[PGT] Loss - 10/30/2024 - Utah defeats Calgary 5-1

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I actually think they need to surround him with pace and finishers.

I like Sharangovich and Pospisil with him TBH.

I think its time to forget about trying to find players to play with him. He is what he has become.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

When teams are out-matched talent wise, they often have the appearance of not caring. It's not often the case. It's simply the fact that the other team is controlling the play and exerting their will.

It's not about caring. It's about the fact they aren't a good team.

How do you explain a guy like Huberdeau then? Bags of skill, big and strong.

Guys like that don't forget how to make tape-to-tape passes.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Not much IMO because it already stinks

https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attenda...h.php?tmi=5090

The all time low was 1990 at 15320, and only twice have they fallen below 16000

This year attendance is 17169

There are a lot more people in Calgary then 1990, so that should offset attendance drops somewhat from the all time lows. Also certain teams will always be big draws (The dome will just become a visiting teams arena even more on those nights)

So maybe you see another 1000 fans per game drop, but the reality is the casual fan attendance has been trending down for 3 straight years/since COVID

I am guessing we average 16750 for the year

The issue is cost. I loved going to weeknight game sitting in the press level when I could buy a ticket for $30. It would be $30 +$10 for a beer and $7 for a hotdog. It could easily go to 7-10 games in a season with a big group of family or friends.

Now it costs $69 dollars to have the same seat. Let alone the extra $25 for a drink and a bite. I'll go to some games but maybe 1 or 2.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by OldSam

Holy over dramatic response from some of you. This is a rebuild. Some will be good games, some will be mediocre, and some will be downright dreadful. Probably there will be a lot more dreadful games for quite some time. We are 10 games in and some are wanting to burn it to the ground. Deep breath. It won't change overnight.

I dunno I kind of love it. Folks clamouring for a rebuild, get a rebuild, “no not like that!”

The hot start made some fans get hot and bothered but reality will set in. This outrage will soon turn to apathy until we get a shiny new toy to cheer for. It will be good to watch to see if some of the guys gain some trade value but also let’s hope everyone has fun out there.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think its time to forget about trying to find players to play with him. He is what he has become.

I don't think I'd be making trades or signing players to try to play with him.

But I also think it's pretty obvious that guys that are more slower paced don't actually work well with him.

He doesn't really drive play himself, so needs guys to push the pace a bit which helps open up space for him.

It's what was working those first three games. Both Pospisil and Mantha were really attacking the middle of the ice with pace, and it opened up more space for that line as a whole.

For whatever reason though since the 3 day break the whole team hasn't been attacking the middle of the ice nearly as much, and reverted back to dump the puck in, cycle along the wall, and get the puck back to the point approach.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

How do you explain a guy like Huberdeau then? Bags of skill, big and strong.

Guys like that don't forget how to make tape-to-tape passes.

Do you really think he's not trying? Or intentionally miss those passes?
I can't fully explain but probably a combination of skills falling off, lack of confidence, not being a good fit for the system they are playing and not having the right line-mates.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

How do you explain a guy like Huberdeau then? Bags of skill, big and strong.

Guys like that don't forget how to make tape-to-tape passes.

I guess understandable since you guys haven't seen anything but bad from Huberdeau. But when he starts to make those low percentage plays or stupid spinorama stuff you know he's just going through the motions. When he's engaged he drives the net and engages physically. His skill hasn't gone anywhere.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I guess understandable since you guys haven't seen anything but bad from Huberdeau. But when he starts to make those low percentage plays or stupid spinorama stuff you know he's just going through the motions. When he's engaged he drives the net and engages physically. His skill hasn't gone anywhere.

I think he's a classic case of a player checking out after a payday. Sure he's trying, but you need to be doing a lot more than trying when you're being paid like a top player in the league. You need to be going to the well each and every shift - we saw that out of him during the first 3-4 games this year where he was playing in the slot and getting to the blue paint. The last 3-4 games and it's pretty much same same from Huberdeau as the first two years where he's out there playing, but it comes across as pretty bare minimum compared to a lot of other players on the team.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Do you really think he's not trying? Or intentionally miss those passes?
I can't fully explain but probably a combination of skills falling off, lack of confidence, not being a good fit for the system they are playing and not having the right line-mates.

We can agree to disagree then.

I think he's not trying because he's not motivated. He stated he wass upset he got traded out of an ideal situation in Florida with a competitive team and great place to live.

All of a sudden, he's on a team that sucks and is rebuilding in a frigid climate, and they hand him $10.5 mil a year. You almost don't blame him if he's not diving Infront of slap shots or taking extra reps in the gym. Why would he?

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

whatever happened to Huberdeau as a professional athlete should be studied by scholars for many years.

Brent Krahn on radio ripping Huberdeau for yucking it up and laughing when down 5-0. Anyone see this?

I accept that his contract is brutal. His lack of bringing anything else is painful. But to laugh? omg.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I'm not sure Huberdeau is moping around, this is just who he has always been even in Florida. He can disappear for several games or even weeks. Before he used to collect cookie points while doing it though.

But it's true, it's not good to hand him minutes just because of his contract either. I predict a buyout by year five of his deal.

I thought his contract made a buy out essentially useless?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I thought his contract made a buy out essentially useless?

It is. Some savings if in year 8.

[Toast_Man]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I thought his contract made a buy out essentially useless?

His contract is all bonus, so the cap savings from a buyout are minimal.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I thought his contract made a buy out essentially useless?

The cap hit the Flames would be left with after a Huberdeau buy out basically makes it buy out proof

[Roof-Daddy]

I don't what folks want Huberdeau to be doing in a 5-0 loss?

Sulking? Crying? Throwing hissy fits?

The guy is making $10.5 million a year and he will be for the next 7 years, no matter what the team is doing. He's on a rebuilding roster with no hope of a trade and no hope of winning. So he'll just take his pay cheque from his buy out proof contract and laugh all the way to the bank.

I know fans think the players should care as much as they do, but many of them don't.

Once you realize this, you as a fan will also care less.

[Johnny Makarov]

this is the time now to trade Rasmus. MOarrrr picks!

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I thought his contract made a buy out essentially useless?

It is but when he's 35 they may not have any other option. I think it's the most untradeable contract in the league and at that age he's going to be worse if not completely washed. Nobody is going to take him even at 50% for three years. At some point it's just better to cut bait and get him off the team.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Saqe

It is but when he's 35 they may not have any other option. I think it's the most untradeable contract in the league and at that age he's going to be worse if not completely washed. Nobody is going to take him even at 50% for three years. At some point it's just better to cut bait and get him off the team.

Not if it means extending out the financial pain even further with very little near-term gain.

[SuperMatt18]

Thing with Huberdeau is he's again playing very low event and safe hockey.

Among forwards he has the lowest xGA/60 on the team (2.1 xGA per 60), the 2nd lowest xGF/60, the 2nd lowest corsi against per 60, the 2nd lowest corsi for per 60, the lowest High Danger Corsi Against, and the 2nd lowest High Danger Corsi For per 60.

It's not like he's a liability on the ice right now, his defensive effort has actually been strong, he's just unable to generate anything offensively.

And he takes very little risks to generate offensively. If you watch him closely you really start to notice it.

- He's often the high forward in the offensive zone
- He's often the last forward in the defensive zone (very rarely is he cheating on the breakout)
- He's generally the first forward back on the back check
- If a d-man pinches he's the one often covering the point

He has been playing very, very safe hockey for the better part of two and a half seasons in Calgary now, and it's hard to generate offense if you don't take a risk every once in a while.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Not if it means extending out the financial pain even further with very little near-term gain.

But what are you going to do with him, he's still taking up a roster spot. I would imagine in a few years they want to be competitive and that matters. It's also an elephant in the room.


I don't think the extra years from the buyout for a million or so matters at all.