2024-25 Huberdeau - new and improved?

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by blankall

Now on pace for 35 goals and 63 points. Quickly leaving the conversation for worst contract.

Not quickly doing anything. 63 points is pathetic for his salary. If he gets there, maybe he's better value than Nurse.

[jayswin]

The last while he has been a 90+ point, 2 way, power forward, He looks so different the last 20 games or so. He's figured something out and he looks like a $10m star out there...and without playing with other stars, it's remarkable.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Not quickly doing anything. 63 points is pathetic for his salary. If he gets there, maybe he's better value than Nurse.

He's still bad value at those numbers, but if he can close in on 70 points and 40 goals, that puts him in the slightly overpaid range. The new UFA norm for that will become $9ish million quickly.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Not quickly doing anything. 63 points is pathetic for his salary. If he gets there, maybe he's better value than Nurse.

Yup, those 15 points in his last 11 games totally don't count because he was bad earlier in the year. He's doomed to be useless forever. Doomed, I say. You should just take him out behind the barn and shoot him like Old Yeller.

[BoLevi]

I think he's reinvented himself... And likely is going to continue to improve in this direction. I'm less unhappy with the contract.

[Strange Brew]

Just enjoy the fact he is playing well. No point in talking about his contract after very good or bad stretch, but if he can play like this consistently at least the Flames have a genuine offensive threat. 40 goals might be a pipe dream though, his shooting percentage would need to hit 30% probably.

[dino7c]

I think its fair to factor in the Flames play style and offensive weapons when calculating point totals. I bet any top scorer would have significantly less points if they swapped places with Huberdeau right now. He is also playing a great 2 way game.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Yup, those 15 points in his last 11 games totally don't count because he was bad earlier in the year. He's doomed to be useless forever. Doomed, I say. You should just take him out behind the barn and shoot him like Old Yeller.

Waiting on that compliance buyout.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Yup, those 15 points in his last 11 games totally don't count because he was bad earlier in the year. He's doomed to be useless forever. Doomed, I say. You should just take him out behind the barn and shoot him like Old Yeller.

His pace on the Kadri line is pretty near to his big year in Florida. I'm not ignoring his bumpy start but the sample with a consistent line is more relevant than a sample size with a rotating line which included guys who are struggling like Kuz and Sharky.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Don't NHL players typically go the other way and have a huge off period when baby arrives?

Either way, if she just announced it's probaby 5 months or so before arrival.

[Flamesfan05]

Is he back to tradable yet?

I think he needs to perform at the same pace for rest of the year before one can claim he is back, considering the hole he dug himself in

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Not quickly doing anything. 63 points is pathetic for his salary. If he gets there, maybe he's better value than Nurse.

The fact that he has reinvented himself to be a goal scoring 200 foot player is somewhat remarkable. As to the 63 point comment if he keeps up his December pace for the rest of the year he ends up with these numbers

Goals -48
Assists - 40
Points - 88

That would not be so bad.

[JJolg]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The fact that he has reinvented himself to be a goal scoring 200 foot player is somewhat remarkable. As to the 63 point comment if he keeps up his December pace for the rest of the year he ends up with these numbers

Goals -48
Assists - 40
Points - 88

That would not be so bad.

Not bad? That would be incredible

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The fact that he has reinvented himself to be a goal scoring 200 foot player is somewhat remarkable. As to the 63 point comment if he keeps up his December pace for the rest of the year he ends up with these numbers

Goals -48
Assists - 40
Points - 88

That would not be so bad.

The likely hood of him keeping his December pace for the rest of this season is about the same as if he would of kept his December pace last season.

He's been good, but he's shooting at 24% so far this year and is still only on pace for 63 points.

I woulnd't wait up for 46g/88pts.

[Enoch Root]

Small sample size: 8 - 7 - 15 in his last 11 games, a 112 pt pace, the best stretch he has had as a Flame. Obviously no one expects that pace to continue, but it is very encouraging, regardless.

Large sample size: In the last calendar year (since Dec 30, 2023), Huberdeau is 23 - 41 - 64 in 81 games. And while 64 pts may still sound weak to many of you, that puts him T-64 among forwards in the league (top line numbers), tied with Tage Thompson, Zach Hyman, Kevin Fiala and Timo Meier.

I am not saying that's awesome, but neither is it terrible.

Add to the fact that he has changed and adopted his game, resulting in improved numbers, but he also has a tremendous attitude, has been a great team guy despite his struggles, and works hard.

Anyone still arguing that his is the worst contract in the league, is completely missing the plot.

[Sylvanfan]

Maybe he's come to grips with the idea what being a 35 goal and 60 point player helps this team win more than him trying to get 60 assists. This team lacks goal scorers and he's the only guy who's hit 30 more than once.

[Groot]

Another element with Huberdeau is it seems to have lit more of a spark in Kadri. They were put on a line again together 11 games ago against Pittsburgh. Coincides with Huberdeau's hot streak, but Kadri in those same 11 games has 12 points for a 90 point season pace. That would be his highest since his Cup winning season in Colorado.

Somehow Pospisil has only put up 2 points over that 11 game span but the line is working so don't rock the boat.

[Jetfire]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Maybe he's come to grips with the idea what being a 35 goal and 60 point player helps this team win more than him trying to get 60 assists. This team lacks goal scorers and he's the only guy who's hit 30 more than once.

I think he's a guy whose East-West, pass first style worked great on the Panthers for the whole first half of his career, but it stopped being effective the moment he got here thanks to a combination of the type of system we have to play and the kinds of teams we play on a regular basis.

I saw a player who always had the effort there, but couldn't understand why what worked for so long didn't anymore. This year he approached it from the very beginning as needing to reinvent his game, and he's done that quite well. Steinberg was talking about how Huberdeau worked out like a maniac all summer and especially on getting faster, knowing he was going to try playing more of a power forward, North-South, drive the net style of game, instead of the pure playmaker he was in years past. Also his desire to be a complete two-way player for the first time in his career which I wouldn't have expected in a million years, but he's done quite well so far.

This is all still a work in progress for Huberdeau, but I'm shocked how well he's played this year and I can live with his contract with him working as hard as he has to change his game. I can't even think of another finesse playmaker who has completely reinvented their game in this manner. He even has a shoot first mentality which is jarring as well.

[devo22]

the contract talk is getting old too. I get it, he's overpaid - but we have, what, the second most cap space available right now?! Not like this contract is going to kill them anytime soon.

Just enjoy his improved play. He leads the team in goals and points, that's something.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Not quickly doing anything. 63 points is pathetic for his salary. If he gets there, maybe he's better value than Nurse.

Nobody said anything about it being a good contract just that it isn't in contention to be labeled the worst contact.