy has long sailed. When you make the money this guy makes especially in a CDN market you better back it up. The way this is going not only is he going to be the worst contract in the league but it could end up one of the worst contracts in league history.

[rollie619]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't even have to include POs. He had 109 regular season points - a career year. In 3 less games than his previous 104.

This year is another tale. 20 points, only 5 goals. 8 Flames have more goals than Tkachuk.

I agree Gio. That's why I said Hart nominee. I still think factoring everything in, you can make an argument for Weager being the best player since the trade. In a way that you could make an argument for trading Crosby for Phaneuf in the '06 offseason. Like not be laughed out of the room kind of thing, as opposed to a serious argument.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The PA would never go for it, but if they did, it would have to work the other way too. Meaning if a player's production increases by a certain % the contract goes up.

Neither side would go for it.

It also doesn’t account for the Tanevs of the league.