Despite the Calgary Flames winning a close game to take the season series against their provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers, the 2025–26 season has been utterly disappointing. Sitting in 29th place at the Olympic break, the Flames have fought desperately to stay in playoff contention. Despite their efforts, things will only get harder after the Olympics, as forward Jonathan Huberdeau played his last game of the season against Edmonton, heading to the IR for hip surgery.
Huberdeau’s hip injury
Huberdeau hasn’t looked like the same player he was with the Florida Panthers since joining the Flames in 2022, with his point production falling from 115 points in 2021–22 to 55 points in 2022–23. His second season, more struggles with 52 points. Last season, however, Huberdeau brought a different edge to his play. The reinvented “power forward” posted the third-highest goal total of his career with 28 goals and 62 points. It certainly wasn’t the same calibre of play that saw Huberdeau as a finalist for the Hart in 2021. Yet, it was finally progress in Calgary, and the forward finally looked like he was enjoying the game again. Entering the 2025–26 season, there was hope among fans, media, and the organization that Huberdeau would be able to build off his newfound game.
Unfortunately, that hope was quickly diminished after a slow start for the forward. After his 50 games with the Flames in 2025–26, Huberdeau was on pace for 20 goals and a frustrating 41 points had he played the full season. Flames GM Craig Conroy revealed that the forward had been dealing with a nagging hip issue for the entirety of the season, and after extensive evaluation, Huberdeau would opt for hip resurfacing surgery with consideration for his long-term well-being.
What is hip resurfacing?
Although the Flames expect Huberdeau to make a full recovery, the surgery he will undergo is no joke.
For comparison, you could think of hip resurfacing as hip replacement-lite. Total hip replacement (THR) surgeries are common in older age individuals (65+) and require the removal of the distal end of the femur, which is replaced with an artificial ball joint and matching socket insert that is anchored to the hip joint. Hip resurfacing requires significantly less removal of bone tissue, reshaping the femoral head (ball joint) to receive an artificial “cap” that is anchored into the bone with a shaft.
The two surgeries share the same goal: creating an artificial ball-and-socket joint. However, for younger individuals, especially competitive athletes, resurfacing allows relief from arthritic pain (bone rubbing bone) while maintaining a larger range of motion than a THR. By shaving the femoral head rather than removing it entirely, a larger ball and socket implant can be used, which leads to a greater range of motion and a significantly lower chance of dislocation. Furthermore, the preservation of bone tissue during hip resurfacing also allows athletes to maintain the same biomechanical function as their existing joint.
In short, if hip resurfacing did not exist, athletes with hip arthritis would have little to no option for treatment outside of painkillers or a significantly altered lifestyle due to a total hip replacement.
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Hip Resurfacing in the NHL
Few NHL players have had a hip resurfacing procedure and returned to play an extensive role. The first to have the surgery performed was Ed Jovanovski in 2013 at 36 years old. After seven months of recovery, the former 1st overall pick suited up for 37 games before retiring.
Next to have the procedure was Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler in 2019 at 37 years old. Kessler had already undergone multiple surgeries in the same hip to have bone fragments removed, and unfortunately, never returned to the NHL.
Former Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom made a newworthy comeback to the NHL in January of 2023 from hip resurfacing. Backstrom only managed to play until November of the following regular season before taking a leave due to a nagging hip issue. The Swedish superstar eventually signed to play again professionally in the SHL at 37 years old this past summer.
Shortly after Backstrom’s return, his teammate Carl Hagelin of the Washington Capitals underwent the surgery in February 2023 at 35 years old while recovering from a significant eye injury. Although Hagelin never returned to the NHL, he cited his eye injury as the cause for his retirement in August of the same year.
In June 2023, Patrick Kane underwent the procedure. However, he opted for the same orthopedic surgeon who performed Andy Murray’s procedure in 2018, Dr. Edwin. P. Su. Murray, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, was facing retirement due to his significant chronic hip pain and underwent the procedure in 2018 following multiple attempts to “clean” the joint of debris. The former world number one returned to the ATP tour and competed until August of 2024, reaching 36th overall in the world at his peak post-procedure.
Although relatively the same age as his peers at 34 years old, Kane’s choice of surgeon was paired with a strict rehab program that has led him to a full and successful recovery. In his first season with the Detroit Red Wings, and post-surgery, Kane posted a cool 20 goals and 47 points in 50 games.
It’s looked bleak thus far unless you’re the greatest American-born hockey player of all time, but Kane may have unlocked the secret to making a return to the NHL post-hip resurfacing.
The most recent NHLer to undergo hip resurfacing is San Jose Sharks defenceman John Klingberg. After his hip problems ended his season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023–24, Klingberg opted to have double hip resurfacing performed by Kane and Murray’s Dr. Su. Klingberg made a successful recovery and returned to play in 11 regular season games for the Oilers. Despite many criticizing his limited play with the Oilers, Klingberg has had a bounce-back season with the Sharks, recording 10 goals and 20 points in 41 games while averaging almost 23 minutes a game.
Before Kane and Klingberg, whose surgery was performed by Dr. Su, Jovanovski, Kessler, Backstrom and Hagelin played a combined 84 games in the NHL post-surgery before retiring. That’s an average of 21 NHL games each.
Dr. Su’s operation on Kane and Klingberg has, however, been quite the opposite. Both players have been active and healthy for over a year post-rehab.
Huberdeau’s recovery
Jonathan Huberdeau’s road back to the NHL will not be an easy one. Despite the short duration of rehab in comparison to many other major surgeries, hip resurfacing still leaves players with a metal hip joint. The player may be cleared to play long before feeling back to normal, if ever.
Patrick Kane noted it took over a year before he really felt comfortable on the new joint. Klingberg shared that sentiment when asked how his hips were feeling, telling Sharks media earlier this season, “it’s still a lot to get used to—it’s metal in your hips now, it’s different for sure”.
Hip resurfacing is still a new procedure for professional athletes, especially hockey players. It only became viable just over a decade ago and hasn’t seen significant success across any professional sports until the last 5–7 years, most notably with Dr. Su. There isn’t any public information detailing who will be performing Huberdeau’s surgery. One would assume that with Kane and Klingberg’s recent success, Huberdeau will follow the same path.
Will hip resurfacing bring back the 2021–22 Jonathan Huberdeau? I don’t think so. However, if Huberdeau has been battling with chronic pain for several years and is experiencing arthritis in his hip, this is the only long-term solution. Getting cortisone injections and having countless surgeries to clean out bone fragments from your joint isn’t worth 3–5 more years in the league in exchange for a life of chronic pain.
Huberdeau will likely make a full recovery in time for the start of next regular season. Here’s to hoping he does, and is better off for it. Playing through an injury like this could explain some of the difficulties Huberdeau has had since joining the Flames, and recovering could finally be what reinvigorates his play. I’m sure a new offensive system wouldn’t hurt either.
Here’s to a speedy recovery.
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