What to do with Huberdeau?

[FlamesAreOne]

Originally Posted by Bonded

What’s the point? The only way that makes sense is if you think the Flames are a playoff team with him playing 4th line minutes.

The team is noticeably better with him on the ice less. We have tried different coaches, different schemes, different line mates, different ice times. How much more hand holding can you do until we admit he is what he is, a colossal, historic mistake which will realistically haunt this franchise for the better part of the next decade?

This isn't just a small sample size either, this is 109 games of Huberdeau failure. How much longer can we do this? Is game 110 all of a sudden when it clicks and he goes back to being even an average top 6 LW?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I wont accept blaming the fans as an excuse.

1. He ( his agent) very publicly complained.
2. The Fans gave him a yard of rope 100 games to get his footing.
3. The team fired a coach for him.
4. If he doesn't like it he can quit and retire a millionaire and live a private life doing whatever he wants out of the public eye.

There is a lot of distance between "blaming the fans" and saying the constant criticism may not be helping.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

The team is noticeably better with him on the ice less. We have tried different coaches, different schemes, different line mates, different ice times. How much more hand holding can you do until we admit he is what he is, a colossal, historic mistake which will realistically haunt this franchise for the better part of the next decade?

This isn't just a small sample size either, this is 109 games of Huberdeau failure. How much longer can we do this? Is game 110 all of a sudden when it clicks and he goes back to being even an average top 6 LW?

What is the end goal though? The Flames aren't a playoff team now and they sure won't be when the UFAs are gone.

Playing Huberdeau more literally has no downside in the current state of the team.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Bonded

What is the end goal though? The Flames aren't a playoff team now and they sure won't be when the UFAs are gone.

Playing Huberdeau more literally has no downside in the current state of the team.

How do you cultivate an environment of accountability, high expectations, and ultimately a culture of winning if you just feed Huberdeau top line minutes if he isn’t performing? What does that say to guys like Zary, Pospisil, Pelletier etc etc.

[timun]

Player···············2021-22 Pts····2023-24 Pts (82-GP pace)
Connor McDavid···········123···········131
Johnny Gaudreau··········115············42
Jonathan Huberdeau·······115············41
Leon Draisaitl···········110···········100
Kirill Kaprizov··········108············73
Auston Matthews··········106···········106
Steve Stamkos············106············88
Matthew Tkachuk··········104············57
J.T. Miller···············99···········118
Mitch Marner··············97············97


My god that is absolutely spectacular.

[Jiri Hrdina]

That's freaky.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

How do you cultivate an environment of accountability, high expectations, and ultimately a culture of winning if you just feed Huberdeau top line minutes if he isn’t performing? What does that say to guys like Zary, Pospisil, Pelletier etc etc.

It says “hey kid, there are going to be times in your career when it isn’t working for you. Fight through it. You’re getting paid generational wealth to fight through it and get it back on track.”

The Flames have mishandled this player from day 1. He’s been one of the most productive forwards in the league for many years.

He still sets up guys for empty net tap ins on a regular basis - he needs to play with better players.

It’s clear his confidence is non existent. Help him get it back.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by timun

Player···············2021-22 Pts····2023-24 Pts (82-GP pace)
Connor McDavid···········123···········131
Johnny Gaudreau··········115············42
Jonathan Huberdeau·······115············41
Leon Draisaitl···········110···········100
Kirill Kaprizov··········108············73
Auston Matthews··········106···········106
Steve Stamkos············106············88
Matthew Tkachuk··········104············57
J.T. Miller···············99···········118
Mitch Marner··············97············97


My god that is absolutely spectacular.

lol Flames and former Flames

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Tkachuk not so hot either.

Injury in the playoffs having lingering effects?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by timun

Player···············2021-22 Pts····2023-24 Pts (82-GP pace)
Connor McDavid···········123···········131
Johnny Gaudreau··········115············42
Jonathan Huberdeau·······115············41
Leon Draisaitl···········110···········100
Kirill Kaprizov··········108············73
Auston Matthews··········106···········106
Steve Stamkos············106············88
Matthew Tkachuk··········104············57
J.T. Miller···············99···········118
Mitch Marner··············97············97


My god that is absolutely spectacular.

Imagine if both players end up with point totals in the 30's at end of year. That's bad. Given that neither player provides much value beyond scoring, that's out of the league bad. Just wow.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Flames need to recruit a witch doctor.

[Roof-Daddy]

Mind blowing how the guy goes from four straight season of being over a point per game, including 1.44 points per game the season before the trade, comes to CGY and tanks to about half the offensive production.

It's not like he was in FLA riding Barkov's coat tails.

That contract is completely justifiable for a 1.2 point per game offensive player, which is what he was when he they signed it.

Scary though, these first few years were supposed to be the years where he lived up to the contract, with him tailing off at the end. Just imagine how bad it could get with this trajectory.

[dino7c]

The crazy thing about Tkachuk is the 5 goals

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Imagine if both players end up with point totals in the 30's at end of year. That's bad. Given that neither player provides much value beyond scoring, that's out of the league bad. Just wow.

At least Gaudreau put up just shy of 80 points last season. I doubt he's a lost cause as much as Huberdeau.....Tkachuk's down year is a bit understandable as he's beat up from a long playoff run and a pretty long season the year before in Calgary.

Also I've watched a few BJ games and Gaudreau certainly isn't himself, but he does at least show flashes from time to time. I bet he finds his way to 60 points this season.

[DomeFoam]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

It says “hey kid, there are going to be times in your career when it isn’t working for you. Fight through it. You’re getting paid generational wealth to fight through it and get it back on track.”

The Flames have mishandled this player from day 1. He’s been one of the most productive forwards in the league for many years.

He still sets up guys for empty net tap ins on a regular basis - he needs to play with better players.

It’s clear his confidence is non existent. Help him get it back.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich

How have they mishandled him?

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Mind blowing how the guy goes from four straight season of being over a point per game, including 1.44 points per game the season before the trade, comes to CGY and tanks to about half the offensive production.

It's not like he was in FLA riding Barkov's coat tails.

That contract is completely justifiable for a 1.2 point per game offensive player, which is what he was when he they signed it.

Scary though, these first few years were supposed to be the years where he lived up to the contract, with him tailing off at the end. Just imagine how bad it could get with this trajectory.

I don’t know, is Barkov playing with Reinhart this year?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

At least Gaudreau put up just shy of 80 points last season. I doubt he's a lost cause as much as Huberdeau.....Tkachuk's down year is a bit understandable as he's beat up from a long playoff run and a pretty long season the year before in Calgary.

Also I've watched a few BJ games and Gaudreau certainly isn't himself, but he does at least show flashes from time to time. I bet he finds his way to 60 points this season.

By all accounts Gaudreau has just mailed it in this year. At least with Huberdeau you sense he's trying, but just not succeeding.

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by DomeFoam

How have they mishandled him?

thats all i hear, how the flames mismanaged him, perhaps they were supposed to trade players and bring in superstars to help the 10.5 m man? they have played him more than he deserves including PP time and played him with everyone on the team. this plumber team doesnt seem to be hurting Zary and Yegur among others.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

It says “hey kid, there are going to be times in your career when it isn’t working for you. Fight through it. You’re getting paid generational wealth to fight through it and get it back on track.”

The Flames have mishandled this player from day 1. He’s been one of the most productive forwards in the league for many years.

He still sets up guys for empty net tap ins on a regular basis - he needs to play with better players.

It’s clear his confidence is non existent. Help him get it back.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich

Is having the fourth most ice time per game amongst forwards and playing him on a line with one of our top scorers not an opportunity to succeed? Eventually the onus is on the player to perform.

I’m glad you mentioned Sharangovich, that’s someone who has seen an opportunity to succeed and taken advantage of it.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

By all accounts Gaudreau has just mailed it in this year. At least with Huberdeau you sense he's trying, but just not succeeding.

I get the exact same sense.

I don't doubt that Huberdeau is giving it his all.

The downside of this is if Johnny decides to start giving more effort, he might just start to produce.

Huberdeau, not sure what else he can do.