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*This article was revealed earlier than the 2022-23 season
Heading into the 2021-22 season, expectations have been as excessive as ever for Jonathan Huberdeau and the Florida Panthers, who, on paper, had some of the proficient rosters in the whole NHL. They completely lived as much as these expectations all through the common season, as their 58-18-6 document secured them the Presidents’ Trophy. Meanwhile, Huberdeau’s 115 factors weren’t solely a career-high however ok for second alongside Johnny Gaudreau, trailing solely Connor McDavid, who led with 123.
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But for nearly as good because the common season was for Huberdeau and the Panthers, the playoffs have been a distinct story. While they have been in a position to knock off the Washington Capitals within the first spherical, it didn’t come almost as simply as most had anticipated. Their questionable play not solely continued into the second spherical however worsened as they have been swept in embarrassing vogue by the Tampa Bay Lightning. While no one on the roster performed exceptionally nicely, Huberdeau, in particular, really struggled with only a purpose and 5 factors by his crew’s 10 playoff outings.
As it seems, these struggles have been sufficient to have administration think about some main modifications, they usually greater than adopted by on them. General supervisor Bill Zito shocked the hockey world lower than a month in the past when he selected to maneuver Huberdeau, alongside Mackenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round choose to the Calgary Flames in trade for Matthew Tkachuk.
While the Panthers are actually getting an amazing participant, Flames followers have been ecstatic about this deal, largely attributable to acquiring Huberdeau. For these followers, this text will make it easier to to get to know extra concerning the elite 29-year-old ahead.
Memorial Cup Champion
Though Huberdeau has but to hoist a Stanley Cup, he does have successful expertise that comes from his junior hockey profession. He spent his 4 seasons of junior hockey taking part in for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and had loads of success whereas doing so.
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The Sea Dogs have been a powerhouse throughout Huberdeau’s three seasons with the crew, together with a 2010-11 season that noticed them put up a ridiculous 58-7-3 document. Huberdeau’s 105 factors led his crew in scoring that 12 months, as did his 30 factors in simply 19 playoff outings. Thanks largely to his nice play within the postseason, the Sea Dogs gained the QMJHL title and have been in a position to play within the Memorial Cup, which occurred in Mississauga, Ontario.
Huberdeau’s excellent play continued on the Memorial Cup, as he recorded three objectives and 6 factors in simply 4 outings, which was sufficient to have him named the tournament’s MVP. It had served because the franchise’s solely Memorial Cup victory till this previous June, once they have been in a position to win their second, this one approaching dwelling ice.
Sea Dogs First Hall of Famer
As talked about, Huberdeau had an impressive profession as a Sea Dog, confirmed by the very fact he was chosen third total within the 2011 NHL Entry Draft behind solely Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Gabriel Landeskog. His 257 factors that got here in simply 195 outings rank first in franchise historical past, whereas his purpose whole of 104 and help whole of 153 each rank second.
To no shock, Huberdeau was inducted into the Sea Dogs’ Hall of Fame, however what made it further particular was that he was the primary ever inductee. When inducted on the age of 24, he described it as an enormous honour whereas being certain to say how essential his teammates on the time have been to his success. Mike Thomas, who performed with the group from 2006-2011, has since joined him.
Calder Trophy Winner
While it took fairly a while for Huberdeau to get the popularity he deserved within the NHL, he has all the time been a really high-quality participant. He proved that in his rookie 12 months again within the shortened 2012-13 marketing campaign, one through which he recorded 14 objectives and 31 factors in simply 48 outings.
Those totals, which over a full 82-game schedule translate to 24 objectives and 53 factors, have been ok to earn him the Calder Trophy because the league’s prime rookie. Though his numbers dipped within the following season, he was in a position to get proper again on observe in 2014-15 and has since slowly morphed into the celebrity participant he’s at this time.
Left because the Panthers’ All-Time Leading Scorer
Since being based again in 1993, the Panthers have had quite a few extremely expert gamers come and go, although for loads of time, the very best in franchise historical past was stated to be Olli Jokinen. That has since modified lately, nonetheless, as each Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov paired as much as be two of the league’s most dominant gamers and are undoubtedly the very best two Panthers of all time.
To little shock, Huberdeau’s 613 factors in a Panthers uniform ranked first in franchise historical past, a feat he completed in 671 video games. He was able to earn the top spot again on Jan. 8, 2020, when he recorded some extent in a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs to present himself 420 in a Panthers jersey, surpassing Jokinen’s 419. Since then, Barkov has handed Huberdeau, however nonetheless, it exhibits simply how productive Huberdeau was throughout his time in Florida.
Single Season Assist Record
As beforehand talked about, the 2021-22 common season was an unbelievable one for Huberdeau. Not solely was he in a position to surpass the 100-point barrier for the primary time in his profession, however he was undoubtedly the very best participant on what was the league’s greatest crew. Many have been fairly shocked to see him fail to get nominated for the Hart Trophy, however nonetheless, he was completely spectacular.
Proving simply how nice he was is the truth that in a sport in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks on March 31, he was in a position to document his 71st help of the season. The motive that quantity is so important is that heading into the 12 months, Joe Juneau’s 70 assists through the 1992-93 season have been essentially the most by a left winger in NHL historical past. Huberdeau not only topped that record however did so with relative ease as he completed the 2021-22 marketing campaign with 85.
Biggest Contract in Flames History
While the commerce that noticed Huberdeau and Weegar head to the Flames in trade for Tkachuk was considered as a win, it was very clear to everyone which will have modified if neither re-signed in Calgary. As it seems, each had only one season remaining on their offers on the time the commerce occurred, however that’s now not the case.
It didn’t take the Flames lengthy to work out an enormous eight-year, $84 million extension with Huberdeau. Not solely is that one of many largest contracts within the NHL at the moment, however it’s the richest deal in franchise historical past. Before he signed it, Sean Monahan’s seven-year, $44.625 million was essentially the most cash the group had ever shelled out.
Donated His Brain to Science
Just days in the past, it was announced that Huberdeau had pledged to donate his mind to science. With the announcement, he turned simply the second energetic participant on the time to take action, becoming a member of Ben Lovejoy, who did the identical again in 2017. He can be donating his mind to Project Enlist, the Canadian Partner of the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
“As an NHL player, I’m very aware of the impact of traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and the link to other mental health issues,” Huberdeau stated on the time. “I’m proud to support Canadian military veterans by pledging to donate my brain to Project Enlist and support research to improve the quality of life of all military personnel who so bravely and courageously served our country.”
Huberdeau will be part of over 2,800 former athletes and navy veterans who’ve additionally donated their brains to Project Enlist. The hope is that with him stepping up, different hockey gamers, each energetic and former, are keen to do the identical shifting ahead, because it may actually assist future generations coping with mind accidents reminiscent of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Fan Favorite in Calgary
Despite having but to play a sport for the Flames, Huberdeau is already beloved by the town of Calgary and its fanbase. Bringing him in saved what was shaping up as a disastrous offseason for the group, and the truth that he dedicated to eight further years after each Gaudreau and Tkachuk left has made him all of the extra endearing. While we might not see one other 115-point outing from him, he’ll proceed to be an distinctive expertise for years to come back.
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