[Rumour] Friedman: Devils and Flames have had legit discussions about Markstrom

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

I feel like Huberdeau is and will continue to be a really key cog in the culture improvement of this team. Now is not the time to subtract him (unless someone makes you an offer you can't refuse, which is extremely unlikely).

He isn't hurting us.

His game has vastly improved.

He seems to be really well liked by everyone.

Overpaid yes. But if he keeps this up, he's narrowed the gap on how much he's overpaid. We arent up against the cap anymore, so right now it really doesn't matter.

3rd in points and PPG since January. Not a 10.5m player but way better.

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by SmoggyFlamesFan

After we just got him confident and feeling good about himself and gelling with his new linemates? Yeah, let's get rid of that guy, who's been nothing but a team player, even throughout his struggles for a toxic entitled piece of ####. I'm sorry for the obvious sarcasm, but I vehemently disagree with entertaining that notion aside from the salary dump.

Absolutely understand your stand point. If it wasn’t for the positives you point out, LA would not even consider this. However, looking at the 5 year age difference, the 2MM per year difference in AAV, and dollars remaining on the contract (17MM of Dubois’ Contract was paid out this year),and the contract structure (Dubois’ is an early buy out candidate while Huberdeaus is buyout proof) - to say that we wouldn’t be interested because of the last 30 days or so of improvement is extremely short sighted - IMHO.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

I feel like Huberdeau is and will continue to be a really key cog in the culture improvement of this team. Now is not the time to subtract him (unless someone makes you an offer you can't refuse, which is extremely unlikely).

He isn't hurting us.

His game has vastly improved.

He seems to be really well liked by everyone.

Overpaid yes. But if he keeps this up, he's narrowed the gap on how much he's overpaid. We arent up against the cap anymore, so right now it really doesn't matter.

Doesn’t matter for this year, but it will matter for the next 7 when we are trying to assemble a winning team.

Just keep Huberdeau; the time to trade negative value contracts is not when you are losing already.

[Strange Brew]

As time goes on, there will be other bad contracts that Huberdeau could be dealt for. Too soon to take on a potential toxic a**hole. Maybe do that with 2 or 3 years left where you can minimize the risk.

[BigJim]

I also think that Huberdeau, albeit overpaid, is a positive in the locker room right now and the Flames are going to need some vets to provide some mentoring and guidance to all the new younger players being acquired. Didn't they say on the game telecast the other day that Huberdeau took all the young players out for dinner?

[tony-soprano]

Huberdeau cap floor contract for rebuild, and gets to retire in Calgary for being successful elsewhere.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Niemo

Only way we take on PLD is if Huberdeau is going the other way. Maybe LA actually consider this.

Not even that way is a way worth considering.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Huberdeau's contract will not hinder a rebuild. And the guy brings positives (and, in 2024, is producing).

What will is having 2-3 Huberdeau-like contracts.

So just be smart and don't pull too many Brads in free agency or something.

[Redrum]

I don't think his contract is enough to screw with the cap too much. But you do have to be more careful from now on. That combined with Kadri AND Lindholm would've been a never ending disaster, and I'm surprised it actually got as far as it did.

[Jiggy_12]

I feel for what Huberdeau had to go through last year.

The prize return on a blockbuster trade for a hometown favorite. Expectations were high
Brand new system with coach that clearly did not like him.
Joined a team in complete chaos with a fractured locker room
Fans on his case pretty much all season. Some of the things said weren’t pretty.

Kept his head up, didn’t engage in negativity, fought through it pretty admirably.

I rarely feel bad for multi million dollar athletes but his trajectory could have went a totally different way. He’s come out the other side and now seems to be on the right track. Really hope things keep clicking for him. He seems like a really good dude

[CliffFletcher]

It’s too soon for LA to pawn off PLD. It’s looking like a bad deal, but Blake spent way too much bringing him in to swallow a huge loss moving him out already. Better to give it at least another year and hope PLD can figure it out.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by activeStick

The PLD stuff is a bit like your friend who refuses to believe everything they've heard about someone they're interested in, their history and repeated behaviours because they will be the one who changes them! Your friend is just that special!

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It’s too soon for LA to pawn off PLD. It’s looking like a bad deal, but Blake spent way too much bringing him in to swallow a huge loss moving him out already. Better to give it at least another year and hope PLD can figure it out.

How many teams have already tried that?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It’s too soon for LA to pawn off PLD. It’s looking like a bad deal, but Blake spent way too much bringing him in to swallow a huge loss moving him out already. Better to give it at least another year and hope PLD can figure it out.

Give him another year and then see if you can flip him for a 4th round pick.

[midniteowl]

What is wrong with PLD, yeah, he got drafted by Columbus, a crap team in a crap place. Got traded to Winnipeg, fine, another crap place. Then traded to LA, the team ain't that bad and it's LA. Living in LA gotta be a dream, nice weather, beaches, golf courses, Who doesn't like LA? May be he's not that into hockey, IDK.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

What is wrong with PLD, yeah, he got drafted by Columbus, a crap team in a crap place. Got traded to Winnipeg, fine, another crap place. Then traded to LA, the team ain't that bad and it's LA. Living in LA gotta be a dream, nice weather, beaches, golf courses, Who doesn't like LA? May be he's not that into hockey, IDK.

Yeah, nobody will know, but there certainly are different levels of drive, motivation, dedication and love for the game. There are guys like Sid and then there are guys way down that scale.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Give him another year and then see if you can flip him for a 4th round pick.

Another year, LA probably will have to attach a 1st to get rid of that contract.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Doesn’t matter for this year, but it will matter for the next 7 when we are trying to assemble a winning team.

Just keep Huberdeau; the time to trade negative value contracts is not when you are losing already.

This isn’t a video game - Jonathan Huberdeau isn’t going anywhere, and by the time he’s no longer productive, LTIR awaits.

Between Backlund, Kadri, Huberdeau, Weegar and Andersson, the new kids are going to have no shortage of quality veteran leadership to draw on.

[browna]

PLD has been an issue wherever he's gone. Like Kane in Buffo.and Winnipeg, but most of the drama seems internal here.

As disruptive as a player can be, am sure he is, but still in the lineup. In that regard, Doughty whining about it but still having his coach canned seems as if they are using PLD as an excuse rather then looking in the mirror.

Still, no chance on PLD, he was supposed to get a new start in Wpg, then in LA. Flames don't need whatever he's bringing in.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I was a big PLD acquisition fan when he was in WPG. Not anymore. Dude is far too inconsistent and would be an even worse contract than Huberdeau.