It’s actually a headline many Calgary Flames followers thought they could by no means see. Left winger Jonathan Huberdeau has been tremendously disappointing ever since he was acquired from the Florida Panthers again in the summertime of 2022. Because the centrepiece of a commerce bundle for younger All-Star Matthew Tkachuk and a former 115 level scorer himself, Huberdeau had immense strain to carry out. Taking part in for a Canadian market and signing a franchise file 8-year, $84 million contract drove expectations up even additional.
In his first season in Cowtown, Huberdeau put up simply 15 objectives and 40 assists in 79 video games to set an NHL file for the biggest season-to-season level drop off ever recorded. Many pointed the finger at then-head-coach Darryl Sutter, whom Huberdeau and different veterans clashed with continuously. Some acknowledged that the transfer throughout the continent and general adjustment to life within the Nice White North was the perpetrator. Nevertheless, with a brand new head coach and extra social stability in 2023-24, he scored solely 12 instances and had 52 factors in 81 video games, together with a career-worst minus-29 ranking.
Associated: Calgary Flames’ Finest Canadian Gamers of All-Time
Many followers and media personalities had been fast to level out that Huberdeau’s 2023-24 was a story of two seasons; within the first 41 video games he scored six objectives and 21 factors however heated as much as the tune of six objectives and 31 factors within the following 40 contests. Now 34 video games into the 2024-25 season it appears as if “Huby” has constructed upon this tempo as he at present leads the Flames with 13 objectives and 25 factors. His sizzling begin is greater than worthy of a more in-depth look.
A December to Keep in mind
A lot of Huberdeau’s success has come resulting from a formidable current stretch of play. From Nov. 30 till the time of writing (10 video games), he has rippled the twine six instances and added seven helpers for 13 factors. After two-and-a-half seasons of making an attempt, he has lastly discovered chemistry with fellow 2022 acquisition Nazem Kadri, who has six objectives and 9 factors in the identical span. Huberdeau’s six-game level streak from Nov. 30 till Dec. 12 is tied for the perfect mark of his Flames tenure.

Over the previous summer season, the French-Canadian ahead acknowledged that he had been working intensely on his shot, which has seemingly paid off in full. As a profession playmaker, Huberdeau characteristically elects to distribute the puck reasonably than put it on web. He now has extra confidence capturing and through this identical sizzling streak has accrued 23 photographs on purpose. His greater quantity has contributed to extra success; he’s capturing at a career-best 21.7% clip. Along with his tally on Dec. 21 towards the Chicago Blackhawks, Huberdeau registered his thirteenth purpose of the season, already surpassing the 12 he had in all of 2023-24.
The workforce has been iffy in the course of the previous 10 video games, however nonetheless captured 11 out of a potential 20 factors with a 4-3-3 file. Over this era, the workforce has scored 29 objectives for a fee of two.9 per contest, that means Huberdeau has factored into roughly 45% of his workforce’s offence throughout his streak. For comparability, the one Flames to register greater than 5 factors throughout this time are Kadri, Connor Zary, and Matt Coronato. Any time Huberdeau is on the ice this season, the Flames management the puck; he has registered a 56% Corsi For ranking, which suggests the Flames have extra shot makes an attempt than their opponents. There are even defensive enhancements because the winger is on tempo for a career-high 68 blocked photographs.
Is Huberdeau Formally Again?
Now, is the sort of Huberdeau one which Flames followers ought to get used to? Not but. It is a very spectacular stretch of hockey even past the previous 10 video games. In complete over his previous 74 appearances, Huberdeau has 19 objectives and 56 factors. He’s at present on tempo to complete the 2024-25 marketing campaign with 31 objectives and 60 factors, which might each shatter his earlier highest Flames totals. Huberdeau hasn’t reached the 30-goal plateau for the reason that 2021-22 season, his final with the Panthers. It’s one thing the pass-first ahead has additionally solely accomplished twice in his profession. Nevertheless, the second half of this season ought to as soon as and for all decide what Huberdeau can carry to the desk shifting ahead. Followers ought to put together for regression.
You will need to word a number of issues in serving to decide the sustainability of Huberdeau’s current play. Initially, his aforementioned 21.7% capturing success fee is probably going not one thing he can keep for the following 48 video games. He’s additionally enjoying greater than ever earlier than as a Flame, with an 18:30 common time on ice. Ought to the workforce’s efficiency begin to decline, head coach Ryan Huska will most likely play the youthful forwards extra typically, which might eat into Huberdeau’s ice time. As well as, his line mate Kadri’s identify has come up in commerce talks and his motion might disrupt Huberdeau’s efficiency. If Huberdeau can navigate by all of those challenges and the others each season brings and carry on producing, his identification as a Flame will grow to be extra concrete.
All in all, Huberdeau has been displaying glimpses of the participant the Flames thought they had been getting again in 2022. If he can maintain his current play, he’ll supply extra hope to the numerous followers which have at all times believed in him as an on-ice contributor. Whereas 60 factors a season will not be value $10.5 million, it’s definitely an enchancment on the manufacturing so far and a step in the precise path for each workforce and participant. On the finish of the day, the Flames are comparatively aggressive and Huberdeau is at present main the workforce in scoring. Issues are good in Cowtown for the second.