Calgary Flames' Jonathan Huberdeau Leads Offensive Charge – Hockey Writers – Calgary Flames

It's a big headline that many Calgary Flames fans thought they might not see. Left tackle Jonathan Huberdeau has been a huge disappointment since being acquired from the Florida Panthers back in the summer of 2022. As the centerpiece of the trade package for young All-Star Matthew Tkachuk and a 115-point scorer himself, Huberdeau was under a lot of pressure. will work. He plays for the Canadian market and signed a record 8-year, $84 million contract that exceeded expectations.

In his first season in Cowtown, Huberdeau put up just 15 goals and 40 assists in 79 games to set the NHL record for most points in a single season ever recorded. Many pointed to then-head coach Darryl Sutter, Huberdeau and other veterans who clashed frequently. Some say that migration across the continent and the complete adjustment of life in the Great White North was the cause. However, with a new coach and stability in the community in 2023-24, he scored only 12 points and had 52 points in 81 games, and a worst average of minus-29.

Related: The Best Canadian Players of All Time

Many fans and media figures were quick to point out that Huberdeau's 2023-24 was a two-season fantasy; In the first 41 games, he scored six goals and 21 points, but he improved to an average of six goals and 31 points in the next 40 games. There are now 34 games in the 2024-25 season and it looks like “Huby” has built on this momentum as he is currently leading the Flames with 13 goals and 25 points. His hot start is more than worth a closer look.

A December to Remember

Much of Huberdeau's success has come from impressive recent play. From November 30 to the time of writing (10 games), he has scored six goals and added seven assists for 13 points. After two and a half seasons of trying, he finally found chemistry with fellow 2022 recruit Nazem Kadri, who has six goals and nine points in the same season. Huberdeau's six-game hitting streak dating back to Nov. 30 until Dec. 12 is tied for the best mark of his Flames season.

Last summer, the French-Canadian striker said he had been working hard on his shooting, which seems to have completely paid off. As a playmaker, Huberdeau clearly prefers to distribute the puck instead of putting it in the net. Now he has more confidence and during this same hot period he has accumulated 23 shots on goal. His higher volume contributed to more success; captures a leading clip of 21.7%. With his tally on Dec. 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Huberdeau registered his 13th goal of the season, already surpassing the 12 he had in 2023-24.

The team has been iffy over the past 10 games, but has still captured 11 of a possible 20 points for a 4-3-3 record. During this time, the team has scored 29 goals at a rate of 2.9 per contest, meaning that Huberdeau has accounted for approximately 45% of his team's offense during his tenure. In comparison, the only Flames to register more than five points this season are Kadri, Connor Zary, and Matt Coronato. Whenever Huberdeau is on the ice this season, the Flames control the puck; Corsi registered a 56% average, which means the Flames have more shot attempts than their opponents. There's even an improvement defensively as the winger is on pace to record 68 blocked shots.

Is Huberdeau Officially Back?

Now, is this the type of Huberdeau that Flames fans should be familiar with? Not yet. This is the most impressive episode of hockey even after the last 10 games. Overall in his last 74 games, Huberdeau has 19 goals and 56 points. He is currently on pace to finish the 2024-25 campaign with 31 goals and 60 points, which would shatter his previous totals for the Flames. Huberdeau hasn't reached the 30-goal mark since the 2021-22 season, his last with the Panthers. It's something the top scorer has only done twice in his career. However, the second half of this season should once and for all determine what Huberdeau can bring to the table going forward. Fans should be prepared for a backlash.

It is important to note a few things in helping to explain the sustainability of Huberdeau's late game. First, his aforementioned 21.7% shooting success rate is unlikely to be sustainable over the next 48 games. And he is playing more than ever as a Flame, with an average time of 18:30 on the ice. If the team's performance begins to decline, head coach Ryan Huska will likely play smaller forwards more often, which could eat into Huberdeau's ice time. In addition, his partner Kadri's name has come up in trade talks and his move could affect Huberdeau's performance. If Huberdeau can navigate all of these challenges and more each season brings and continues to produce, his identity as a Flami will be more evident.

Overall, Huberdeau has been showing glimpses of the player the Flames envisioned coming back in 2022. If he can continue his recent performance, he will give a lot of hope to many fans who have always believed in him on-ice. the donor. While 60 points in a season may not be worth $10.5 million, it is certainly an improvement in production thus far and a step in the right direction for both the team and the player. At the end of the day, the Flames are competitive and Huberdeau currently leads the team in scoring. Things are going well in Cowtown at the moment.