What to do with Huberdeau?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Give him 25min per when the team is eliminated from the playoffs, how ever small the of chance making it is. Now it is all about winning for Huska, ice the best team. And it wouldn't even be fair for the other guys to make everything revolve around Huberdeau right now. What kind of message that would send to the guys.

The message is “we are trying to get a guy who scored 114 points going again to help the team”. Most of these guys probably like him and want him to do well anyway.

Who is talking about revolving everything around Huberdeau anyway.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The message is “we are trying to get a guy who scored 114 points going again to help the team”. Most of these guys probably like him and want him to do well anyway.

Who is talking about revolving everything around Huberdeau anyway.

If you start playing him 25 min per game and he's one of the worst forwards on the ice, the message is totally wrong. Put the team first, not the individual. He's had 90 plus games to figure it out.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Saqe

If you start playing him 25 min per game and he's one of the worst forwards on the ice, the message is totally wrong. Put the team first, not the individual. He's had 90 plus games to figure it out.

I am putting the team first. You are just looking to blame someone.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I am putting the team first. You are just looking to blame someone.

What a weird logic you have going there.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Saqe

What a weird logic you have going there.

I think Gio is bang on. Everyone (and me) is so pissed about his underperformance.

But we should do everything we can to fix it rather than blame him/his contract/throw in the towel/bench him.

Hitchcock has some ideas worth exploring, and i'm thinking he has more experience in this area than we do.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I think Gio is bang on. Everyone (and me) is so pissed about his underperformance.

But we should do everything we can to fix it rather than blame him/his contract/throw in the towel/bench him.

Hitchcock has some ideas worth exploring, and i'm thinking he has more experience in this area than we do.

I was saying he has had 90 games to figure it out already. The team is still theoretically playing for a playoff spot, and now it's time to submarine the season by giving your maybe worst forward 25min per game? Hell of a motivator for the other guys in that room. I'm all of giving him those minutes if the playoffs are gone to see if he can get going, but not now.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I was saying he has had 90 games to figure it out already. The team is still theoretically playing for a playoff spot, and now it's time to submarine the season by giving your maybe worst forward 25min per game? Hell of a motivator for the other guys in that room. I'm all of giving him those minutes if the playoffs are gone to see if he can get going, but not now.

They are not making the playoffs. What are you talking about.

And for Huberdeau.....so throw in the towel then? Eff that guy?

Whatever. Hitchcock had some interesting thoughts on it. You have yours which is totally fine and similar to many on here. I'll be open to trying something different. The issue to me is confidence. If Huberdeau regains it, then that's a good thing and worth trying.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

They are not making the playoffs. What are you talking about.

And for Huberdeau.....so throw in the towel then? Eff that guy?

Whatever. Hitchcock had some interesting thoughts on it. You have yours which is totally fine and similar to many on here. I'll be open to trying something different. The issue to me is confidence. If Huberdeau regains it, then that's a good thing and worth trying.

That's why I said you can give all the minutes and drive him to the ground when the playoffs are out of reach, which is probably in a couple of weeks.

I certainly don't think they'll make the playoffs. But Huska can't operate that way and throw in the towel. His job is to win games. If you give Huberdeau 25min right now you are forfeiting the game, the line he is on is constantly the weakest one. He would have to be on the ice in all the key situations when the game is on the line and the team needs a goal. Like, can you imagine the team morale? That one game when Huberdeau got benched they came back and won the game, these guys all want to win. Especially the young guys. It would be such a horrible message and vibe for the room. Or at least that's how I would feel about it.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think the other guys would want Huberdeau going again, and it's not like big chunks of the roster are playing way better. Last game it was really the Kadri line and not much else. Lindholm was still bad. I didn't notice Ruzicka, Dube, Mangiapane (aside from the crosscheck) or Sharangovitch at all. It's just that the spotlight is on Huberdeau.

As for shifts - it's more time and situation. Let him play with Backlund for a while and see. He's on the second PP unit now, which is counterproductive. I think he's better than Ruzicka at the very least.

Huska’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. Ultimately, If he plays more minutes, that means someone else isn’t, so I really don’t know if the rest of the guys care if he gets going or not. Remember, he’s fighting for his career too as a first time head coach and he’s been put into unfair position. That’s what’s lost in all this, everybody else. Huberdeau’s career as a Flame has become such distraction that everyone else has just become a spectator or a prop to try to get Huberdeau going.

Huska is still trying to make the playoffs, so I was in his position, I wouldn’t go about gift wrapping minutes to undeserving players at the risk of losing the room. I think there will be plenty of time for Huberdeau to get his game back when everyone is eventually traded. He’s basically here forever, so they can modify the team after his game and play the heck out of him then, for now though, It’s Huska and Savard’s world.

[GFG#1]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's not "special treatment", it's what works to improve players. Kids learn by going upstairs and having a look sometimes. Not vets.

As for his contract, who did you have in mind that they are "going out and getting"? They may not say "rebuild" but they are actively marketing Lindholm, Hanifin, Zadorov and Tanev. That's rebuilding.

If a kid can learn by going upstairs so can a vet. Your past play merits some leash but after 90+ games you have had enough.

Doesn't matter who they could go get, but I guarantee a trade would be easier If we had 3-5 million in cap space, so it doesn't have to be a money in money out trade.

just because they are actively shopping does not mean they are rebuilding. For all we know they are looking for hockey trades. Until the trades come and are for prospects and picks we really have no indication of what they are doing. Other then potentially going another direction.

[Goriders]

I’d keep Huberdeau out of the limelight on the 3rd line with Backlund. I get the feeling he’s not cut out for being “the guy”. He seems to put too much pressure on himself.

Long term though something has to give. If he can’t get back to being at least a point per game player I’m guessing you probably don’t want to be paying him $10.5 million for seven more years.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GFG#1

If a kid can learn by going upstairs so can a vet. Your past play merits some leash but after 90+ games you have had enough.

Doesn't matter who they could go get, but I guarantee a trade would be easier If we had 3-5 million in cap space, so it doesn't have to be a money in money out trade.

just because they are actively shopping does not mean they are rebuilding. For all we know they are looking for hockey trades. Until the trades come and are for prospects and picks we really have no indication of what they are doing. Other then potentially going another direction.

It has nothing to do with “leash”. It has to do with playing through known problems versus being upstairs to study systems.

Conroy has said what trades he would be looking for. Pay attention.

[Locke]

Treliving really screwed this pooch.

I hope he runs Toronto into the ground like he did us dirty.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I’d keep Huberdeau out of the limelight on the 3rd line with Backlund. I get the feeling he’s not cut out for being “the guy”. He seems to put too much pressure on himself.

Long term though something has to give. If he can’t get back to being at least a point per game player I’m guessing you probably don’t want to be paying him $10.5 million for seven more years.

I don't think it's the outside pressure that's getting to Huberdeau per se, although it probably compounds things. But rather, I think it's actually the on ice pressure that's causing most of his problems.

Backlund will help to alleviate those issues for him because of the pace he can play at and how strong he is at winning puck battles, winning 50s-50s, keeping plays alive and cycling. I said it a few weeks ago that Huberdeau is underrated on the cycle and I think he showed how competent he can be in that department yesterday night. If he can continue to work hard, keep up, I think he has a chance to change his season around.

I don't know how things will change though if Backlund requests a trade to a contender. If I'm a GM of a contender, Backlund is the first guy I'm asking for. Proven 2 way playoff performer who elevates his linemates and plays the game the right way. Dude would help any time win the Stanley Cup right now.

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by Locke

Treliving really screwed this pooch.

I hope he runs Toronto into the ground like he did us dirty.

I like to say he "Milburyed" the team. actually i dont like to say it but it is what it is.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

I like to say he "Milburyed" the team. actually i dont like to say it but it is what it is.

We better hope he doesn't Cliff Fletcher us (lopsided Gilmour trade with rookie GM).

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

We better hope he doesn't Cliff Fletcher us (lopsided Gilmour trade with rookie GM).

Christ, comparing Brad Treliving to Cliff Fletcher is a bit of a stretch.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Saqe

What a weird logic you have going there.

Logic usually looks weird to people who aren't used to it.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I think you just stay the course with Backlund and Coleman.

The blending has to take a pause. They have something figured out with Kadri, it should stick a while. 10-28 doesn’t work for whatever reason. Maybe there is something to Lindholm being resentful of his team friendly contract. Not sure.

Backs is the only guy I’ve seen carry the puck in past years and resemble Gaudreau a bit. He is underrated and makes everyone he plays with better.

Stability and good line mates will go a long way, I believe

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Just stick him in the pressbox until he and his agent can figure how to get him out of his contract so he can play somewhere else.

He cannot get out of the contract other than by retirement, and why would he walk away from $80MM. And then he needs to stay retired.

If there was a way to get out of his contract, the Flames would jump on that.

Don’t like guaranteed contracts? Be prepared to give up the salary cap.

Want to buy out players? Don’t give bonuses.

The salary cap was a huge concession by the players at the time. They eventually bet on the owners screwing themselves. They were correct.