There is chatter coming out of Florida that recently-traded forward Jonathan Huberdeau isn’t terribly pleased with the way his trade came down out of the Panthers organization. This is not to say he’s hesitant about joining the Calgary Flames, only that he was expecting more love from the Panthers.
David Dwork of WPLG News in Florida writes: “As the dust settles from the Panthers-Flames blockbuster, I’m told Jonathan Huberdeau isn’t particularly happy with how everything played out.” He notes that there were some early, informal extension talks between the two sides, but Huberdeau’s camp was waiting for an offer that never came. “The next call was the trade,”he notes.
Further to that, as per David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, “Huberdeau was expecting to hear from FLA on extension talks. Didn’t happen. Dealt instead.” He goes on to say that some teams have already reached out to the Flames about acquiring the winger and want to know if Calgary will consider flipping him. This is good news for the Flames if they have trouble getting Huberdeau signed to an extension. He’s only got one year left before he hits free agency and GM Brad Treliving is essentially right back where he started if Huberdeau is not interesting in extending long term.
But, there is always a chance that Huberdeau sees that he’s leaving a team that was happy to dump him and going to a team that wants him. Could that be enough for him to be immediately open to an extension? If so, that would be the ideal situation for Calgary.
Both Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar, who the Flames acquired as part of the Tkachuk deal, are pending UFAs at the end of next season and that gives Calgary two huge assets to flip at the deadline still. Each could garner a first-round pick and possibly more.
Next: 10 Things I Hope Will Happen for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23
Pingback: Dubois Denies Rumors He's Trying to Get Traded By Jets
Pingback: Dubois Denies Rumors He’s Trying to Get Traded By Jets – Hockey 1 on 1
Pingback: Toews Voices Frustration With Direction of Blackhawks - NHL Trade Talk
Pingback: Toews Voices Frustration With Direction of Blackhawks – Hockey 1 on 1