2024-25 Huberdeau - new and improved?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No, the discussion we were having was actually about his play compared to the rest of the team's play. I argued it isn't different - the whole team is in the doldrums and he's no different. Locke suggests his pay is relevant on that topic and I say it's not. By that standard no one should ever complain about, say, Beecher or Kirkland because they are not paid much.

When I'm watching a game, I give zero thought to the salary of the players I'm watching. I just look at the plays each one makes, the mistakes they make, their effort, etc.

The discussion has nothing to do with trading him or not.

So the discussion has...nothing to do with his pay. Nothing to do with his play. Nothing to do with the ability to trade him and nothing to do with comparing him to anyone else.

Okay. Problem solved.

Sorry guys, Huberdeau is perfect. Mea Culpa. When can we extend his contract?

[Strange Brew]

Comparing Huberdeau’s play to some of the guys like Backlund and Coleman? He has consistently been the most sheltered forward on the team since the day he arrived and has yet to elevate anyone’s play, unlike those two who in addition to playing harder and better are also outscoring him.

His salary makes him untradeable. And at some point when the prospects are ready for the NHL, he’s going to be a roadblock. It will be fascinating to see what the Flames do. Give him harder assignments? Tell him to stay home?

[ComixZone]

At the end of the day, when we finally rid ourselves of Huberdeau through whatever way we do it, in however many years down the road - we'll all sit back, reflect and come to the same conclusion.

Huberdeau sucks. He sucks. He sucks without his $10.5M salary, he'd suck at $5M. He sucks. He's a floater. He doesn't pull his boys into the game. He got his contract, and he absolutely cashed out - he doesn't deserve a roster spot at this point. Absolute donkey.

and now some fun...

Jonathan Huberdeau's contract is so bad it makes the Flames' cap space cry uncle every payday, like they're payin' him to score own goals and skate like he's pullin' a sled full of regrets.

Jonathan Huberdeau's contract is so bad, it makes Rick DiPietro's 15-year, $67.5M goalie gig look like a genius move—payin' a guy to ride the pine and collect checks like he's the king of long-term IR vacations, while Huby's out there ghostin' harder than your ex at a family reunion.

Jonathan Huberdeau's contract is so bad, it makes Darnell Nurse's 8-year, $9.25M D-man disaster look like a sweet discount—shellin' out for a blueliner who hits like a wet noodle and coughs up pucks faster than a rookie after too many pops, but at least he's on the ice, unlike Huby's invisible act.

Jonathan Huberdeau's contract is so bad, it makes Scott Gomez's 7-year, $51.5M center flop look like a value meal—payin' a dude to score less than zero in a season and get traded for scraps, but hey, at least Gomez didn't make the whole team regret a blockbuster deal like Huby's tire fire.

Jonathan Huberdeau's contract is so bad, it makes David Clarkson's 7-year, $36.75M tough-guy bust look like a team-friendly handshake—signin' a plug to fight phantoms and warm the bench, but Clarkson's grit at least showed up sometimes, unlike Huby's vanishing act on that $10.5M per year anchor.

[Leo]

is there any way we can trade huberdeau to nashville for stamkos or somethin, maybe both players need a change?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Leo

is there any way we can trade huberdeau to nashville for stamkos or somethin, maybe both players need a change?

Huby needs a heart transplant, not a change of scenery.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Locke

So the discussion has...nothing to do with his pay. Nothing to do with his play. Nothing to do with the ability to trade him and nothing to do with comparing him to anyone else.

Okay. Problem solved.

Sorry guys, Huberdeau is perfect. Mea Culpa. When can we extend his contract?

I think he pretty clearly says it should be about his play, not his pay, and is fine to compare him to other players based on this. And nobody said he was perfect.

Not sure what the struggle here is. You good?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Comparing Huberdeau’s play to some of the guys like Backlund and Coleman? He has consistently been the most sheltered forward on the team since the day he arrived and has yet to elevate anyone’s play, unlike those two who in addition to playing harder and better are also outscoring him.

His salary makes him untradeable. And at some point when the prospects are ready for the NHL, he’s going to be a roadblock. It will be fascinating to see what the Flames do. Give him harder assignments? Tell him to stay home?

I'm just looking at the stats to find all these giveaways and lack of hits and they aren't there. is his effort up to the two most consistent guys on the team? No. But I don't see the pouting that others do. I do see the powerplay only working even a little when he gets a touch (which is pretty rare). And I do see him struggle with connectivity with certain linemates. I thought he and Frost were getting there but it's dropped way off - Frost is stickhandling into bad situations like Zary these days.

I think they should reunite him with Coronato, who surprisingly just isn't doing that well with Backlund. I think though he does better with Kadri, that's a waste of time right now, with the upheavals expected.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Comparing Huberdeau’s play to some of the guys like Backlund and Coleman? He has consistently been the most sheltered forward on the team since the day he arrived and has yet to elevate anyone’s play, unlike those two who in addition to playing harder and better are also outscoring him.

His salary makes him untradeable. And at some point when the prospects are ready for the NHL, he’s going to be a roadblock. It will be fascinating to see what the Flames do. Give him harder assignments? Tell him to stay home?

That's why the contract is rightly considered the worst in the league. It's the combination of the lack of production, high salary and the fact that there are no exit options.

So when people say the Flames need to do something about Huberdeau, not sure what they think that is. The options are limited.

- Buyout. Not possible. The contract is buyout proof until maybe when you have 2 years remaining. Someone smarter than me on that stuff could advise, I just know near-term a buy out doesn't do anything
- Compliance Buyout from a CBA issue. Doesn't seem likely given the labor piece
- Huberdeau retires at some point late in the contract.
- Huberdeau agrees to exit the contract when he's made enough money and wants a better opportunity. $11m reasons why this likely won't happen.
- You add significant assets to trade Huberdeau. Not a good idea for a re-building team that needs assets. Maybe becomes a possibility as they move back into a contention window.
- Problem for problem contract. This is perhaps the most likely option, when there is say 3-4 years remaining. I could imagine you trade your 3-4 year problem contract to another team for a problem contract that has more term remaining at least of a cap hit. I can't even think of an example right now though.
- You ride it out.

There simply aren't any options. The contract is THE worst in the NHL and by a good amount.

For what it's worth I don't think he's not trying. To me, he reminds me a lot of Alex Tanguay. He's a feel player who needs to play with confidence. When he doesn't have that feel, the right players around him, or has a hit to his confidence - his play really suffers.

[Shazam]

Why is kidnapping not an option?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Why is kidnapping not an option?

Because not even kidnappers want him.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think he pretty clearly says it should be about his play, not his pay, and is fine to compare him to other players based on this. And nobody said he was perfect.

Not sure what the struggle here is. You good?

Gio’s way of looking at it doesn’t make much sense. Would you expect a Corolla to outperform a Ferrari? Would you pay the same price for them? Huberdeau absolutely deserves the most criticism because he’s paid to be “the guy”. It’s a very simple way of looking at things, and makes it easy to excuse poor play.

I’m A-OK with tank commander Huberdeau for the next year or 2, his contract will ensure we don’t overpay someone else and his play won’t improve the team.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Having Huberdeau's deal does impact the Flames now in some ways, but will definitely impact the Flames before it is done.

• Conroy - a rookie GM - now doesn't have the wiggle-room to make a mistake. He can't sign a bad deal now and have two on the books. That will kill the rebuild.
• Parekh + 2026 pick + 2027 pick + anyone that 'pops' and looks like a core piece - these contracts will add up, and it may force Calgary to end up having to bridge a player again like Treliving chose to do when he either couldn't or wouldn't make the room to fit Tkachuk in long-term. There is FIVE (5) more years after this year - to assume that contract will not affect the team at all is burying your head in the sand.
• Sometimes there is an opportunity to grab a cap casualty off another team - so unless the drafting sucks, Calgary may not be in a position to do so
• It will also keep Calgary's cap structure out of whack. It looked fine for a long time with Giordano at the top of the chain - though I will argue that Gaudreau should have been signed for a full 8 and it would have exceeded the "Gio Cap", which was 100% fine.

If Huberdeau can't produce, he has to find other ways to be very likable to the franchise and the fans, or things will just get uglier. I have praised him a lot for his leadership and how he was always willing to stand in the media scrums when things were the darkest for him, and I gave him a lot of praise for reinventing his game.


It seems we are back to the old Huberdeau of unnecessary blind passes - or at least unnecessarily difficult passes attempting to go through a bunch of sticks rather than make the simple play. I am sure he will 'bounce back' to his Calgary-Norm soon, but I haven't seen anything to praise him for other than when he stuck up for his teammate and fought Rantanen. That was 100% awesome to see, and I give him full respect for doing it - something that he doesn't do (and he was wanting to fight again not that long ago).


He needs to show leadership, he needs to show effort, and he can't be careless with the puck and being a detriment. His contract is always going to impede Calgary - more and more each year as time passes - but he has to find ways to be both useful and endearing to the fans, as funny as it is to say that. Just keeps the 'noise' down The noise around this deal is definitely rising again for the first time since his numbers cratered. I have defended him a lot in the last season and a half, but I was highly critical of his play in the first year he was here (just a constant giveaway machine that played without urgency). I am quickly moving towards being critical of him again, and that sucks since he became really likeable for a while (ignoring his contract).

[5abi]

Hubersuck

[saillias]

This is why I wasn't impressed with his performance last year - he rode a higher than average shooting percentage that he wasn't going to repeat. Which masked that his playmaking and assist rate overall continued to decline

[CalgaryFan1988]

Two words: Equipment Allergies.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Leo

is there any way we can trade huberdeau to nashville for stamkos or somethin, maybe both players need a change?

No, for the following reasons:
1. Stamkos is signed for 2 more seasons at $8M, Hubby 4 more at $10.5M.
2 Stamkos is playing way better, on pace for over 30 goals, more than 50 points. Hubby about 45.
3. Stamkos 13 points in last 12 games.
4. Stamkos waives for Calgary?

[dirk diggler]

i always like the "he's good in the room" when there is nothing else good to say. he is beyond bad, even with a contract half the amount, it would still be a terrible deal. no heart.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

No, for the following reasons:
1. Stamkos is signed for 2 more seasons at $8M, Hubby 4 more at $10.5M.
2 Stamkos is playing way better, on pace for over 30 goals, more than 50 points. Hubby about 45.
3. Stamkos 13 points in last 12 games.
4. Stamkos waives for Calgary?

Five more to be exact. His current deal expires in 2031.

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

No, for the following reasons:
1. Stamkos is signed for 2 more seasons at $8M, Hubby 4 more at $10.5M.
2 Stamkos is playing way better, on pace for over 30 goals, more than 50 points. Hubby about 45.
3. Stamkos 13 points in last 12 games.
4. Stamkos waives for Calgary?

isnt it 5 more after this year? UGH

[dirk diggler]

I despise the Oilers as much as any Flames fan but if there was a choice between Huberdeau and Nurse, i would take Nurse and he is in my top 5 of despised players in the league. That is how useless Huberdeau is. i feel dirty even saying it