2024-25 Huberdeau - new and improved?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

65 pt pace for him in his playoff career is pretty horrible for a player in his prime playing on an offensive team and top PP

I wasn't suggesting he's a great playoff performer. Just trying to provide the facts instead of sweeping generalizations like "Huberdeau never showed up for the playoffs".

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It's limited sample size with 4 playoff runs to look at and 26 games in total
2015-2016: 3 points in 6 games
2019-2020: 3 points in 4 games
2020-2021: 10 points in 6 games
2021-2022: 5 points in 10 games

I think people largely look at the 2021/2022 run coming off his 115 point regular season as the basis for saying he didn't perform in the playoffs. But just a year earlier his production was strong.

In totality, his point production was not terrible in the playoffs, but wasn't great either and didn't quite meet expectations particularly in his last run. I recall after the Panthers were eliminated, people in the media questioned his overall intensity when it came to the playoffs especially in the last game. He didn't have a shot on goal until late in the 3rd period and after the game, he was apparently dressed and out the door within minutes of the game ending while the rest of the team was still in shock. It wasn't a surprise that Zito saw him as the weak link to being a championship team despite having a 115 point season that year.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

but that's at least partially due to the fact that the Panthers were getting beat in every series.

He was also contributing to that.

All that said, I don't imagine Flames thought they were getting a player built for the playoffs. They were hoping for a guy who could help get them there.

[Flamesfan05]

I love this place, people can defend anything. With huberdeau the Panthers were a constant playoff loser, mostly 1st round exit with him producing way below his regular season production. Swap out Huberdeau, immediately won 2 cups with pretty much the same core. But yeah he shows up for the playoffs.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

I love this place, people can defend anything. With huberdeau the Panthers were a constant playoff loser, mostly 1st round exit with him producing way below his regular season production. Swap out Huberdeau, immediately won 2 cups with pretty much the same core. But yeah he shows up for the playoffs.

It's not that. Some of us push for evidence based debate instead of debate based on simplified and hyperbolic conjecture.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It's not that. Some of us push for evidence based debate instead of debate based on simplified and hyperbolic conjecture.

It's not really a debate anyway - it's a whine fest thread where everyone posts their best attempts at witty put downs of a player.

I expect the "favorite Flames ranked" thread to be the same.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

I love this place, people can defend anything. With huberdeau the Panthers were a constant playoff loser, mostly 1st round exit with him producing way below his regular season production. Swap out Huberdeau, immediately won 2 cups with pretty much the same core. But yeah he shows up for the playoffs.

Tkachuk was a rather major addition to the core, no? And bringing in a new coach.

Still, I don't really disagree that the trade to Calgary did kind of expose Huberdeau unfortunately.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

I love this place

We love you too!

You make me laugh 2.70 times per day (your post per day total) with your over the top salty takes.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Tkachuk was a rather major addition to the core, no? And bringing in a new coach.

Still, I don't really disagree that the trade to Calgary did kind of expose Huberdeau unfortunately.

Yeah, they also fired Brunette and brought in Maurice, and literally did a 180 on their playing style that lended itself more to playoff hockey.

But yeah, it's all Huberdeau's fault.

I don't even debate that swapping Huberdeau for Tkachuk would improve their chances in the playoffs, but one player does not make or break playoff success. If it did, the Oilers would have a cup by now.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Yeah, they also fired Brunette and brought in Maurice, and literally did a 180 on their playing style that lended itself more to playoff hockey.

But yeah, it's all Huberdeau's fault.

I don't even debate that swapping Huberdeau for Tkachuk would improve their chances in the playoffs, but one player does not make or break playoff success. If it did, the Oilers would have a cup by now.

It's not a debate that Tkachuk is a better player than Huberdeau. It wasn't a debate at the time of the trade either, which is why Tkachuk was traded (with a 4th round pick) for not just Huberdeau, but also Weegar, Schwindt, and a first-round pick.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's not a debate that Tkachuk is a better player than Huberdeau. It wasn't a debate at the time of the trade either, which is why Tkachuk was traded (with a 4th round pick) for not just Huberdeau, but also Weegar, Schwindt, and a first-round pick.

There were certainly people debating that here prior to that season kicking off. I debated with Dino throughout August that it was a good trade for both teams but he wouldn’t agree to that as the Flames completely fleeced the Panthers. He thought they made a terrible move trading such key pieces. He kept that going until the Panthers went on their 8th seed run to the finals.


One of the reasons the Flames got so much for Tkachuk is they were trading for 2 guys entering the last year of their deals before their first chance at being UFA’s and sending a 24 year old with an 8 year deal at a steal of a cap hit.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

There were certainly people debating that here prior to that season kicking off. I debated with Dino throughout August that it was a good trade for both teams but he wouldn’t agree to that as the Flames completely fleeced the Panthers. He thought they made a terrible move trading such key pieces. He kept that going until the Panthers went on their 8th seed run to the finals.


One of the reasons the Flames got so much for Tkachuk is they were trading for 2 guys entering the last year of their deals before their first chance at being UFA’s and sending a 24 year old with an 8 year deal at a steal of a cap hit.

I don't think anyone was debating the two players on a one-to-one basis. The Tkachuk contract was signed as part of the deal, and was in the ballpark of where everyone expected a Huberdeau extension.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't think anyone was debating the two players on a one-to-one basis. The Tkachuk contract was signed as part of the deal, and was in the ballpark of where everyone expected a Huberdeau extension.

There were discussions and there was debate if we got the better player in Huberdeau alone. Saying it wasn’t debated back in 2022 is just not true. Huberdeau was 4th in league scoring over the previous 4 years prior to the deal and was tied with Gaudreau for 2nd overall.

Flames fans were not impressed with Tkachuk’s playoff performances so discounted the quotes from Zito saying this would make them tougher to beat in the playoffs.

End of the day I don’t think anyone saw Huberdeau falling off like he has and it is unfortunate that last years slight bounce back was a one off and not a beginning of return to form where he was going to flirt with 30 goals and maybe get back to a point per game.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

There were discussions and there was debate if we got the better player in Huberdeau alone. Saying it wasn’t debated back in 2022 is just not true. Huberdeau was 4th in league scoring over the previous 4 years prior to the deal and was tied with Gaudreau for 2nd overall.

Flames fans were not impressed with Tkachuk’s playoff performances so discounted the quotes from Zito saying this would make them tougher to beat in the playoffs.

End of the day I don’t think anyone saw Huberdeau falling off like he has and it is unfortunate that last years slight bounce back was a one off and not a beginning of return to form where he was going to flirt with 30 goals and maybe get back to a point per game.

I won't say no one said such a thing, but a debate? Not a serious one. His 115 was clearly an outlier (as it was with Gaudreau). He was a PPG player, who was going to be getting his last contract.

[GreenLantern2814]

Change the thread title - “2025-26 Huberdeau - Old and Worse”

[dirk diggler]

As a GM on another team, when you see a guy putting up 115 points but his team isn't rushing to get a deal done, you should maybe think why. Our wizard GM panics and gets blinded by the point total not looking at the players 1 dimensional game. How do you let a GM who you haven't extended pull the plug on this size of a trade.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Yeah, they also fired Brunette and brought in Maurice, and literally did a 180 on their playing style that lended itself more to playoff hockey.

But yeah, it's all Huberdeau's fault.

I don't even debate that swapping Huberdeau for Tkachuk would improve their chances in the playoffs, but one player does not make or break playoff success. If it did, the Oilers would have a cup by now.

Well , the biggest change on ice was to get rid of Huberdeau and his style

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Well , the biggest change on ice was to get rid of Huberdeau and his style

And add Trump lover Matt.

[dino7c]

Bob going from a terrible backup that they were trying to pay someone to take to one of the best goalies in the league helped a tad

[YyjFlames]

Similarly to Kadri, Huberdeau might be reading the tea leaves with the trade expectations and is figuring out his last few prime Stanley cup winning years are going to be with a rebuilding team.

For him, it’s worse than Kadri cause his contract is untradeable and he knows he can’t produce enough even when going to change that. Tough to play well with that between his ears.