What to do with Huberdeau?

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

This thread moves in 3 post sequences.
1) a post criticizing Huberdeau
2) a Hue believer saying no one is making excuses for him
3) another excuse made for Huberdeau

Now it's the coaches fault again; just like the old coach.

Any chance he got caught with drugs crossing the border over the Xmas break?

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, it's partly his confidence and partly a bargain bin coach who doesn't put him in the right position to succeed.

It’s not on the coach, it never was. Regardless of who coaches Huberdeau, an elite one, a newbie, it never would have mattered. He was always going to struggle because he cannot play at the current NHL pace. In today’s game, you need quick reads, quick hands, quick acceleration to make quick plays and Huberdeau just doesn’t have these tools right now to execute at a high enough level.

It’s really just bad circumstances coupled with bad scouting/bad decision making and sadly, our team just happens to be the team that ended up being saddled with it. You have a unique player whose game was tailor made for an archaic system that he found success with.

Then you have a GM who built an entire roster for the modern game, but couldn’t recognize what kind of player he was bringing into the fold; a guy who would struggle to find chemistry up and down the lineup because his game clashed with basically everyone else on the roster. Then said GM makes arguably the worst decision of his career by rushing to sign up guy for 8 years, $84 million without ever seeing him play a game with his team.


EDIT:
It’s also a major indictment on him and his staff for not raising any alarm bells from the time the trade occurred and the time of his re-signing. Your blame should be directed at management who chooses the roster, chooses the coaches, chooses the vision and direction the team goes.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

No forward on the team was on the ice for more scoring chances or high danger looks at five on five the entire month than Huberdeau. The fact he got zero points is in fact incredibly unlucky. Clearly he needs to be better, I am not denying that, but he also needs some things to start breaking his way as well.

So things break better and he gets a few points.

And best on the team is a low bar.

Coleman seems to be getting his points. Huberdeau not much of a factor in them it seems.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

So things break better and he gets a few points.

And best on the team is a low bar.

Coleman seems to be getting his points. Huberdeau not much of a factor in them it seems.

Backlund has assisted on 2 of Coleman's 12 goals. Coleman is getting his points away from that line, 5 of his 24 pts have come short handed, including 4 goals. If you remove Coleman and Backlund short handed points you have a line that is pretty similar. Backlund & Huberdeau have 15 points and Coleman has 19.

Seems about right if Coleman is scoring on other lines or other situations.

[Pekkerhead]

I really like JH as a guy and player, but I can’t believe he’s 0 for December. That’s flat out brutal. I wonder if any other Flame is 0 for Dec?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Coach

Not titling this thread “Much Ado About Huberdeau” is a big miss.

Simply based on production, it should be called “Much Ado About Nothing”

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

I really like JH as a guy and player, but I can’t believe he’s 0 for December. That’s flat out brutal. I wonder if any other Flame is 0 for Dec?

Literally need to park him upstairs eating popcorn with the Press guys.

Brutal? Absolutely.

Unacceptable.

A player of his caliber should have gotten some points even if just by accident.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

I really like JH as a guy and player, but I can’t believe he’s 0 for December. That’s flat out brutal. I wonder if any other Flame is 0 for Dec?

Vladar

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

It’s not on the coach, it never was. Regardless of who coaches Huberdeau, an elite one, a newbie, it never would have mattered. He was always going to struggle because he cannot play at the current NHL pace. In today’s game, you need quick reads, quick hands, quick acceleration to make quick plays and Huberdeau just doesn’t have these tools right now to execute at a high enough level.

It’s really just bad circumstances coupled with bad scouting/bad decision making and sadly, our team just happens to be the team that ended up being saddled with it. You have a unique player whose game was tailor made for an archaic system that he found success with.

Then you have a GM who built an entire roster for the modern game, but couldn’t recognize what kind of player he was bringing into the fold; a guy who would struggle to find chemistry up and down the lineup because his game clashed with basically everyone else on the roster. Then said GM makes arguably the worst decision of his career by rushing to sign up guy for 8 years, $84 million without ever seeing him play a game with his team.


EDIT:
It’s also a major indictment on him and his staff for not raising any alarm bells from the time the trade occurred and the time of his re-signing. Your blame should be directed at management who chooses the roster, chooses the coaches, chooses the vision and direction the team goes.

Did the NHL really change in the last 2 yrs?

Cause he sure could play 2 yrs ago

I have no solution, just can’t believe he just lost it overnight before he is 30

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

It’s not on the coach, it never was. Regardless of who coaches Huberdeau, an elite one, a newbie, it never would have mattered. He was always going to struggle because he cannot play at the current NHL pace. In today’s game, you need quick reads, quick hands, quick acceleration to make quick plays and Huberdeau just doesn’t have these tools right now to execute at a high enough level.

It’s really just bad circumstances coupled with bad scouting/bad decision making and sadly, our team just happens to be the team that ended up being saddled with it. You have a unique player whose game was tailor made for an archaic system that he found success with.

Then you have a GM who built an entire roster for the modern game, but couldn’t recognize what kind of player he was bringing into the fold; a guy who would struggle to find chemistry up and down the lineup because his game clashed with basically everyone else on the roster. Then said GM makes arguably the worst decision of his career by rushing to sign up guy for 8 years, $84 million without ever seeing him play a game with his team.


EDIT:
It’s also a major indictment on him and his staff for not raising any alarm bells from the time the trade occurred and the time of his re-signing. Your blame should be directed at management who chooses the roster, chooses the coaches, chooses the vision and direction the team goes.

You're joking right? You think the game has changed in the space of two years? No? Then explain how he put up 115 points 2 years ago.It absolutely is on coaching and the terrible system this team uses for this roster.

[Pekkerhead]

Could it be as simple as the weight of the contract? Seems like some guys who sign the big contract, just put too much pressure on themselves to be great and end up sucking. Like OEL in Vancouver?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by VilleN

What opportunity hasn't he got? They've tried him pretty much everywhere. At this point I'd say it is confidence probably brought on by the Flames style of play not suiting his style. Great players adapt. Tkachuk handled the transition just fine. If you need absolutely perfect circumstances to be useful, you are not worth 10.5M. I hope he figures it out, because he is obviously very talented... but with every game I am getting less optimistic.

Well you could try the guy on an extended period of time with Lindholm and Sharangovich instead of doing the Darryl Sutter special and give him only a few games before breaking out the blender. Or here is a really crazy idea, you could have more than one line playing East West hockey that actually throws pucks from down low into the slot. The only reason line 2 plays that way is because Zary and Pospisil are new additions and Kadri never cared to listen to the coach (Sutter) who implemented the whole dump it back to the point whenever you gain the zone for a long distance bomb. Imagine being an assistant coach and watching your head coach absolutely neuter an elite passers game by taking away what made him successful by telling him to feed pucks to the point instead of cross crease and then doing the exact same stupid thing. Put Huberdeau on a top line in Vegas or even Montreal where they drive possession down the boards and throw pucks cross crease with guys going to high danger areas and he would be top 10 in scoring right now. Instead all the offence gets neutured except for line 2 which seems to have gone the way of line 1 from two years ago where they did it there way. Give it time though, Huska will suck the offence out of Zary too given time.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

Could it be as simple as the weight of the contract? Seems like some guys who sign the big contract, just put too much pressure on themselves to be great and end up sucking. Like OEL in Vancouver?

Could be. Some people just lose the mental gear to put it all out there once they never have to worry about money or another contract again. It's like winning the lottery but still having to go to work all day. In your heart, you probably still want to do a good job, but just knowing that it doesn't matter any more probably just makes it easier to not be your best.

You see it a lot with some players when they take a step back right after signing a retirement contract.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Could be. Some people just lose the mental gear to put it all out there once they never have to worry about money or another contract again. It's like winning the lottery but still having to go to work all day. In your heart, you probably still want to do a good job, but just knowing that it doesn't matter any more probably just makes it easier to not be your best.

You see it a lot with some players when they take a step back right after signing a retirement contract.

Its not like he was broke before...he had 10s of millions of dollars already

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Well you could try the guy on an extended period of time with Lindholm and Sharangovich instead of doing the Darryl Sutter special and give him only a few games before breaking out the blender. Or here is a really crazy idea, you could have more than one line playing East West hockey that actually throws pucks from down low into the slot. The only reason line 2 plays that way is because Zary and Pospisil are new additions and Kadri never cared to listen to the coach (Sutter) who implemented the whole dump it back to the point whenever you gain the zone for a long distance bomb. Imagine being an assistant coach and watching your head coach absolutely neuter an elite passers game by taking away what made him successful by telling him to feed pucks to the point instead of cross crease and then doing the exact same stupid thing. Put Huberdeau on a top line in Vegas or even Montreal where they drive possession down the boards and throw pucks cross crease with guys going to high danger areas and he would be top 10 in scoring right now. Instead all the offence gets neutured except for line 2 which seems to have gone the way of line 1 from two years ago where they did it there way. Give it time though, Huska will suck the offence out of Zary too given time.

The guy is so talented and full of vision yet he's too braindead to make a few adaptations to a different system? He's still playing the same damn sport. A plank of wood floating around the ice could have had at least an assist in the month. No other player, including call ups, fringe players, 4th liners or anyone have struggled like him. They aren't going to revamp the entire damn team and on ice structure to get this guy going. Its up to him, 100%.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Igottago

The guy is so talented and full of vision yet he's too braindead to make a few adaptations to a different system? He's still playing the same damn sport. A plank of wood floating around the ice could have had at least an assist in the month. No other player, including call ups, fringe players, 4th liners or anyone have struggled like him. They aren't going to revamp the entire damn team and on ice structure to get this guy going. Its up to him, 100%.

Sir...I say Sir...I agree with you! However, I propose that we test this theory.

Whenever its Huberdeau's shift instead of him hopping over the boards, someone just toss a plank of wood onto the ice!

[Strange Brew]

Unfortunately the bar for finding positive things to say about his play is getting very low. Lately I have read:

He was on the ice when the PP scored
He batted a puck out of the air
He said he’s not happy with his play
He had a good shootout attempt that didn’t go in

His play speaks for itself unfortunately.

But I’m still a Flames fan and want the team to win. After saving me some money last game, I’m going $100 for each goal and $50 for each assist for #10 tonight. Come on JH, let’s get it going.

Here’s the charity.

https://www.remindsupport.org/

[dino7c]

I mean he has been ridiculously unlucky not to get a point...like pucks pulled off the goal line and hitting the post and crossbars...almost to a comical level

not to say he is playing really well or anything but there have been moments where he certainly should have some points, like did this guy go on a black cat murdering spree or something

[Locke]

I mean...I kinda hope he pulls off the entire month.

It would be an accomplishment...of a kind.

Who was that guy that Montreal traded for and they set up a website because he hadnt scored in like a year and a half?

We might need to do that.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Locke

I mean...I kinda hope he pulls off the entire month.

It would be an accomplishment...of a kind.

Who was that guy that Montreal traded for and they set up a website because he hadnt scored in like a year and a half?

We might need to do that.

Scott Gomez iirc