[Signing] Flames sign Huberdeau to long term extension (8 yrs, $10.5 mil AAV)

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What is a high maintenance player? He seemed to gel well with whatever Florida put him with?

False.

When you look at all the forward lines Florida used in the 21-22 season, the lines with Huberdeau were way down the list when you look at advanced stats. The only exception was Huberdeau-Lundell-Tippett line which was 3rd in xGF%, but was only on the ice for 15 minutes total. Huberdeau's name doesn't appear again until the 23rd spot. Meanwhile guys like Barkov, Reinhart, Verhaeghe, Bennett, Marchment, Duclair, and Lundell all appear in several line combinations in between.

If you limit it to lines that played at least 100 minutes together, there were 7 combinations with Huberdeau's lines being 6th and 7th. The common theme was that Bennett, Duclair and sometimes Tippett did a lot of heavy lifting for him. He was relatively less productive playing with practically anyone else. His production was way more dependent on specific line mates than practically any other forward on the team.

https://moneypuck.com/lines.htm

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Gaudreau coming off of two under PPG seasons under Sutter said screw you Darryl, I'm about to be a UFA and I'm not and have never been a north-south player, Chucky followed him and all they did was put up 219 pts and a +121. which was probably best winger totals on one line in 30-40 years.

Rumor has it after their line had 9pts one night Darryl told Chucky and Gaudreau they were lucky they had Lindholm back checking because they blew if defensively the whole game.

Darryl would likely still be working if he allowed star players to play to their strengths instead of 3rd-4th line style hockey.

Even John Steven’s said Sutter wasn’t happy with players playing for point totals.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Even John Steven’s said Sutter wasn’t happy with players playing for point totals.

Which makes Sutter look as dumb as a rock, star players love to win for sure but anyone with a brain would know it's a business and points = money.

Getting 60 points and a cup is worth a lot of money, getting 100 points and not winning a cup is worth huge money.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Well all 3 got huge money and only 1 kept it up and even got a cup.

[TOfan]

Dom at the Athletic this morning has his team contract efficiency ratings. Calgary come in at 20th, same as last year. Mentions they would be top 10 if not for the Huberdeau contract. Not intending to beat a dead horse but noteworthy nonetheless. He also cues Weegar’s contract as the best on the team.

Should add, he’s graded them at a C+.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Dom is an idiot. The athletic is in the toilet.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Dom is an idiot. The athletic is in the toilet.

Seems like a well balanced and considered criticism…..

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Dom is an idiot. The athletic is in the toilet.

I mean he isn't wrong lol

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I mean he isn't wrong lol

Reading through it, it does make enough sense. There are a couple of nice efficient deals on the roster, some bad ones to offset, and the rest are probably around market value.

IMO but there's a few more bad deals than good on the roster and that probably puts the Flames in the bottom third of the league. I don't think 20th is all that crazy.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cobra

With 12 goals and 52 points and a -29 you thought he was better.....wow.
I get you run his fan club page, bought his Jersey and told everyone what a great Flame he will be.
Why the need to defend him every single day?
His play speaks for itself so far after 2 years he has been a huge dissappointment.
It is OK to be wrong and admit it.

Yes, I thought his play was better. As I said, despite no improvement in points. I thought he looked better.

Resorting to “you run his fan page” etc is beneath you.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

He was around PPG until the garbage time of the season. He does have slumps - last year it was his zero point December that messed him up. He needs to eliminate the slumps. That’s the confidence part, which is aided by putting him with players that work with him - Kuzmenko, Sharangovich etc.

You found a stretch of games where he was PPG. What are the actual numbers and how many other NHLers have stretches like that?

I disagree with your cause and effect though. You tend to make him sound like a victim.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I mean he isn't wrong lol

I love the athletic. Great LV Raiders coverage and by far the best overall NHL coverage right now. Also they are starting to cover tennis hard which is something they didn't even cover a few years back. Well worth the subscription for me.

I'm a Raiders and Flames fan so I've learned over the decades that media criticism of my favorite teams is usually always warranted given both teams poor track records of winning over the last 30 years. You know what fan base calls any media idiots for objectively criticizing their favorite team? Oilers fans. We can and should strive to be better than that. I certainly will.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Yeah the Athletic is unbelievable that's why they gave away subs for a dollar a month.

Same guy who called Frank the best insider in the NHL.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yeah the Athletic is unbelievable that's why they gave away subs for a dollar a month.

Same guy who called Frank the best insider in the NHL.

I would say "Same guy" about you but it gets confusing when referring to the multiple account posters.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yeah the Athletic is unbelievable that's why they gave away subs for a dollar a month.

Same guy who called Frank the best insider in the NHL.

Which ‘guy’ said Frank is the best insider in the NHL?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Which ‘guy’ said Frank is the best insider in the NHL?

Estrada.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Estrada.

Frank has been right about several things. Not sure why saying he's a quality insider is so objectionable.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Frank has been right about several things. Not sure why saying he's a quality insider is so objectionable.

Quality and calling someone the best in the business is significantly different.

Just look at him shilling for Bowman.

Do you see other "best" insiders act the way he does?

[Jiri Hrdina]

I don't agree with his perspective on Bowman.
I also don't see the big deal in someone thinking he's the best. It's a completely subjective opinion that is somewhat valid based on track record of being right.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

You found a stretch of games where he was PPG. What are the actual numbers and how many other NHLers have stretches like that?

I disagree with your cause and effect though. You tend to make him sound like a victim.

I don't think he was a victim. I think he's all about confidence because phyically he doesn't have the tools to force plays to happen, like a McDavid or Mackinnon. And he only gets confidence when he's with players that play a certain style that he can pass to. It's not a fault of anyone else - just what I think contributes to the issue. It's not necessarily dispsy doodlers he needs either - his best season was being centred by a sledgehammer, not a scalpel. But he found success with Bennett and it led to confidence - cyclical. The hope one would have is that something clicks early and the cycle starts.

Oddly I thought some if his best plays last year were when he and Kadri found themselves on the ice together in overlapping shifts. Maybe because the play was in transition and there was open ice. Whereas before they had zero chemistry.