What to do with Huberdeau?

[NewFan]

Huska needs to talk Huberdeau and give him a simple and easy role and let him know that the team doesn't need him to be main guy.
I think Backlund and Coleman is the best players to put him together and that line will play against other teams top 2 lines. Their goal is shut down other team. And hope he gets 60-70 points this year, then more point a game next year.
Then we have Lindholm, who is motivated to have a big year, to play with more scoring line.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

No, a perfect world is he is the leading catalyst in our offense and a play driver. The minute he gets hot, our team is much deeper.

It isn't going to happen here.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Yeah walk away from 80M. There is no such world

Agreed.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Panthers fans on Twitter want him back. How the hell would that work?

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Panthers fans on Twitter want him back. How the hell would that work?

Huberdeau for Bobrovsky would be the only base that is workable and Bob isn't waiving to play in Calgary lol

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Panthers fans on Twitter want him back. How the hell would that work?

Bobrovski and Bennett for Markstrom and Huberdeau.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Something he kept saying last season when he got here was no pressure, but it seems like its the reverse.

From everything you can find around Florida he is a guy who cares a lot being a top player and being a star.

115 point season, a new face to the franchise huge new contract, and boom you get a toxic season and you are putting more pressure on yourself to fit into the system but look like a star and its not happening probably destroyed his confidence.

Looks like a guy that at times is trying to make up for last season with 1 play, and it doesn't help that none of his linemates play to his strengths and he starts tossing pucks into skates etc.

He is also weak on the boards and like it was mentioned in the video he unable to get into open space by being so slow looking to make the big play that the defenders attack him tie him up and take the puck away.

It probably is not an easy fix, but he needs to find his confidence 5 on 4 first get some plays going, and hope they can get guys to play faster with him.

It's not for a lack of effort, its a guy who looks lost out there with no confidence at all.

Zary seems like a player who would do great with him, but I would not break up a line that is playing exciting hockey with a young player to stick him with someone who is broken until he gets his game back.

[shutout]

Only way to move Huberdeau is finding other underachieving big contracts that can be moved at a 2:1 basis for his. There will be teams that believe it is just Calgary's systems and players that are causing his decline. But because of a salary cap that is tight the swap has to most likely be multiple players coming back to the Flames.

Not a lot of options out there.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Panthers fans on Twitter want him back. How the hell would that work?

Verhaeghe and Forsling.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Jokinen is was scholar and a gentlement. Loved him as a Flames - especially during his second stint. He was a major offense driver in his last season as a Flame. He wasn't overpaid in that stint either.

Interestingly, Jokinen won the coach of the year this past season in Finland's top league. I wonder if he'll ever coach at the NHL level.

Jokinen never had a contract longer than 4 years.

Think how different the Huberdeau situation would be if he only had 3 or 4 years left.

[Vinny01]

One thing that Huberdeau and Tkachuk have in common is they are really good at saying the right things or the things the fans want to hear. That is not a shot at either player they are both really good in the media and make it easy to root for them.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

One thing that Huberdeau and Tkachuk have in common is they are really good at saying the right things or the things the fans want to hear. That is not a shot at either player they are both really good in the media and make it easy to root for them.

Yeah, articulate, well spoken players that give any level of substance in their answers stand waaaaaay out in the NHL and impress fans and media.

Most NHL players are kind of dummies to begin with and then even worse in front of the camera. "umm yeah ya know, I just go out and do the thing and hope the stuff you know uhhh happens and pucks in deep and that's umm yeah....okay thanks".

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah this is what's been tough.

Kadri when engaged and trying has looked great as a Flame. His issue is he's had some moments where he looks like he's not cared or doesn't seem to be trying (that game against Chicago down the stretch last year is a perfect example).

That problem is easier to solve, just work harder.

Huberdeau is a completely different problem where it's not an effort issue. It's a "I'm no longer able to make high end hockey plays" problem and that's much harder to solve. How do you get this guy to remember he averaged 99 points per 82 games in the 4 seasons prior to being traded here, and put him in a position to leverage his skill set.

It's not an effort problem, it's not even a defensive issue as he's worked hard defensively, he's just been unable to make plays and generate any type of offense. And I'm not sure how you solve that.

First step is playing him with guys that drive the middle of the ice recklessly (ie Sam Bennett)

I think the difference is that last season, we saw how good Kadri was when he was giving it 100% and we knew he could do it. So when he actively said eff it and gave up out of spite, it was pretty egregious and fans were rightly mad. It was an attitude issue.

With Huberdeau, I don't think his effort is 100% either, but I don't think it's an attitude problem. I think he is walking in a mire right right now and can't muster great efforts even if in his heart, he wants to. I can't look at those sloppy plays and lackluster puck battles and think, there is a guy giving it 100% effort.

I feel bad for him as he looked in complete anguish on the bench. It has to be really uncomfortable for the rest of the team to see that too. He probably realizes after watching the 3rd last night that he is holding everyone else back, and that has to feel pretty crappy when he is supposed to be the guy leading them. He might be better off in the press box next time just to get that black cloud away from everyone else.

Thank goodness they never made him captain like a lot of people wanted.

[Paulie Walnuts]

He is holding everyone else back? Relax a little. Other players can take blame for their own play?

Is he the one causing Lindholm and Backlund to shoot pucks into the corner on breakaways?

Mangiapane to miss the net when set up for a open net, or Lindholm to pass the puck starring down a open net?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

He is holding everyone else back? Relax a little. Other players can take blame for their own play?

Is he the one causing Lindholm and Backlund to shoot pucks into the corner on breakaways?

Mangiapane to miss the net when set up for a open net, or Lindholm to pass the puck starring down a open net?

Weird how much water you carry for Huberdeau. Let’s blame multiple players who are less than half his cap hit. He is the guy who gives the puck away with ease, takes multiple low percentage chances every game and has not looked dynamic in any of the 90+ games he has been here.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Bobrovski and Bennett for Markstrom and Huberdeau.

We know Bennett doesn't work in our system. That experiment is over. He's another guy who flourishes with Florida's style but not the other way around.

Also, they would never let him go because he's been hurt most of this season and the results show how much Tkachuk's production depended on Bennett as its also down this year.

[GhostCookie]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think the difference is that last season, we saw how good Kadri was when he was giving it 100% and we knew he could do it. So when he actively said eff it and gave up out of spite, it was pretty egregious and fans were rightly mad. It was an attitude issue.

With Huberdeau, I don't think his effort is 100% either, but I don't think it's an attitude problem. I think he is walking in a mire right right now and can't muster great efforts even if in his heart, he wants to. I can't look at those sloppy plays and lackluster puck battles and think, there is a guy giving it 100% effort.

I feel bad for him as he looked in complete anguish on the bench. It has to be really uncomfortable for the rest of the team to see that too. He probably realizes after watching the 3rd last night that he is holding everyone else back, and that has to feel pretty crappy when he is supposed to be the guy leading them. He might be better off in the press box next time just to get that black cloud away from everyone else.

Thank goodness they never made him captain like a lot of people wanted.

Second this train of thought. I also agree it doesn't seem like we are getting his 100% but that its also not being pouty or a bad attitude. It seems like he's battling himself right now. If life was like a tv movie, this would be the story arc where he goes back to his hometown and skates on an odr with kids and rekindles his love for the game and finds deep down within what drives him. He would also probably save the towns annual winter festival too.

But that's where it seems to sit right now. How does he respond and get back to his game. Likewise, the Flames still need to find a spot for him that benefits his skillset, and I just don't know if we have one right now.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Weird how much water you carry for Huberdeau. Let’s blame multiple players who are less than half his cap hit. He is the guy who gives the puck away with ease, takes multiple low percentage chances every game and has not looked dynamic in any of the 90+ games he has been here.

Its not water carrying, when you blame him for everything its a bit ridiculous. Its not like hes stopping those guys from scoring, that is what holding everyong back means.

The blame Huberdeau and Kadri for everything is getting over the top ridiculous.

First you get a group who needs to jump in and blame him and Kadri for Sutter getting fired when thats 100% not sure and been confirmed, yet they trot that out every single game thread.

Now hes holding everyone back?

He sucks right now no doubt about it, but you can clearly see a guy is cares and is trying but his confidence is gone he has none zero.

Its not a snap of the finger and its back type of thing, it is going to take time. Yeah it sucks to watch but what are you going to do? Johnny Gaudreau was equally as frustrating, Matthew Tkachuk was equally as frustrating, people called Iginla Invisginla.

Star players go through ruts like this, doesn't make him a bum like some make him out to be.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

We know Bennett doesn't work in our system. That experiment is over. He's another guy who flourishes with Florida's style but not the other way around.

Also, they would never let him go because he's been hurt most of this season and the results show how much Tkachuk's production depended on Bennett as its also down this year.

Bennett looked great when he played with Backlund. Then he played with a bunch of trash coaches and never had a full season with someone competent behind the bench. Safe to say he needed a fresh start but I wouldn’t say he didn’t work in our system

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

He is holding everyone else back? Relax a little. Other players can take blame for their own play?

Is he the one causing Lindholm and Backlund to shoot pucks into the corner on breakaways?

Mangiapane to miss the net when set up for a open net, or Lindholm to pass the puck starring down a open net?

He is also the reason guys like Lindholm and Mangiapane aren't getting more chances and more time in the offensive zone when they are on the ice with Huberdeau. Every player is going to flub occasional scoring chances, but Huberdeau kills plays and momentum with such frequency, it holds them back.

Even if you aren't buying that, it is undeniable that his cap hit is holding the team back and looks like it is going to for the better part of the next decade.