What to do with Huberdeau?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

You can get a decent pick for him next TDL

Some fools may want a big guy for the playoffs

Absolutely as a UFA at the deadline.

But as a centre piece for Ehlers?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Boy do I ever not see this. Huberdeau works harder than most forwards. He goes to the corners a lot.

Kadri skates hard and then something happens and he spends a generous amount of time picking himself up, grousing at the ref and yapping.

I don't see that at all. Right from the 1st game he has been underwhelming and hasn't shown any compete in his game. He is a game breaker but the only thing he has broken is the Flames chances.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Boy do I ever not see this. Huberdeau works harder than most forwards. He goes to the corners a lot.

Kadri skates hard and then something happens and he spends a generous amount of time picking himself up, grousing at the ref and yapping.

The previous guy hold on to the puck and skated circle around people until something happened. Huberdeau seems to make quick passes that most times don’t work. That makes him look lazy

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Absolutely as a UFA at the deadline.

But as a centre piece for Ehlers?

Not saying he’d get Ehlers and anything like that

Just he’d return a decent package of picks and prospects if they hold on to him till next TDL

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

The previous guy hold on to the puck and skated circle around people until something happened. Huberdeau seems to make quick passes that most times don’t work. That makes him look lazy

There’s no question he’s been underwhelming to say the least.
Kadri often frustrates me but I don’t disagree like some have mentioned that he mainly comes as advertised.

I don’t see them as a solution on a line together tho

[GreenLantern2814]

Help a brother out.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Not saying he’d get Ehlers and anything like that

Just he’d return a decent package of picks and prospects if they hold on to him till next TDL

He’s get a 2nd pick if he was playing decently at the time and there were a number of teams interested in him.

[Hot_Flatus]

Homer Simpson had it right long ago....

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5dc74ee...7-f1de6ecd4923

[TheIronMaiden]

I have this sinking feeling that Huberdeau's contract will go down as one of the worst ever.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I have this sinking feeling that Huberdeau's contract will go down as one of the worst ever.

Kadri's is already worse imo.

Getting him away from Kadri next year is likely the easiest solution.

[SuperMatt18]

Thread Bump:

Huberdeau had a rough start but really he did get better as the season went on - especially at 5v5.

Game 1-20:
GP: 18
Goals: 2
Points: 4
xGF%: 57.4%

First 20 games were interesting because he produced nothing at 5v5, but also had the lowest GA per 60 and xGA per 60 on the team. He was really buying in to being a 200 foot player.

Game 21-40:
GP: 20
G: 2
A: 7
P: 9
xGF%: 50.6%

Offensive production improved, but defensive play actually dropped a bit once on the line with Kadri.

Game 41-60:
GP: 20
G: 3
A: 6
P: 9
xGF%: 53.9%

Third quarter of the season the xGF bounced back vs the second quarter, and he maintained respectable 5v5 production.

Game 61-82
GP: 22
G: 3
A: 11
P: 14 (led the team, T-22nd in the NHL)
GF%: 65.6% (21 GF / 11 GA)
xGF%: 57.8%

Over the last 22 games Huberdeau, Weegar, and Toffoli were the team's three best players at 5v5. His 14 point pace over the last 22 games would actually be his best 5v5 production of his career at 5v5 (52 point pace at 5v5, career high is 50).

As the season went on I find that Huberdeau actually adapted quite well to Sutter's system, and honestly thing long term he's probably a better player for it. Way more well rounded for sure.

It's kind of funny to think but when it comes to xGF% at 5v5 this is actually the best season of Huberdeau's career (55.2%). His second highest xGF per 60, and 5th lowest xGA per 60 of his career.

Now the PP is a whole other question, and in terms of Huberdeau's production that is where I put more of the blame. This is a guy that was 3rd in PP points the 3 seasons prior to this one, and our coaching staff seemed clueless on how to set up a PP around him and Lindholm.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Game 21-40:
GP: 20
G: 2
A: 7
P: 9
xGF%: 50.6%

Offensive production improved, but defensive play actually dropped a bit once on the line with Kadri.

Yeah, that doesn't shock me in any way whatsoever. Kadri was abysmal defensively all year.

[Savvy27]

It's interesting to look back at other star players too. In the 30 games Sutter coached when he came back.

Gaudreau
G 8
A 18
P 26
P/G 0.866
Pace 71 points

Tkachuk
G 9
A 13
P 22
P/G 0.73
Pace 60

Now this year through 30 (JH missed 3)
G 5
A 13
P 18
P/G 0.66
Pace 55

Kadri
G 11
A 11
P 22
P/G 0.73
Pace 60

This seems to show that there is an adjustment period between this coach and top players regardless of who they are. It may also show that an off-season is important for both the coach and the players to optimize for one another. I was hopeful that Huberdeau just needed more time and would start producing at a star rate again. It didn't quite happen, although SuperMatt showed that his production did pick up as the season went.

A big difference is that Sutter put Tkachuk and Gaudreau together with Lindholm and raised their icetime, which I think is a factor here. Another is that the powerplay last year was very good compared to this year's trash.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Thread Bump:

Huberdeau had a rough start but really he did get better as the season went on - especially at 5v5.

Game 1-20:
GP: 18
Goals: 2
Points: 4
xGF%: 57.4%

First 20 games were interesting because he produced nothing at 5v5, but also had the lowest GA per 60 and xGA per 60 on the team. He was really buying in to being a 200 foot player.

Game 21-40:
GP: 20
G: 2
A: 7
P: 9
xGF%: 50.6%

Offensive production improved, but defensive play actually dropped a bit once on the line with Kadri.

Game 41-60:
GP: 20
G: 3
A: 6
P: 9
xGF%: 53.9%

Third quarter of the season the xGF bounced back vs the second quarter, and he maintained respectable 5v5 production.

Game 61-82
GP: 22
G: 3
A: 11
P: 14 (led the team, T-22nd in the NHL)
GF%: 65.6% (21 GF / 11 GA)
xGF%: 57.8%

Over the last 22 games Huberdeau, Weegar, and Toffoli were the team's three best players at 5v5. His 14 point pace over the last 22 games would actually be his best 5v5 production of his career at 5v5 (52 point pace at 5v5, career high is 50).

As the season went on I find that Huberdeau actually adapted quite well to Sutter's system, and honestly thing long term he's probably a better player for it. Way more well rounded for sure.

It's kind of funny to think but when it comes to xGF% at 5v5 this is actually the best season of Huberdeau's career (55.2%). His second highest xGF per 60, and 5th lowest xGA per 60 of his career.

Now the PP is a whole other question, and in terms of Huberdeau's production that is where I put more of the blame. This is a guy that was 3rd in PP points the 3 seasons prior to this one, and our coaching staff seemed clueless on how to set up a PP around him and Lindholm.

Certainly helps that he played a lot with Backlund in the final quarter of the season. I know there was a lot of talk about whether he’d fit better with Kadri or Lindholm. But I was always in the Backlund camp from the start. Backs pushes the pace of play up the middle and is a great distributor to his wingers. He opens up a lot of space for Huberdeau and that’s exactly what Huberdeau needs.

Jonathan’s strengths are all about using his vision or ability to stop up and find the trailer or someone cutting hard to the net. So having a guy like Backlund who can push the opposition back and open up lanes is vital. Backs also dominates down low on the cycle and checks extremely well, so he does a lot of the dirty work which helps a skill guy like Huberdeau a lot.

[automaton 3]

It would be interesting to hear from the coaching staff why they left Huberdeau to languish with Kadri for any length of time.

Backlund is a much better fit and I wish they would have tried this earlier.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by Buff

I don't see that at all. Right from the 1st game he has been underwhelming and hasn't shown any compete in his game. He is a game breaker but the only thing he has broken is the Flames chances.

I really can't understand this perception. I watched a guy who had a down period during the first half, but it almost felt like he was trying too hard, and even when he'd make a good pass (which he did multiple times a game) he was setting Lucic, Coleman or Backlund.

Originally Posted by automaton 3

It would be interesting to hear from the coaching staff why they left Huberdeau to languish with Kadri for any length of time.

Backlund is a much better fit and I wish they would have tried this earlier.

Kadri didn't work well with any players this year. Backlund is a third liner, and he tends to make everyone he's with better, but he should only be playing with Huberdeau if there's someone that can shoot on the other side.

It's mind blowing that Coronato wasn't on the RW with Backlund and Huberdeau last night. Huberdeau wasn't amazing and he needs to be better but he wasn't awful this year either.


We have a team full of Chuck Kobasews and we're wondering why a playmaker doesn't look good trying to set them up. Kobasew was a fine player, but he shouldn't be in your top 6. Mangiapane, Dube, Backlund, Coleman, shouldn't be in your top 6. If the same Kadri that showed up this year comes back next year, he shouldn't be either.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Certainly helps that he played a lot with Backlund in the final quarter of the season. I know there was a lot of talk about whether he’d fit better with Kadri or Lindholm. But I was always in the Backlund camp from the start. Backs pushes the pace of play up the middle and is a great distributor to his wingers. He opens up a lot of space for Huberdeau and that’s exactly what Huberdeau needs.

Jonathan’s strengths are all about using his vision or ability to stop up and find the trailer or someone cutting hard to the net. So having a guy like Backlund who can push the opposition back and open up lanes is vital. Backs also dominates down low on the cycle and checks extremely well, so he does a lot of the dirty work which helps a skill guy like Huberdeau a lot.

Originally Posted by automaton 3

It would be interesting to hear from the coaching staff why they left Huberdeau to languish with Kadri for any length of time.

Backlund is a much better fit and I wish they would have tried this earlier.

Also was curious and looked at Huberdeau with each of our three best Centers.

Huberdeau+Lindholm
TOI: 208 Minutes
Corsi For: 54.5%
xGF: 56.5%
GF: 45.5% (5 GF - 6 GA)
SH%: 4.95%
SV%: .927%

No way that 4.95% shooting percentage was going to last - honestly a bit ridiculous that this wasn't given more time and honestly probably the biggest mistake of the season.

Huberdeau+Kadri
TOI: 515 Minutes
Corsi For: 57.6%
xGF: 54.4%
GF: 51.9% (27 GF - 25 GA)
SH%: 9.00%
SV%: .888%

Actually probably wasn't as bad as it felt at the time, but the save percentage was pretty abysmal with them on the ice

Huberdeau+Backlund
TOI: 286 Minutes
Corsi For: 56.8%
xGF: 56.4%
GF: 70.8% (17 GF - 7 GA)
SH%: 10.2%
SV%: .944%

They had good chemistry and really did work well together. Also a bit of luck on the shooting and save percentage front when on the ice together.

I do feel like the miss in the end was not seeing more of Lindholm and Huberdeau together. There is no way that 4.95% shooting percentage together was going to last.

[GioforPM]

I forget - who was the other wing with Huberdeau-Lindholm?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I forget - who was the other wing with Huberdeau-Lindholm?

Toffoli

[Samonadreau]

On paper Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli Should be a match made in heaven. An elite set up guy with two finishers. It is weird it wasn't tried again. Although it might be good to have at least one other Left shot for one timers.