This is indeed a headline many Calgary Flames fans thought they might never see. Left winger Jonathan Huberdeau has been a huge disappointment since acquiring him from the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2022. Birdeau was under tremendous pressure to perform. Playing for the Canadian market and signing a record eight-year, $84 million contract further raised expectations.
In his first season in Cowtown, Huberdeau recorded just 15 goals and 40 assists in 79 games, recording the largest inter-season scoring drop in NHL history. Many pointed the finger at then-head coach Darryl Sutter, with whom Huberdeau and other veterans frequently clashed. Some say the culprit is cross-continental migration and an overall adjustment to life in the Great White North. However, with a new head coach and a more stable society in 2023-24, he only scored 12 times for 52 points in 81 games while also posting a career-worst minus-29 points.
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Many fans and media figures were quick to point out that Huberdeau's 2023-24 season is a tale of two seasons; in the first 41 games, he scored 6 goals and 21 points, but in the next 40 games , his performance gradually heated up, scoring 6 goals and 31 points. Now, 34 games into the 2024-25 season, “Huby” appears to have continued at that pace, currently leading the Flames with 13 goals and 25 points. His hot start is worth a closer look.
A memorable December
A lot of Huberdeau's success can be attributed to recent impressive performances. From November 30 to the time of this writing (10 games), he has pulled the rope six times and added seven assists for 13 points. After two and a half seasons of hard work, he finally developed a chemistry with 2022 new arrival Nazem Kadri, who scored 6 goals and scored 9 goals in the same time period. point. Huberdeau scored in six consecutive games from November 30 to December 12, tying the best of his tenure with the Flames.
Last summer, the French-Canadian forward said he had been working hard on his shot and it seemed to be paying off. As a career playmaker, Huberdeau typically chooses to distribute the puck rather than put it in the back of the net. He is now more confident in shooting, having racked up 23 shots during this period. His higher volume brought him more success. His field goal percentage was a career-high 21.7%. On December 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Huberdeau scored his 13th goal of the season, already surpassing his total of 12 goals in the entire 2023-24 season.
The team has performed poorly in the past 10 games, but still scored 11 of 20 points with a record of 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses. During this period, the team scored a total of 29 goals, averaging 2.9 goals per game, which means Huberdeau's contribution to the team's offense is approximately 45%. By comparison, the only Flames with more than five points in the period were Kadri, Connor Zarri and Matt Coronato. Any time Huber plays more this season, the Flames control the puck. His Corsi For rating is 56%, meaning the Flames are taking more shots than their opponents. The winger's defense has also improved, and he's on pace to hit a career-high 68 blocks.
Is Huberdeau officially back?
Now, should Flames fans get used to this type of Huberdeau? not yet. This was an impressive game of hockey, even better than the past 10 games. In the past 74 games, Huberdeau has scored 19 goals and 56 points. He's currently on pace to finish the 2024-25 season with 31 goals and 60 points, both of which would break his previous highs with the Flames. Huberdeau hasn't hit a 30-goal streak since the 2021-22 season, his final with the Panthers. The pass-first forward has only done that twice in his career. However, the second half of the season should determine once and for all what Huberdeau can bring to the team. Fans should be ready to return.
It's important to note a few things to help determine the sustainability of Huberdeau's recent play. First, his aforementioned 21.7 percent field goal percentage is likely not something he can maintain over the next 48 games. He's also playing more minutes than ever as a Flame, averaging 18 minutes and 30 seconds of ice time. If the team's performance begins to decline, head coach Ryan Huska may move to younger forwards more, which would take away from Huberdeau's ice time. Additionally, teammate Kadri's name has come up in trade talks, a move that could disrupt Huberdeau's performance. If Huberdeau can handle all of these challenges and others that each season brings and continue to produce, his identity as a Flame will become more tangible.
All in all, Huberdeau has shown to be the type of player the Flames thought they would have back in 2022. . While 60 points in a season may not be worth $10.5 million, it's certainly an increase in production so far and a step in the right direction for the team and the players. Ultimately, the Flames are relatively competitive, with Huberdeau currently leading the team in scoring. Things are going very well in Cowtown at the moment.
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