Jonathan Huberdeau is starting to get some mileage under his belt. At 31, he begins his 13e NHL season. He’s been on the Bettman circuit so long that in two years he’ll probably be handed a silver baton for his 1000e match.
As is the case in life in general, the years that pass bring introspection and changes in the way we do things. After two seasons of around fifty points each in Calgary, this is the observation that the former Panthers forward made.
“I worked hard this summer. Both mentally and physically. So, I arrived with confidence, he indicated after the morning training held at the Bell Centre. The points won’t come as easily here as they did in Florida, but for now I’m playing better. I am a more complete player.
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But to achieve this, you have to go through a period of acceptance. Not all players who have already experienced seasons of 30 goals and 115 or 92 points are ready to do so.
“You have to accept it. If you don’t do it, it becomes difficult to play, said the man who has eight points, including five goals, in 12 games. Yes, the chances to score are fewer, but that’s the style of team we have and that’s how we’re going to win.”
A disadvantaged role
It was therefore during this summer mental journey that Huberdeau told himself he had to find a complementary way to help the team. Make no mistake: his main objective is always to score goals. We don’t stifle the offensive instinct that allowed us to climb the ladder.
Except that he realized that before you can score, you have to possess the puck. Hence his sudden interest in applying himself and getting involved defensively.
“If I work hard to get the puck, it will give me the chance to keep it longer,” said the Saint-Jérôme athlete.
It makes sense.
Huberdeau has pushed the thinking so far that he takes pleasure in playing on a numerical inferiority, a facet of the game in which he had been used regularly during only one season: in 2021-2022, his last in Florida.
“The numerical disadvantage, you take pride in playing on that. It adds something to my game. It even gives me additional opportunities in attack, he assured. Since I also play on the power play, it allows you to read the game a little more.”
Speaking of the massive attack, Huberdeau scored three of his five goals with a man advantage. If he greatly contributed to the success of this unit at the start of the calendar, he recognizes that things have slowed down for some time.
“Our massive attack scored one goal per game, but it was often the one that allowed us to take the lead,” he said.
The Flames have moved the strings only once in their last 20 opportunities, which explains why they have won only two of their last eight games.
