It seems like Jonathan Huberdeau is experiencing a bit of a revitalization offensively for the Calgary Flames this season. The 31-year-old has notched 14 points in the last 10 games, and he has already surpassed his goal total from last season.
Huberdeau is currently on pace for 60 points. While that total clearly doesn’t justify the amount of money he’s earning, it’s an improvement Flames fans were hoping to see. It seems like this season, Huberdeau is showing flashes here and there of the player he once was not too long ago.
Huberdeau resurgence is an underrated storyline
Problems quickly came the moment the Flames acquired Huberdeau as part of the huge blockbuster deal with the Florida Panthers. He struggles to establish himself and had quite the down year in his first season in Cowtown. There was optimism that with a new coach and new season, Huberdeau would turn it around.
However, his second season with the Flames didn’t go any better. In fact, his numbers decreased from the previous year, and criticism against him grew even louder. A big issue Huberdeau has experienced in Calgary was his inability to develop chemistry with consistent linemates. The Flames would c6onstantly have Huberdeau playing all over their lineup in hopes that he would find a spot that could work for him.
This season, Huberdeau seems to have started to develop chemistry with Nazem Kadri and Martin Pospisil as his linemates. It’s sort of a surprise as Kadri and Huberdeau were linemates in the past and it hasn’t worked out, but this season seems to be different. Their bond as teammates seems to have gotten stronger, and both have benefited from each other’s play recently. Both players are currently tied for the team lead in goals and Huberdeau is the team’s leader in points.
Therefore, seeing Huberdeau finally getting things together is a positive sign to look out for as this rebuild continues. It’s looking like he has finally found a permanent spot in the lineup where he can be his best, and where he can contribute the most towards the team’s efforts every game.
Do Flames fans have a reason to be optimistic?
Huberdeau’s increased offensive production is encouraging, but the consensus is that he’ll likely never be the same player he used to be. Justifying his cap hit of $10.5 million through his play is a pipe dream.
At this point, many Flames fans aren’t asking for Huberdeau to turn into an all-star again. Instead, becoming a responsible forward who can contribute in effective ways is a more realistic ask. There’s also the fact that he’s a notable veteran on a Flames team that is bound to see more youth, so being a positive veteran figure is also key.
I truly miss the days of Huberdeau being a top player in this league, as he was electric to watch back when he was a Panther. Nonetheless, times have changed now and Huberdeau no longer has the elite talent around him to fully flourish. The expectations from the fanbase have changed into him being a responsible veteran forward to help mentor the next generation of Flames players.
