What to do with Huberdeau?

[AFireInside]

Huberdeau has been playing well for awhile now. He's doing the same things he was doing 3 weeks ago, he's playing with more offensive players now. Switching Mangiapane and Huberdeau was a no brainer a month ago.

Before Mangiapane went to the Backlund line they weren't getting many points together. Before the line switch Backlund had assisted on something like 2 of Coleman's goals this season.

[Igottago]

Missed the game until the last few minutes, but nice to see him get a very nice goal. Hopefully he's turning a corner. And I was also impressed with him being in the middle of the end of game skirmish.

[Naitix]

What has it been 8 or 9 games in a row where Huberdeau has played good, very good to see

[ForeverFlameFan]

Huberdeau has played good because we finally paired him with Sharangovich, who arguably has the best shot on the team.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Huberdeau has played good because we finally paired him with Sharangovich, who arguably has the best shot on the team.

Sharangovich had a few nice feeds from him last night, aside from the goal. I think Huberdeau would also benefit from a trailing Dman who has a nice shot (like Hamilton's wrister or Wideman's slapshot).

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Naitix

What has it been 8 or 9 games in a row where Huberdeau has played good, very good to see

I think it's longer than that - he was playing much better, for several games, while his pointless streak continued. This turnaround was evident for a while.

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Huberdeau has played good because we finally paired him with Sharangovich, who arguably has the best shot on the team.

He was playing well for quite a while before they switched him and Mangiapane. I agree with you that it was the right thing to do - I think most of us wanted to see that. But I don't think it's fair to say his turnaround is because of Sharangovich.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think it's longer than that - he was playing much better, for several games, while his pointless streak continued. This turnaround was evident for a while.



He was playing well for quite a while before they switched him and Mangiapane. I agree with you that it was the right thing to do - I think most of us wanted to see that. But I don't think it's fair to say his turnaround is because of Sharangovich.

I think it's fair. If he was feeding teammates and they weren't scoring, the result is "playing well but no points". Move the guy to a line with someone that can finish and that becomes "playing well and getting points", and with that has come confidence which is causing his play to start to improve further..

[Enoch Root]

The point streak started before the lines were switched.

[SutterBrother]

As a Flames fan, the only upside is cheering for Huberdeau to do well. He's not leaving, he's not retiring, he's not going on LTIR. We're stuck with each other.

Thrilled to see stuff going in, and what looks like developing chemistry with a trigger man in Sharangovich. Felt like there might have been chemistry with Pelletier as well, so maybe his return sustains the recent boost.

Keep it going!

[GreenLantern2814]

His assist last night to Sharangovich was the exact sort of play that has been getting flubbed by his teammates all season.

Yegor finds open ice better than probably any winger on the team, and he’s got the shot to capitalize on all these Huberdeau gifts.

Here’s hoping it sticks.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

His assist last night to Sharangovich was the exact sort of play that has been getting flubbed by his teammates all season.

Yegor finds open ice better than probably any winger on the team, and he’s got the shot to capitalize on all these Huberdeau gifts.

Here’s hoping it sticks.

That goal won't happen all the time either, not every team is as poor in their own zone as Ottawa. A lot of Huberdeau's previous passes were broken up by "good sticks". That's gonna always happen. But it won't stop the naysayers from jumping on every pass that isn't converted.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That goal won't happen all the time either, not every team is as poor in their own zone as Ottawa. A lot of Huberdeau's previous passes were broken up by "good sticks". That's gonna always happen. But it won't stop the naysayers from jumping on every pass that isn't converted.

I think they created three of those chances last night.

There was the goal, think there was one in the first where Huberdeau had a strong forecheck and stole the puck behind the net for a chance from a similar area, and then there was another chance in the third on a similar forecheck where Huberdeau found an open Sharangovich.

If you create three of those chances per game the odds are you'll put up points. As you said not everyone is as leaky as Ottawa but honestly for a good stretch now Huberdeau has been creating 2 or 3 of those types of chances per game - they are just starting to go in.

As a result teams tend to be pressing him less too, so he's also getting more open ice for his own chances too, which is also good to see.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think they created three of those chances last night.

There was the goal, think there was one in the first where Huberdeau had a strong forecheck and stole the puck behind the net for a chance from a similar area, and then there was another chance in the third on a similar forecheck where Huberdeau found an open Sharangovich.

If you create three of those chances per game the odds are you'll put up points. As you said not everyone is as leaky as Ottawa but honestly for a good stretch now Huberdeau has been creating 2 or 3 of those types of chances per game - they are just starting to go in.

As a result teams tend to be pressing him less too, so he's also getting more open ice for his own chances too, which is also good to see.

Sharangovich and Lindholm maybe draw more defenders than Backlund and Coleman. Backlund had a bit of an annoying habit of actually drawing defenders towards Huberdeau by skating towards him with the puck, and then making a little pass to Huberdeau who the defenders then just shifted towards

[Paulie Walnuts]

That goal was exactly what has been missing the whole time.

Rush offence.

He can make nifty passes but if guys are only making themselves available through traffic and he has to thread every pass of course its going to get broken up.

Huberdeau isn't a fast player by any means, but he makes plays for guys who are skating and available. Exactly what Sharagovich did, stayed wide skated right down and got the pass and scored.

That goal won't happen all the time, but that doesn't mean we can't change the way we attack. Turn it over get it to Huberdeau and lets go.

[Goriders]

Apparently the answer is……….. stick him with Sharongovich

[Heavy Jack]

Day at a time with Huby, keep it going! I really like what I’ve seen with him and Sharangovich, he’s starting to look more comfortable with the puck in general and his distribution has been elite at times during this hot stretch which is encouraging to see. I like that he’s pushed himself back onto the 1st PP, at least this past game, and the play on the hatty looked like vintage Huberdeau.

[jayswin]

Well I kept suggesting the importance of good fits for huberdeau and that Sharangovich was that fit. Took awhile, but now we'll get to see the results, finally.

[Paulie Walnuts]

He could honestly have a lot more points even during his down cycle.

So many of his passes to empty nets have been missed. Not just missed but fired wide of the net. This goes back to last season.

Even tonight he could have easily had more points. Guys firing wide open shots wide.

[dammage79]

What to do with Huberdeau? Let him cook.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dammage79

What to do with Huberdeau? Let him cook.

Oh don’t bring that evil on him.