What to do with Huberdeau?

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by devo22

it's ridiculous that people are already writing him off. Yes, his season was terrible, but that doesn't mean he can't rebound. Heck, look at Jeff Skinner ... he went from 40 goals a season to 7 goals and 7 assists in 53 games, then bounced back to being a ~ 35/80 guy. That kind of stuff does happen.

Huberdeau came to a new team and put massive pressure on himself, then clearly didn't mesh with a coach who put him on his off-wing and had him play a game that didn't suit him. That doesn't absolve Huberdeau, but that also doesn't mean he can't rebound.

I fully expect him to make a lot of people eat crow next season. And I'll be rooting hard for that because it's good news for the Calgary Flames.

Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong

[BruceCody]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I do think if Conroy could trade Huberdreau for a reasonable return he'd do it

Huberdeau + 16th overall for "future considerations", lol. Treliving approve.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

The man had 55 this year.

Not saying that’s his norm but it’s very possible when he gets older. He is not a guarantee 80 pt player any more , not with the Flames

It's not like he's the first player we've seen stars come out of Florida and vastly underperform. Both Jokinen and Bouwmeester never came close to living up to their billing and I don't think coaching changes ever really made a significant change for either.

For me, it is just very disappointing how slow and indecisive he is. I don't really think you can attribute the former to the previous coach, but possibly some of the latter. With a new, more open system, nothing would make me happier to see him be a major PP threat this season and just be passable at 5-5 - this could easily mean an 80 point player.

The troublesome part is that he's getting older and does not seem like the guy that will excel as he ages. It also seems like he came here with serious questions about his drive in the post season already and this team can't have it's "best player" just being okay if it expects to win now.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Once Bouwmeester escaped Brent Sutter he was traded to St. Louis and was on one of the best pairings in the NHL that went on to win a Stanley Cup.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Once Bouwmeester escaped Brent Sutter he was traded to St. Louis and was on one of the best pairings in the NHL that went on to win a Stanley Cup.

Yeah, Hanfin will be the same IMO

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by devo22

it's ridiculous that people are already writing him off. Yes, his season was terrible, but that doesn't mean he can't rebound. Heck, look at Jeff Skinner ... he went from 40 goals a season to 7 goals and 7 assists in 53 games, then bounced back to being a ~ 35/80 guy. That kind of stuff does happen.

Huberdeau came to a new team and put massive pressure on himself, then clearly didn't mesh with a coach who put him on his off-wing and had him play a game that didn't suit him. That doesn't absolve Huberdeau, but that also doesn't mean he can't rebound.

I fully expect him to make a lot of people eat crow next season. And I'll be rooting hard for that because it's good news for the Calgary Flames.

People aren't writing him off per se. They are questioning whether he is worth $84MM over 8 more years.

Apples and oranges.

Even if he gets 30-40-70 next year, his contract is likely immovable.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

The man had 55 this year.

Not saying that’s his norm but it’s very possible when he gets older. He is not a guarantee 80 pt player any more , not with the Flames

Iggy had 67 under Darryl once, and that was after he’d spent his entire career here and been to the Finals - the man suffocates offense. Water is wet.

Huberdeau spent months playing on the wrong wing, with Milan Lucic.

The plays he can make are incredible. He’s guilty of over passing when he should put his head down and fire it, and he needs to exert his will on the game more.

But he’s undeniably an elite player. He was thrown into an impossible situation, and demonstrated a willingness and commitment to be part of the solution not the problem.

Post that 67 point season, btw, Iggy went 94, 98, 89, 69, 86, 67 again, 33 and traded to Pittsburgh.

It’s a shame they wasted his bargain season, but what can you do.

Huberdeau is here. He’s our guy. Roll with it.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Its hilarious reading the takes about him though.

He is a 55 point player because that is what he had last year, when you mention his 115 point season or the years before that its all discounted because he had 55 last year.

I don't get wanting a star player on your team to not succeed so you can say I told you so, or because your favourite coach got fired after suffocating the team last year but you want to lay blame on Huberdeau only.

I didn't hear stories of accountability from the team about James Neal after his 7 goal season the way they are talking about Huberdeau and how bad he wants to do well here. I didn't hear Huberdeau complain about the coach all year even after everything.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Its hilarious reading the takes about him though.

He is a 55 point player because that is what he had last year, when you mention his 115 point season or the years before that its all discounted because he had 55 last year.

I don't get wanting a star player on your team to not succeed so you can say I told you so, or because your favourite coach got fired after suffocating the team last year but you want to lay blame on Huberdeau only.

I didn't hear stories of accountability from the team about James Neal after his 7 goal season the way they are talking about Huberdeau and how bad he wants to do well here. I didn't hear Huberdeau complain about the coach all year even after everything.

Huberdeau definitely deserves a Sutter-free chance to prove himself. The Flames need a coach, and a PP coach, who are going to focus on Huberdeau's strengths. Having him skate up and down the ice playing defence, when he holds a record for most assists by a LW is absurd.

I'm not saying Huberdeau should be allowed to totally abandon his defensive responsibilities, but he should be allowed to focus on his strengths.

I give Huberdeau props for giving it his all in Sutter's system. He played a 200ft game without complaining.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by blankall

Huberdeau definitely deserves a Sutter-free chance to prove himself. The Flames need a coach, and a PP coach, who are going to focus on Huberdeau's strengths. Having him skate up and down the ice playing defence, when he holds a record for most assists by a LW is absurd.

I'm not saying Huberdeau should be allowed to totally abandon his defensive responsibilities, but he should be allowed to focus on his strengths.

I give Huberdeau props for giving it his all in Sutter's system. He played a 200ft game without complaining.

He came into the season talking about the lessons learned from the Tampa series and being a good 2 way player.

I don't think he wanted to be care free all out offence but I don't think he anticipated being insulted, thrown all around the lineup, stapled to his off wing with a player who was selfish, and completely ignored on the powerplay.

Heck he wanted to kill penalties. All this nonsense about him not caring or being lazy is just dumb.

When you take away the strengths from the player he will struggle.

[Manhattanboy]

Seems the only thing to do is give him another year under the new regime.

If there is no significant improvement we are in big trouble with that contract.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Seems the only thing to do is give him another year under the new regime.

If there is no significant improvement we are in big trouble with that contract.

No, we’re not. This team isn’t going to do anything of note with zero impact players under 25.

Nobody but the new guys from last summer (and Coleman) are even signed past two more years, and the cap is going to be $100M by the time we get to the back half of it.

They have to reach the cap floor somehow, and if the Huberdeau/Kadri/Weegar contracts are the only true big money deals on the books for the next 3-5 seasons, that’s not a bad thing.


Huberdeau is here to fill seats and fill the net.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Seems the only thing to do is give him another year under the new regime.

If there is no significant improvement we are in big trouble with that contract.

Gotta do what Florida did. Give him sheltered even strength minutes on the 2nd line with easier match-ups, load up the powerplay time, and give him line mates that can buzz around and do the grunt work. He's high maintenance, but there isn't much else that can be done at this point but hope for the best.

In his 115 point season, he was 155th in the league in even strength time-on-ice per game for forwards, but 8th in the league for powerplay time. He was 3rd in the league in PP points (only 6 behind McDavid). That's where he needs to make his money.

[Brick]

Trade him if you can.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Brick

Trade him if you can.

Absolutely zero chance, for multiple reasons. We are stuck with him.

[devo22]

trading a player when his value is at the lowest possible point doesn't seem smart either.

it's not rocket science. Just put him in a position to succeed. He was a ~92 point player for three years straight before posting 115, he's clearly a great offensive player who was badly mishandled by Sutter. Rectify that and I have no doubt he'll bounce back.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Once Bouwmeester escaped Brent Sutter he was traded to St. Louis and was on one of the best pairings in the NHL that went on to win a Stanley Cup.

And on team Canada at the Olympics...winning a gold medal

[dino7c]

Some of you must be new...if the Flames trade Huberdeau he will score 130 points and win the cup next season

[MegaErtz]

We could package this bum with our next five first round picks, and nobody would want that contract. We're stuck with him.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

We could package this bum with our next five first round picks, and nobody would want that contract. We're stuck with him.

Oh god, guy is one of the top scorers in the league the last 5 seasons