What to do with Huberdeau?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Rhett on After Burner tonight tossed out the idea that maybe you need to just bite the bullet and play Huberdeau superstar minutes for a few games, and maybe it lights him up. Make him feel like he is a star player again, and maybe it ignites him. He isn't likely going to turn it around with 12-15 minutes a night.

The problem of course, is that he hasn't earned it either. But maybe it's the chance you take take just to see because they have tried everything else.

This is an option for sure as it's not often that star players get out of funks by playing less. I just don't think there's a quick fix here. I do believe in the offseason they probably have to look at signing Duclair to see if that can spark him. Maybe also do a lot of research on what type of center they can find that meshes with his game. It's clearly a difficult situation as I can't recall a productive player like this that has regressed so much, so fast. I don't think anyone in the NHL could have predicted he would fall this far at only 30 years of age.

[Tkachukwagon]

Huberdeau is a huge problem, but he’s not the most immediate problem. We aren’t competing this year, and as much as it drives me insane to watch him, I am going to try and put it out of my head for this season.

[Bonded]

Trade all players they want to and then just feed Huberdeau minutes

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Rhett on After Burner tonight tossed out the idea that maybe you need to just bite the bullet and play Huberdeau superstar minutes for a few games, and maybe it lights him up. Make him feel like he is a star player again, and maybe it ignites him. He isn't likely going to turn it around with 12-15 minutes a night.

The problem of course, is that he hasn't earned it either. But maybe it's the chance you take take just to see because they have tried everything else.

I was thinking about this too, during the game. They did the benching thing and have reduced his ice time. To the extent that was a “play better” message I think Huberdeau understands it. More benching/reduced ice time isn’t needed to make him understand it more. I could see putting him in the stands to look at the game like a rookie, but that’s possibly counterproductive. Or you give him minutes and tell him you are doing it to get him to work it out on the ice. I thought his line wasn’t bad at all last night, despite the snarky comments every time they were on. Lindholm was worse, which is odd in a contract year.

[The Fisher Account]

Drop kick+into the sun=win?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Those that just want him dropped, kicked, fired into the sun, dumped, traded for other bad contracts that expire more, I completely understand.

However, I am of the mentality that I'd rather someone figure it out here who was willing to commit 8 years in Calgary. Correction, 9 years. We don't get that very often, if ever. You can argue he did it for the money, and you may have a good argument. But, when you have been going PPG for that long and not even playing with Barkov 5v5, wouldn't you want to be getting paid as well? If he wasn't getting it here, he would have received it in free agency. He was warranted the same contract we would've given Johnny, we all agreed on that. He produced just as good as he did.

For whatever reason he just hasn't figured it out. It takes long for some to adapt. He's definitely taken A LOT longer to adapt than most of us thought he would. I do agree that some things like more ice time and familiarity would help. Staple him to Backlund and Coleman for a while, he was good with them last year. Keep him engaged. The benching was warranted, but it's time to give him more minutes to see if the offense comes back. Obviously if other lines are having better nights give the minutes to them, but if we are having a terrible game like the Ottawa game give him 20 minutes. It really doesn't hurt.

Worst case scenario? He continues to struggle. Aren't we trying to win games but also get a good pick to retool this team? It really doesn't hurt to just watch and wait. Cheer for him. Act like you want him for another 7 seasons. I know that is excruciating for some but for me it's easy because he is putting on the jersey we are rooting for. So why not do the same for the player?

[GioforPM]

^^. This. A lot of the people snarking at him and his salary are also begging for a tank and rebuild. If that is the case, who cares how much he makes, or even if he hasn’t figured it out? As long as he’s not hindering the Flames in making the moves to rebuild, there’s no real issue. Keep him around for 4 years while you are rebuilding, then, if you need the cap after you’ve developed the youth, buyouts or retained salaries are way easier to swallow.

[Chonger]

Nah! Not gonna cheer on the guy stealing money from and destroying my team. No thanks! BOO that.

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[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by jayswin

This is so perfect and that's now two sources with perfect breakdowns of how our crappy systems don't work for a dynamic, creative player like Huberdeau. But just like with the first article most of our fans won't check it out because sports fans are emotional and want to attack a scapegoat for what's wrong with their team (someone on the ice).

The X factor here, imo, is that Huska was supposed to be a departure from the rigid, **** system that held our offensive players back last season..but he has not done that. The system still sucks, brutally. And that's what I was most excited for this season, was a more open, offensive system to see what our big contracts and young prospects could do in it.

It's valid and contributing to his demise, but I still ask someone to explain how such a vaunted and talented offensive talent can be so awful with the man advantage too? I've yet to hear a sensible explanation as to why he is utterly useless in OT, or on the PP when there is so much more time and space compared to 5-5. It kind of works against the notion in the video that it's all systems based .

There is still undoubtedly an effort and lack of compete in the player that is at the level where you can't say he's not trying, but he certainly isn't ever going to outbattle someone for a puck or positioning.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Chonger

Nah! Not gonna cheer on the guy stealing money from and destroying my team. No thanks! BOO that.

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If you want to blame anyone for the current state of the team, blame Treliving as he's the architect of letting Johnny walk for nothing, Tkachuk trade, Hubedeau contract, Monahan trade, Kadri signing, etc. This is the team he built.

[UKflames]

I know that anything outside of the rink is normally off limits to discuss but i'm afraid i'm going to go there. Mods if this isn't allowed feel free to erase but i think it's worth discussing.



Huberdeau was/is a top NHL player, a regular point per game player, and yet since his move to Calgary, and the signing of that big contract, he has been a shadow of himself. I'm wodering if there is a big chunk of contract regret going on here, maybe from him, but mostly from his family. Did $10 million dollars make everything unicorns and rainbows but once the dust settles the thought of being in Calgary for 7 more years (i'm not putting Calgary down, I love Calgary, just talking from the families perspective) when you were in the sunshine of Florida, suddenly things aren't so rosy.



We all know that if things aren't great at home that they can effect your day to day work and life, and I think that is what is happening here. A player of his quality should be able to find someone on this team to gel with, but despite trying 3-4 different centres, numerous wingers, he is just not working with anyone. People say the problem is in his head, well if he is getting grief at home that would certainly be in your head, regardless what you try to do to play better.


I might be completly out to lunch here and Huberdeau has just fallen off a cliff skill wise and can no longer keep up with the game.Then again I might not.

[aaronkarlpatton]

Originally Posted by UKflames

I know that anything outside of the rink is normally off limits to discuss but i'm afraid i'm going to go there. Mods if this isn't allowed feel free to erase but i think it's worth discussing.



Huberdeau was/is a top NHL player, a regular point per game player, and yet since his move to Calgary, and the signing of that big contract, he has been a shadow of himself. I'm wodering if there is a big chunk of contract regret going on here, maybe from him, but mostly from his family. Did $10 million dollars make everything unicorns and rainbows but once the dust settles the thought of being in Calgary for 7 more years (i'm not putting Calgary down, I love Calgary, just talking from the families perspective) when you were in the sunshine of Florida, suddenly things aren't so rosy.



We all know that if things aren't great at home that they can effect your day to day work and life, and I think that is what is happening here. A player of his quality should be able to find someone on this team to gel with, but despite trying 3-4 different centres, numerous wingers, he is just not working with anyone. People say the problem is in his head, well if he is getting grief at home that would certainly be in your head, regardless what you try to do to play better.


I might be completly out to lunch here and Huberdeau has just fallen off a cliff skill wise and can no longer keep up with the game.Then again I might not.

Very good perspective, it's entirely possible. I'd love to see him on a line with zary and Rosie just get him going

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[dirk diggler]

I personally do not want Zary anywhere near Huberdeau. Huberdeau has dragged down every one he has played with. Zary needs to stay where he is.

[PuckSlap]

I wanted to give him and others the benefit of the doubt in regards to Sutter being the problem. He's played roughly 92 games with the flames and he's not been a game changer. Not only that, but he may not have even scored a goal that resulted in a win or changed the outcome a game. Nothing he has done has been memorable or stood out in a positive way.

And now people seem to think that every time a player slumps, it's mental health? Is it possible that he just doesn't like it here and regrets signing? Maybe he just developed a comfortable style of play while he was in Florida and it won't reflect here. Who knows


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[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

It's valid and contributing to his demise, but I still ask someone to explain how such a vaunted and talented offensive talent can be so awful with the man advantage too? I've yet to hear a sensible explanation as to why he is utterly useless in OT, or on the PP when there is so much more time and space compared to 5-5. It kind of works against the notion in the video that it's all systems based .

There is still undoubtedly an effort and lack of compete in the player that is at the level where you can't say he's not trying, but he certainly isn't ever going to outbattle someone for a puck or positioning.

The whole powerplay has been sucking and he's not even on the first unit. Back when he was, he didn't seem to get nearly enough touches, and when he did, he made decent passes that were flubbed or the shot was missed. One recent one he made a dandy pass to where a D should have been floating in from the opposite point (like Gaudreau to Wideman back in the day), but the D was off somewhere daydreaming and the pass went to centre. Of course Huberdeau got the blame because a timing pass wasn't received. A lot like how a QB looks foolish on a timing pass when it's the receiver running a flawed route to blame.

OT - well, that's a skaters forte and he's not a good skater.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

^^. This. A lot of the people snarking at him and his salary are also begging for a tank and rebuild. If that is the case, who cares how much he makes, or even if he hasn’t figured it out? As long as he’s not hindering the Flames in making the moves to rebuild, there’s no real issue. Keep him around for 4 years while you are rebuilding, then, if you need the cap after you’ve developed the youth, buyouts or retained salaries are way easier to swallow.

I think most people who want a rebuild want it because Huberdeau isn't working out and there is no other viable plan if he isn't living up to his contract. I doubt anyone would be upset if Huberdeau was a PPG player and the team was doing well because of it.

[Goriders]

If his play doesn’t pick up I honestly doubt he’ll want to stick around Calgary for 8 years being the villian. I’d keep trying to find ways to get him going. But if it’s just not going anywhere around midseason I’d start talking to his agent about options for moving him out.

If they are completely inflexable I’d put him on waivers and send him to the AHL when Pellitier’s back. You have to pay him either way. But he’s currently a detrement to the team. He’s a turnover machine. The young AHLers are far outplaying him.

I’d let him soak in the AHL for a while until he came to his senses. If someone picks him up off waivers problem solved.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Goriders

If his play doesn’t pick up I honestly doubt he’ll want to stick around Calgary for 8 years being the villian. I’d keep trying to find ways to get him going. But if it’s just not going anywhere around midseason I’d start talking to his agent about options for moving him out.

If they are completely inflexable I’d put him on waivers and send him to the AHL when Pellitier’s back. You have to pay him either way. But he’s currently a detrement to the team. He’s a turnover machine. The young AHLers are far outplaying him.

I’d let him soak in the AHL for a while until he came to his senses. If someone picks him up off waivers problem solved.

You can't send him to the minors. And if you could it wouldn't help his game.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Goriders

If his play doesn’t pick up I honestly doubt he’ll want to stick around Calgary for 8 years being the villian. I’d keep trying to find ways to get him going. But if it’s just not going anywhere around midseason I’d start talking to his agent about options for moving him out.

If they are completely inflexable I’d put him on waivers and send him to the AHL when Pellitier’s back. You have to pay him either way. But he’s currently a detrement to the team. He’s a turnover machine. The young AHLers are far outplaying him.

I’d let him soak in the AHL for a while until he came to his senses. If someone picks him up off waivers problem solved.

I don't think he can be sent to the AHL unless he agreed to waive, at least not while he has a full NMC. In a few years, it becomes an m-NMC, so maybe then.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by goriders

if his play doesn’t pick up i honestly doubt he’ll want to stick around calgary for 8 years being the villian. I’d keep trying to find ways to get him going. But if it’s just not going anywhere around midseason i’d start talking to his agent about options for moving him out.

If they are completely inflexable i’d put him on waivers and send him to the ahl when pellitier’s back. You have to pay him either way. But he’s currently a detrement to the team. He’s a turnover machine. The young ahlers are far outplaying him.

I’d let him soak in the ahl for a while until he came to his senses. If someone picks him up off waivers problem solved.

nmc