Latest news with #JonathanHuberdeau
National Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Under-25 power rankings at left wing
Article content Left wing is, by far, the most crowded column on the Calgary Flames ' forward depth chart. Article content Article content The Flames have plenty of intriguing prospects on the port side. Article content That sets up a logjam at the big-league level, with Jonathan Huberdeau signed for six more seasons and Joel Farabee, Martin Pospisil and Yegor Sharangovich all established as regulars in their mid-20s. While we list Connor Zary as a centre, he is also in this conversation. Article content Article content This is, of course, one of those good problems to have. The Flames would love for these youngsters to force them into some difficult decisions, whether that's down the road or as soon as next season. Article content Here's how we power-rank Calgary's crop of under-25 talents on the left wing. Article content Age: 20 Article content Working in his favour: With a blend of size, strength, skill and speed, this dude has all the ingredients to be a force as a power forward. Article content Still working on it: Honzek will be first to admit he needs to crank up his consistency to take advantage of his tools. Injuries have been an issue over the past couple of seasons, so durability is also a concern. Article content Big-league potential: Top-six forward remains the aim. Article content There will certainly be some debate about Honzek's perch atop this list, although there wouldn't have been any argument last fall, when he was the biggest bright spot at Flames training camp, earning an opening-night gig as a teen. He so far has appeared in five NHL games. While his minor-league stat line was underwhelming — eight goals and 21 points in 53 outings with the Wranglers — remember that it was his first pro season. Article content 2. Aydar Suniev Article content Article content Suniev played plenty of right wing during his two collegiate campaigns but this up-and-coming lefty logged his NHL debut on his natural side, so that's where we decided to list him. He potted 20 goals this past season with the UMass Minutemen, one of only seven NCAA sophomores to hit that mark in 2024-25. His one-timer is absolutely wicked.
National Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Jonathan Huberdeau's new-look year offers encouraging signs
Article content Jonathan Huberdeau wants more points next season. What player doesn't? Article content Article content It speaks to his evolving role with the Calgary Flames, though, that nobody else seems overly concerned with him adding more goals or assists. Article content A successful season for the Flames' left-winger will not be defined solely by his offensive production. Article content This is the team's most expensive player, though, and a guy who is under contract until the 2030-31 season. Only Matt Coronato currently has a contract to be with the Flames for longer. Article content Article content Huberdeau is one of the very most important players to the next half-decade of Calgary hockey, plain and simple. Article content So, if Huberdeau's contributions are going to be judged by something other than his offence, it bears asking: What exactly does a successful season look like in 2025-26 for the soon-to-be 32-year-old? Article content 'I want the same guy to come back,' Flames head coach Ryan Huska explained on exit day. 'In conversations with Hubie, the one area he wants to bump up some more — and he knows he's not going to blow it through the roof — he can still increase his point total a little bit more. That can be done without changing what he did for us this year.' Article content What Huberdeau did in 2024-25 was focus on becoming a more well-rounded player. It may have been his points production with the Florida Panthers that made him a star, but that has fallen off since he arrived in Calgary in the summer of 2022 as the key piece of the package the Flames received in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk. Article content Article content Huberdeau had scored 115 points the previous season. There's no reasonable expectation that he's going to replicate that now. Article content Article content After putting up 55 points in his first year with the Flames and then 52 in Year 2, he shifted his focus. Article content In 2024-25, he played on the Flames' penalty kill. He improved his play retrieving pucks along the boards, becoming what his teammates jokingly called a power forward. Article content The 62 points he put up is obviously nowhere near what he managed with the Panthers, but in the Flames' eyes, the improvements in other areas of his game more than made up for that. Article content 'I would say I'm most proud of the 200-foot game,' Huberdeau explained on exit day. 'Points-wise, you always want to get more, but I think overall I found a way to be more successful in Calgary with my game and I became more of an all-around player and penalty killing.
Reuters
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
To stay in race, Flames face must-win game vs. Knights
April 15 - The Calgary Flames need to beat the Pacific Division champions to keep their playoff hopes alive when the Vegas Golden Knights visit on Tuesday. Calgary (39-27-14, 92 points) heads into the clash three points back of the Minnesota Wild for the Western Conference's first wild-card position and two behind the St. Louis Blues for the second spot, therefore needing a hand elsewhere. But the part the Flames can control is chalking up a victory, which at least gives them a chance to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Calgary has two games remaining in the regular season, while the Blues and Wild have one apiece. "It's super exciting," defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said. "It's a lot of fun playing these games. ... We've been playing meaningful games, and it's going to continue like that now. If we make playoffs, it just carries on." The Flames are trying to become the second team in NHL history to clinch a playoff berth after overcoming a five-point deficit in their final four games of the season. Only the 1958-59 Toronto Maple Leafs have managed that feat. Calgary will complete the home portion of the regular season against Vegas after keeping its hopes alive with a 5-2 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Sunday. The Flames broke open a tied game with a three-goal third period. "There's a lot of poise, a lot of poise in the dressing room," said forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who had two assists in Sunday's win. "Everybody's pretty calm. I wouldn't say everybody's loose, but everybody's talking to each other about what needs to be done better. We're so confident in that third period in a tight game right now. We've been in that situation so many times." Vegas won the three previous meetings this season, the first two with shutout victories, followed by a 3-2 overtime game earlier this month. The Golden Knights know where they sit in the Stanley Cup playoff bracket after clinching their fifth division title in eight seasons. Vegas (49-22-9, 107 points) will meet the first wild-card squad in the opening round of the playoffs, but has a pair of road games beforehand. The Golden Knights will end the regular season with a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. "Just keep building our game," forward Brett Howden said of his team's mindset. "Obviously the more important games are coming up around the corner, but you don't want to let off the gas. We want to stick to our game plan, keep building and being ready for Game 1." The Golden Knights finished the home portion of their regular season with a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Noah Hanifin broke a 3-3 tie with 1:55 left in regulation and Ivan Barbashev added an empty-net goal in the final seconds. Finding that extra gear when it counted most is a good sign going forward for a club that is vying for a second Stanley Cup title in franchise history. The tasks of clinching a playoff spot and winning the division can be checked off. "This is just the beginning," coach Bruce Cassidy said of his team's Pacific Division crown. "It's good when you have high expectations and standards. That is a good thing. Pressure ... we'll welcome the pressure. That probably means you're doing well in something, right? It means you're playing in high-stakes games."
Fox Sports
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Calgary plays Seattle following Coronato's 2-goal game
Associated Press Seattle Kraken (30-36-5, in the Pacific Division) vs. Calgary Flames (33-25-11, in the Pacific Division) Calgary, Alberta; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Calgary Flames host the Seattle Kraken after Matthew Coronato scored two goals in the Flames' 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders. Calgary is 10-4-3 against the Pacific Division and 33-25-11 overall. The Flames are fifth in the league serving 9.8 penalty minutes per game. Seattle has a 30-36-5 record overall and an 8-10-1 record in Pacific Division play. The Kraken have a 5-12-1 record in games they have more penalties than their opponent. Tuesday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Kraken won 3-2 in overtime in the previous matchup. TOP PERFORMERS: Jonathan Huberdeau has 27 goals and 28 assists for the Flames. Nazem Kadri has six goals and three assists over the past 10 games. Eeli Tolvanen has 21 goals and 12 assists for the Kraken. Brandon Montour has scored five goals and added four assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 5-2-3, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.6 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game. Kraken: 4-5-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.2 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. INJURIES: Flames: None listed. Kraken: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Calgary plays Seattle following Coronato's 2-goal game
Seattle Kraken (30-36-5, in the Pacific Division) vs. Calgary Flames (33-25-11, in the Pacific Division) Calgary, Alberta; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Calgary Flames host the Seattle Kraken after Matthew Coronato scored two goals in the Flames' 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders. Calgary is 10-4-3 against the Pacific Division and 33-25-11 overall. The Flames are fifth in the league serving 9.8 penalty minutes per game. Seattle has a 30-36-5 record overall and an 8-10-1 record in Pacific Division play. The Kraken have a 5-12-1 record in games they have more penalties than their opponent. Tuesday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Kraken won 3-2 in overtime in the previous matchup. TOP PERFORMERS: Jonathan Huberdeau has 27 goals and 28 assists for the Flames. Nazem Kadri has six goals and three assists over the past 10 games. Eeli Tolvanen has 21 goals and 12 assists for the Kraken. Brandon Montour has scored five goals and added four assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 5-2-3, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.6 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game. Kraken: 4-5-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.2 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
