Ryan Huska hopes to see ‘different,’ ‘re-energized’ Jonathan Huberdeau in 2023-24
After a disappointing season last year for the Flames, head coach Ryan Huska expects Jonathan Huberdeau to be “different” and “re-energized.”
“He is an excellent hockey player. You don’t get to the level of play that he’s achieved by accident,” Huska told TSN’s Salim Valji shortly after his introductory presser Monday, via theScore. “He’s going to come back this year, and I think he’s going to be really re-energized. We’re gonna see – I don’t necessarily want to see a different version of Jonathan, but one that I feel is going to be a lot more comfortable.
“When you take all the moving out of the equation – new teammates, new style of playing, new city – that’s hard on a guy. But now all those distractions are out of the way, and that’s one of the reasons why we’ll see a different Jonathan Huberdeau this year.”
Calgary acquired Huberdeau in a blockbuster trade with the Florida Panthers. Since that trade, Matthew Tkachuk, the main attraction of the trade, has been on a different planet. Tkachuk lead the Panthers to the Stanley Cup finals this season, while the Flames missed out on the playoffs.
Expectations were high as the clouds for Huberdeau coming off the 2022 season, as the Quebec native signed a eight-year, $84 million deal with the Flames. The 30-year-old exploded for 115 points, smashing his career-high in a season this previous campaign. Scoring 30 goals and adding on 85 helpers for the Panthers. This season, Huberdeau took a step down with 55 points, 15 goals and 40 assists.
Huberdeau blamed his poor play on former Flames head coach Darryl Sutter, who would eventually be fired later this season.
“There were a lot of factors. There was a big difference in points between my last two years,” Huberdeau said at the time, via theScore. “And the style of play he wanted to play, it didn’t fit my style.”
Now with Huska, Huberdeau and the Flames look to get back on track next season, hoping to find the playoffs once again.
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