Unless you’ve spent the last four days in a cave, you know that Jonathan Huberdeau moved to the Calgary Flames and Matthew Tkachuk is going to Florida.
There is only one season left on the Quebecer’s contract, which will pocket $5.9 million. The risk that the Flames will lose him for nothing, as was the case recently for Johnny Gaudreau, is therefore real. However, the Saint-Jérôme native spoke to the media yesterday and said he was open to the idea of staying in Alberta.
He also claims that his agent has already had discussions with the Flames → https://t.co/lbPehpFFW1
— DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) July 25, 2022
On their most recent podcast, journalist Andy Strickland and former badass Cam Janssen discussed this monster deal.
????️Episode #196 with Jim Montgomery
⁃Joining the Bruins
⁃Game 7 DAL/STL
⁃Getting a 2nd chance
⁃Possible Patrick Kane destination
⁃Tkachuk/Huberdeau blockbuster➕ Much more
????Listenhttps://t.co/dpyFGaIG6T pic.twitter.com/DiFqb8YIwR
— The Cam & Strick Podcast (@CamandStrick) July 26, 2022
Strickland explained that the Panthers were not ready to pay Huberdeau as much as the latter wanted and that they preferred to invest that money in Tkachuk, a younger player. Today, Quebeckers may be better than Americans, but that won’t necessarily be the case in two or three years.
Then, the journalist assigned to the coverage of the Blues added this:
Huberdeau is probably asking for an eight-year contract worth $9 million a year. As a player receiving Hart Trophy votes, that’s what he should demand, but personally I’d rather have Tkachuk, who’s only 24 years old.
With 346 points in 286 games over the past four seasons, Huberdeau has been one of the most underpaid players in the NHL in recent years. He is possibly one of the ten best forwards in the league.
It’s not for nothing that he finished fifth in the polling for the Hart this year and 13th in the previous one.
As Striclkand mentions, it’s only fitting that he’s so greedy in his salary demands. However, the choice of the Panthers is understandable.
Huberdeau will be 30 when his contract expires next summer. If he signs an eight-year contract, he will therefore be 38 when the new contract ends.
Paying that much to a player approaching his late thirties is always a risky approach. It is very likely that by then, its production will decrease.
Except that following the departures of Gaudreau and Tkachuk, the Flames will certainly not want to lose the services of another star player for nothing. It’s a safe bet that Calgary will indeed offer an agreement of this caliber to the Quebecer.
But will he really want to spend the rest of his career in Alberta?
Unless he’s traded before July 2023, the Flames are the only organization that can give him an eight-year deal, which gives them some edge.
Except that it shouldn’t be a surprise either if the winger decides to sign elsewhere for seven years. After playing for ten years in Sunrise, the culture shock is likely to be strong in Alberta, especially due to the heavy media presence and pressure from fans.
If he does become a free agent next year, the interest will be huge for him and he will be spoiled for choice. He might then return to a more peaceful market, or, both experiencing the difficulties of a Canadian market, line up for his childhood team, the Habs.
A lot of
– So it looks like the NHL won’t change the way the draft is played (for now).
NEWS: Nashville remains the favorite to host the 2023 NHL Draft, but hotel availability is proving to be a real challenge. Obviously a preferred destination for teams, but not a done deal. @PredsNHL
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 26, 2022
– Interesting.
Sportsnet’s @hayyyshayyy breaks down last week’s rare blockbuster NHL trade. What kind of players did the Flames and Panthers get and how do they fit in with their new teams?https://t.co/1TIa5Hhlff
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 26, 2022
– Shame.
Luis Suarez will ultimately not go to #MLS ⚽️https://t.co/aH4Q8iXOPW
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 26, 2022
– In Mihailovic’s shadow, he certainly deserves more recognition for the team’s MVP award.
CF Montreal | Romell Quioto, like a beacon in the night https://t.co/eKDH3V63HH
– The Sports Press (@LaPresse_Sports) July 26, 2022
– To listen!
LRDS // Jimmy comments on several files during his interview with @raphdoucetincluding the rebuilding of the Hawks and the trade that sent Kirby Dach to Montreal.
The full extract ➡️ https://t.co/tioMh1VJfa
— 91.9 Sports (@919sports) July 26, 2022