Jonathan Huberdeau hoping to search out manner out of stoop as Panthers on the town

Article content material

Jonathan Huberdeau swears he didn’t have Monday’s sport towards the Florida Panthers circled on his calendar.

It’s completely different when the Calgary Flames are on the highway and he’s again in Florida, the place he spent the primary decade of his NHL profession.

Article content material

However a house sport towards the Panthers on the Saddledome? That solely strikes the needle a lot.

“This sport, it’s the identical factor, we’re at house so it doesn’t change something,” Huberdeau stated Sunday. “Taking part in towards acquainted faces however on the finish of the day, it’s a standard sport. It has extra that means after we play in Florida, that’s extra particular.”

Article content material

Which may be true, however with the Panthers on the town, it’s inevitable that individuals will need to revisit the commerce that despatched Matthew Tkachuk to Florida and introduced Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar and Cole Schwindt again to Calgary.

And inevitably, meaning there will likely be a renewed concentrate on Huberdeau’s play.

Weegar’s sport has grown by leaps and bounds since a gradual begin in Calgary final season. Heading into Sunday’s motion, he’s scored eight occasions this season and is now tied for second within the NHL in objectives by defencemen. Solely Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes has extra, with 9.

Nonetheless solely 22 years previous, there’s optimism surrounding Schwindt’s future, too, though he’s taking part in within the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers lately.

However Huberdeau is struggling. He’s solely bought 4 objectives and 11 assists by way of 31 video games this season, which places him on tempo for 39 factors over 82 video games. That’s not wherever close to what the Flames hoped for once they signed him to a deal that has him below contract for seven seasons after this one at a price of $10.5 million per yr.

The 30-year-old is working exhausting, however there have been extra valleys than peaks.

Article content material

Article content material

“It’s not straightforward, clearly, not getting factors and stuff however we’re in an excellent stretch as a staff in order that’s form of all that issues,” Huberdeau stated. “Clearly, I need to be a part of it, however proper now it’s simply exhausting.

“On the finish of the day (working exhausting) is all I can do. If it doesn’t go my manner, it doesn’t go my manner. I’m not getting any breaks, however no excuses and clearly I need to be there for my teammates and stuff. If we’re successful, that’s all that issues on the finish of the day.”

The truth that Tkachuk thrived in his first season with the Panthers, scoring 40 objectives and including 69 assists and being a Hart Trophy finalist, after which led all of them the way in which to the Stanley Cup Finals actually makes the deal look worse for the Flames.

Article content material

There’s no animosity from Huberdeau in the direction of Tkachuk — who hasn’t been on the similar stage up to now this season — or any of his former teammates, however struggling to search out your sport whereas the man you have been traded for thrives can’t be straightforward.

And it wasn’t a lot enjoyable watching the Panthers go on their run final yr, both.

Whereas the Flames handled the fallout of a disappointing season, firing head coach Darryl Sutter and seeing GM Brad Treliving depart for a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers have been the toast of the hockey world.

“At that time I used to be like ‘who cares?’ “ Huberdeau stated. “It clearly would have damage in the event that they received, however on the similar time you are feeling dangerous for the fellows who’re your mates and also you’ve performed with for a very long time and so they have the possibility to win the Stanley Cup for the primary time. It wasn’t straightforward, however on the finish of the day if they’d have received they’d have received.”

daustin@postmedia.com

X: @DannyAustin_9

Article content material