What to do with Huberdeau?

[memphusk]

Maybe he reads all this and it has him down.

[Spurs]

I would buy the coaching excuse if Hubreadeau were on pace to get 70-80 points or at least leading the team in scoring. Then you could say the system was holding him back from putting up the numbers that he did at his peak in Florida, but when he is 11th on the team put up 55 points last year and is on pace to finish below that this year that is not a coaching issue that is a player issue.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Spurs

I would buy the coaching excuse if Hubreadeau were on pace to get 70-80 points or at least leading the team in scoring. Then you could say the system was holding him back from putting up the numbers that he did at his peak in Florida, but when he is 11th on the team put up 55 points last year and is on pace to finish below that this year that is not a coaching issue that is a player issue.

It’s definitely a player issue. No debate there.

But for him to get 70, he needs prime opportunities. Huska seems to be happy burying him now on that line that is not working. Little PP time and not the go to guy when they need scoring (empty net)

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

It’s definitely a player issue. No debate there.

But for him to get 70, he needs prime opportunities. Huska seems to be happy burying him now on that line that is not working.

I don't think there is a line that works for him or players on the team that are good fits. That is a problem that is partly on him- someone of his talent should be able to fit with many different players and partly on the team for committing so much to him and then doing nothing to create an environment for him to succeed.

Obviously with how much he is struggling there is more than one factor and this isn't me giving Huska a pass at all, I don't think he is a good NHL coach, but I also doubt any coach comes in and sees Hubredeau jump back to over a PPG either.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Spurs

I don't think there is a line that works for him or players on the team that are good fits. That is a problem that is partly on him- someone of his talent should be able to fit with many different players and partly on the team for committing so much to him and then doing nothing to create an environment for him to succeed.

Obviously with how much he is struggling there is more than one factor and this isn't me giving Huska a pass at all, I don't think he is a good NHL coach, but I also doubt any coach comes in and sees Hubredeau jump back to over a PPG either.

Yeah, but at least try to get to the 60-70 pt level

Instead of the 30-40 level now

[madmike]

I’m fine with him being buried. He got plenty of opportunities and did nothing with them. Limiting his ice time limits the damage he does to the team.

Huberdeau and his contract are essentially a write off. Time to move on. If he can play himself back into a prime role then great. Otherwise let him rot.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

It’s definitely a player issue. No debate there.

But for him to get 70, he needs prime opportunities.

We played this guy 20 minutes a game after the benching and he did nothing with it. We put him on PP1 and he did nothing with it.

It's been 100+ games.

It's over.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Spurs

I would buy the coaching excuse if Hubreadeau were on pace to get 70-80 points or at least leading the team in scoring. Then you could say the system was holding him back from putting up the numbers that he did at his peak in Florida, but when he is 11th on the team put up 55 points last year and is on pace to finish below that this year that is not a coaching issue that is a player issue.

Huberdeau is putting in the effort on the ice. The only thing wrong with him right now is the complete and utter lack of confidence.

It's 90% a systems and coaching issue. When we look at the bigger picture:

• Marc Savard coached the 3rd best powerplay in the league in 2019-20 when he was with the Blues, along with offensively punching above his weight with the Windsor Spitfires. He ran a Blues PP1 unit that featured vaunted superstars like Schenn, Rielly, Schwartz, and Perron. Yet, he somehow can't do any better than 28th in the league with the Flames' heavy-hitters (Huberdeau, Lindholm, or Kadri).

• The Flames' impressively deep back-end bolstered by Andersson, Weegar (7th in AS voting 2020-21 and best dman at the 2023 WC), Hanifin, and Tanev is somehow the third leakiest defense in the Western Conference (only better than the Hawks and Sharks).

• The Flames are continuing their trend of having great advanced stats, but struggling to score goals and making back-up goalies look like stars.

I genuinely don't know how some people are putting all of this on Huberdeau without questioning the quality of the rest of the on-ice product coming from the Flames right now. This is a roster that is punching below its weight.

If they improve the underlying system and coaching issues, the rest (e.g. improved performance from Huberdeau) should follow.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Huberdeau is putting in the effort on the ice. The only thing wrong with him right now is the complete and utter lack of confidence.

It's 90% a systems and coaching issue. When we look at the bigger picture:

• Marc Savard coached the 3rd best powerplay in the league in 2019-20 when he was with the Blues, along with offensively punching above his weight with the Windsor Spitfires. He ran a Blues PP1 unit that featured vaunted superstars like Schenn, Rielly, Schwartz, and Perron. Yet, he somehow can't do any better than 28th in the league with the Flames' heavy-hitters (Huberdeau, Lindholm, or Kadri).

• The Flames' impressively deep back-end bolstered by Andersson, Weegar (7th in AS voting 2020-21 and best dman at the 2023 WC), Hanifin, and Tanev is somehow the third leakiest defense in the Western Conference (only better than the Hawks and Sharks).

• The Flames are continuing their trend of having great advanced stats, but struggling to score goals and making back-up goalies look like stars.

I genuinely don't know how some people are putting all of this on Huberdeau without questioning the quality of the rest of the on-ice product coming from the Flames right now. This is a roster that is punching below its weight.

If they improve the underlying system and coaching issues, the rest (e.g. improved performance from Huberdeau) should follow.

Who is putting this all on Hubredeau? I just had a post saying how I blame both him and the coaches/team.

But when he is 11th on the team in scoring of course there is big part that is on him. As I said if he were leading the team but producing at a lower level than in Florida I would have a lot more sympathy for it being a systems issue. But the fact he can't outproduce Coleman, Backlund, Hanifin, Anderson, Mangiapane is on him. They are playing in the same "terrible" system under the same restrictive coach and finding ways to produce.

And I don't think this is a roster punching below its weight. this is a very mediocre team getting very mediocre results. At best on paper you could try to argue they should be closer to 20 than 26 but is that really any different at the end of the day?

[GioforPM]

I don’t agree with 05 much but I do agree that a veteran player doesn’t play better by being benched or restricted in opportunities on the power play. Kane looked terrible and they just stuck with it.

It’s not like they are a contender and really counting wins versus losses. This is a building year for the kids and a selling year for the vets. Wins aren’t that crucial so I’d just keep putting guys who are going to be here long term (Huberdeau, Kadri, Weegar and all the kids) in the prime spots. Sink or swim with them.

[MissTeeks]

10 and 88 switched at practice today.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1740431593431593445

[Goriders]

Eat bread back with Backlund and Coleman makes sense.

It’s like musical chairs with Huberdeau.

[Mr.Coffee]

I don’t really see this incredible effort Huberdeau is exhibiting like everyone is saying. Like, meh, kinda lukewarm. Certainly not the work ethic you’d expect from a $10.5MM player. Seems like fan forgiveness to me. Posters work harder here on CP than he looks like.

So much floating. Mind you, it would be pretty frustrating and discouraging to be in his position. But he’s being paid an absolute insane amount so the least he could do is skate with full effort.

[GioforPM]

I don’t mind Sharky with Huberdeau. At least he shoots from anywhere

[dissentowner]

Going to give props to Huska for putting Huberdeau with Lindholm and Sharangovich. Now leave them together for an extended period, no blender.

[Bill Bumface]

Huberdeau set up ~3 grade A chances last night (B+ at worst). No one is finishing. He's playing significantly better the last few games than earlier in the month, the points just aren't coming.

[Hack&Lube]

If Huby is going to be stubbornly pass first, we need a finisher with killer instinct. We don't have that. Maybe Scorangovich could help there?

Have they tried that combination before?

[AustinL_NHL]

You know expectations and goalposts for Huberdeau have moved dramatically when you're now considering a 0-point game with a few scoring chance set-ups a great success.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Going to give props to Huska for putting Huberdeau with Lindholm and Sharangovich. Now leave them together for an extended period, no blender.

Probably makes Backlund’s line better too

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

If Huby is going to be stubbornly pass first, we need a finisher with killer instinct. We don't have that. Maybe Scorangovich could help there?

Have they tried that combination before?

Possibly very earlynthisbseasln they did. But back then Lindholm was not very good and Sharangovich was being shoved all over the lineup