Jonathan Huberdeau discusses his horrendous 2022-23 season and reveals why 2023-24 will be much different
By far the biggest trade made last season was between the Calgary Flames - then headed by Brad Treliving - and the Florida Panthers when they essentially swapped superstars. The Flames acquired Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first round draft pick in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth round draft pick in 2025. Tkachuk then signed an 8-year deal worth $9.5 million per season.
It came as an absolute shock to both player and fan base considering the fact that Huberdeau was coming off a season that saw him lead the league with 85 assists and tied for 2nd with 115 points. In fact, the previous 4 seasons combined, Huberdeau had 346 points in 286 games, but he required a new contract heading into the 2023-24 season and the Panthers saw more reason in giving that contract to a younger Tkachuk than Huberdeau.
Nevertheless, the Flames had to unload Tkachuk, lost Johnny Gaudreau to free agency, signed Nazem Kadri and looked primed to repeat the successes of the previous year with Huberdeau in tow. However, Huberdeau struggled mightily to the tune of 15 goals and 55 points in just 79 games - a drop of 15 goals, 45 assists, and 60 points in 1 less game played.
The Flames ended up firing Brad Treliving and Darryl Sutter and replaced them with Craig Conroy and Ryan Huska at their respective positions. There were a lot of issues surrounding Sutter and several Flames players that may be resolved now with the veteran coach out of the picture and a new coach in Huska in place.
Huberdeau on what he's been working on this summer and what he's been looking forward to the most:
"I wanna redeem myself, you know this year, after year I had last year, I wanna show myself and people that I still got it and got the confidence. It was a lot of mental, this summer I got my confidence back and I feel good right now, it's almost August and I'm ready to go for September."
With a change in management and a new head coach behind the bench, Huberdeau feels they will play a game more tailored to his skill set than what they had last year:
"Great conversation with Craig and Ryan, I feel their energy is very positive and they want to win now and that's what I like and it's about us - the players - to do the job on the ice but I think they're going to give us every opportunity to succeed..."
"More freedom in the offensive zone and I think that's what Ryan said so that's exciting and I know I can make plays offensively, can't be scared to turn over the puck... he's really a structured guy and I know defensively we might tweak some things but we were a good defensive team so I think it'll stay that way, maybe more offensive zone time, so that'll be good for the team."
Huberdeau also spoke about the trials and tribulations that come with being traded and having spent your entire career in one spot:
"Last year was tough because 3 months I rented a place and I know that's part of it, it was my first trade... but now I have my house, it's ready, and I feel comfortable at home and I actually love the people in Calgary....I wanna show them what I can do and that's my goal this year and show my teammates what I can do too."
Perhaps it was an anomaly just based on the trajectory of his career so far but we shall see if the changes the Flames made from top-to-bottom this summer help Huberdeau and the team at large.
| POLL | ||
2 AOUT | 150 ANSWERS Jonathan Huberdeau discusses his horrendous 2022-23 season and reveals why 2023-24 will be much different How many points will Jonathan Huberdeau post in 2023-24? | ||
| Over 100 | 13 | 8.7 % |
| 80-99 | 59 | 39.3 % |
| 60-79 | 65 | 43.3 % |
| Less than 60 | 13 | 8.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
