For Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau, Thursday night’s two-point performance vs. the Vancouver Canucks might be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to his 2023-24 season.
Scoring one goal and one assist against the Canucks in a 5-2 win, it was a breakout performance for Huberdeau, who prior to Thursday night hadn’t scored a goal since Oct. 19, an 11-game stretch.
It’s been a difficult year so far for the 30-year-old, who has seen his ice time diminish through the first 16 games of the season. Could Thursday night be the one that gets Huberdeau back to the player he was with the Florida Panthers?
On Friday’s episode of "Daily Faceoff LIVE," Frank Seravalli and Colby Cohen discuss Huberdeau, and how Trea Turner of Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies shares parallels with the Flames’ forward.
Frank Seravalli: Remember this past major league season when Trea Turner signed this massive $300M contract and he’s struggling, the guy can’t get out of a slump. All of a sudden, fans at a Phillies’ game randomly give Turner during his first couple of at-bats. In that game, he broke out of a slump and batted more than .300 for the rest of the season. He was a totally different player.
All these negative Phillies fans lifted a guy up. Maybe they should do the same for Jonathan Huberdeau in Calgary. He breaks out of his 11-game slump and the Flames get a big win over the Canucks. Obviously, he’s been disappointing, but he’s not going anywhere after signing a massive contract. Maybe fans have to pick him up.
Colby Cohen: It’s gotta be the only way right now. As you said, he just got the massive contract, and now they’re talking about moving some pieces through trades. It sounds like they’re open for business, maybe they’re doing a smaller type of rebuild or retool.
But I like the idea, Frank. You have to do something. Right now, that trade with the Panthers to acquire Huberdeau might go down as one of the worst we’ve ever seen. They’ve got to try something.
You can listen to the full segment and the rest of the show here…
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