What to do with Huberdeau?

[mjk123]

I guess now we have a "depth" 3rd line player......

[taxbuster]

Seems to me the only way that Hubey's contract would be tradeable would be to throw in several sweeteners...as completely unpalatable and unpleasant as that would be:
- retain salary
- burn off picks acquired from selling off this year's UFAs (as many as needed)
- pray that someone bites on that, sending a bad contract back, albeit short, and hope that the team can recover in time.


But you're either stuck with him, eating salary for some period, or eating a bad contract for some period.


For now? You wait and see if he either improves, young kids help him to improve as they come into the system or you can make a highly unpleasant deal in the summer.


Yes...it's like finally giving up on that big investment that a pal told you was gonna make you a million....and you went for it...and finally, you just sell it for pennies on the dollar.


I really don't see another option. He's not walking or LTIRetiring in any normal world.

[genetic_phreek]

A bit mean but thought it was funny

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

At what point do you actually put it on the player for playing terribly for 110-115 games? its the Flames fault? thats weird, as there are players on the team including a rookie who look pretty impactful. i am sure analytics isnt kind to him but the eye test tells me a lot, he is awful.

All I said was he can possibly play better when there are better players on the team. Of course it’s on him, he was supposed to be producing a long time ago. It is what it is. People can continue bitching, I’ll continue to hope he turns it around, even if he doesn’t.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by TOfan

….and they play in a 3000 seat arena and are on the precipice of being forced to leave America’s fifth largest market.

I’d be surprised if they left.

Fifth?

Which one of New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Philadelphia are you kicking out?

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by butterfly

I’d be surprised if they left.

Fifth?

Which one of New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Philadelphia are you kicking out?

Don’t have to kick out smaller cities like Dallas and Philly.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Spurs

Don’t have to kick out smaller cities like Dallas and Philly.

Phoenix is listed as 4.7mil
Dallas at 6.5mil
Philly at 5.7mil

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by butterfly

I’d be surprised if they left.

Fifth?

Which one of New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Philadelphia are you kicking out?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List..._by_population

This has also been discussed fairly extensively by journalists when the topic of Coyotes relocation comes up. Bettman does not want to leave the area due to, in part, its population and its expected population growth.

This isn’t hard information to find.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by TOfan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List..._by_population

This has also been discussed fairly extensively by journalists when the topic of Coyotes relocation comes up. Bettman does not want to leave the area due to, in part, its population and its expected population growth.

This isn’t hard information to find.

Actual city populations are pretty much useless in the US, though. They don't build cities that way down there, otherwise Calgary is bigger than Dallas, and the US only has 4 cities over 2mil, lol.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Still seems like you're acknowledging they need to work around his contract. Now I will concede that if the goal really is to try and be as bad possible, you wouldn't mind signing a guy to a bloated contract for four years and have him significantly underperform. He helps you get to the cap floor and still leaves flexibility for taking on bad contracts. That would help accomplish the goal of tanking if that is the plan. If it were me, I would prefer that be a shorter term than 4 years and maybe spread it around to a couple of players.

Unfortunately it's all hypothetical since he is signed for 8 years, not four, and no one gets an award for overpaying players in order to tank.

In any case, Merry Christmas Eve CP. I think I'll make a similar pledge based on Huberdeau's production for the game on the 27th as I did for the Kings game. I'm still not cheering for losses and would prefer a sharp turnaround for both him and the club.

Do they need to work around his contract? Yes, for sure they do. It will be a challenge at some point, no argument there. But, I doubt it changes much of what they do in the next 4-5 years. Provided the Glames look to rebuild/retool which I think they’re doing.

I said it earlier today but I think the next highest paid player the Flames sign is a home grown talent. So, that’s four years from now, minimum. (Just my bet and hope). It could be a decade from now.

The Flames might have the opportunity to eat some bad money in the next year or two but that leads to a whole other discussion. Which players are we talking about? How much money and how much term? Guys who make $8+, or less in certain instances, have trade protection. Are they waiving to come to Calgary who’s presumably rebuilding? In most cases, I don’t think so. So this supposed windfall of draft picks might not exist and Huberdeau’s contract could very well have nothing to do with that.

Just because the Flames might have cap space doesn’t gaurantee an avalanche of bad contracts and picks. The league, and its teams, the cap, and windows to win change every year.

Cheers and merry Christmas.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Bonded

No, if the Flames were even somewhat competitive then the Flames would be going all in to keep the party going. Huberdeau is dragging them into a rebuild and they will have more than enough cap space to weaponize starting this deadline

They wouldn't be going down that path in the first place if Huberdeau was able to produce to the level that he is getting paid. It's like someone setting your house on fire and then saying it was a good thing because at least you get to build a new house now.

And sure, they will have some cap space to weaponize, but having another $10 million would help even more, therefore the contract hinders what the team can do. Even if a rebuild is successful in 5 years, Huberdeau's contract will pose a problem when it comes to keeping players that deserve raises.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The Flames will have 20 million dollars of cap space next year. They can easily replicate what the Coyotes did if the demand is there from other teams.

yep, its not like the Yotes spent every penny of the cap

[Hackey]

The Monahan to Montreal and Ladd to Phoenix were good returns. A few of those type deals would be a great way to add some extra assets.

Obviously in the Monahan situation Treliving likely was approaching teams to take on Monahan. I wonder how often it happens the other way where a team approaches another team saying hey we know you have this contract you'd like to get rid of, we're willing to take it on.

I knows it sacrilegious to want to help the Oilers, but they seem like a prime candidate with their window potentially closing and some bad cap restraints. With Draisaitl a year from UFA and McDavid 2 years away can they really just let things play out? If the Flames could take advantage of that situation I think they 100% should. Likewise with other teams in the league who might be desperate.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by butterfly

I’d be surprised if they left.

Fifth?

Which one of New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Philadelphia are you kicking out?

Dallas Forth Worth is the 4th biggest metroplex in the US. Soon to 3rd with all the illegals coming from the open borders. It’s a great area though, check with Coleman ��

NY
LA
Chicago
DFW
Houston

Phoenix is 10th with about 5M and growing

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Hackey

The Monahan to Montreal and Ladd to Phoenix were good returns. A few of those type deals would be a great way to add some extra assets.

Obviously in the Monahan situation Treliving likely was approaching teams to take on Monahan. I wonder how often it happens the other way where a team approaches another team saying hey we know you have this contract you'd like to get rid of, we're willing to take it on.

I knows it sacrilegious to want to help the Oilers, but they seem like a prime candidate with their window potentially closing and some bad cap restraints. With Draisaitl a year from UFA and McDavid 2 years away can they really just let things play out? If the Flames could take advantage of that situation I think they 100% should. Likewise with other teams in the league who might be desperate.

Their 10M goalie went on LTIR otherwise they would have been struggling to get under the cap let alone take anyone on

It was also coming out of covid and almost nobody had space

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

A bit mean but thought it was funny

Plus if you're a jersey snob like me, I'd be crying double for receiving his jersey in an outdated design he never wore. Sloppy, parents...sloppy.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Phoenix is listed as 4.7mil
Dallas at 6.5mil
Philly at 5.7mil

Depends what list you use and how they classify the cities many lists have it Houston and Phoenix after the big 3.

Not that it really matters either way you count it Phoenix is a major population base.

[Hockey_Ninja]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1739120932869058965

[memphusk]

Atleast its not surprising anymore.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The meme is funny.

Searching for what players are outscoring him is dumb and annoying. Not sure what is accomplishes everyone can see he's struggling.