I would do that for Huby. I think he will bounce back this year, but the Flames need a rebuild badly and by the time the team is good again he'll be past his prime. Taking on his contract seems like the least Cane-like move I can possibly imagine though

Considering that he already failed under Sutter, who coaches a defensive style of hockey, he very likely fails under Rod, who takes that defensive hockey to the next level. Frankly, I think that year under Brunette is a one off for Huberdeau. I mean, a 60 point drop off for a guy who lives and breathes offense is not a good sign, especially when he is making as much as Huberdeau is for as long.

I didn't say it was likely. I was just trying to think outside the box. I think us taking on his contract is unlikely too, but Waddell has also been known for wanting to buy low, sell high. This may be the best "buy low" opportunity we'll ever have at Huberdeau given what everyone knows he is still capable of doing under the right circumstances.

No to both.

8 x 9.5 for Huberdeau, pass. Canes don’t carry guys until they are 38 at that high of a cap hit for good reasons. We aren’t about to start

In the defense of this trade... Suter was way past his coaching prime unlike Rod and maybe playing with better talent in Carolina will help him regain his form. I don't think this trade is a good idea personally but there might be some upside if there is more retention on Calgary's part

I totally get what you’re thinking here. If Huby was signed for like 5 more years then maybe it would make sense, but the Canes are too smart to take a big contract for those years. Plus the contract is buyout proof, so you can get out of the later years. It’s hard to overstate how much damage Treliving did to the Flames franchise over his last year with the team

Further to your point, sutter also moved Huby to right wing and played him with Lucic for like half the season. He played much better towards the end of the season once that line was changed

Fair, and I do agree it is a very Not-Canes-Like move, but IF we WERE to do something like that, I could see it happening for someone like Huberdeau who is at a "buy low" point given the last season. If Huberdeau had hit even 85 points last season, I doubt the flames would even entertain an offer like this. If the canes are in "win now" mode, I think this is a good way to try to get a proven effective offensive player now while giving up the least amount of assets in return even if it does spell doom for the last few years of his contract. All that being said, I definitely understand where you are coming from.

Personally, I wouldn’t even consider Huby without Calgary either eating a major portion of that contract or Calgary paying to move that contract. Assuming that he bounces back, that contract might be bearable for 2-3 years before it goes back to be more of an anchor when he regresses again.

Besides, Calgary would run into the same problem that SJ has run into with Karlsson. Nobody is going to pay the price that they want, and they aren’t going to want to either eat the amount of salary/pay what the other team wants for him to be taken on. Add in Huberdeau has all the control with his NMC as well, it’s not a good situation.

I edited the Calgary trade. Maybe this makes it slightly more palatable for the canes in the long run.

I'd rather let Huberdeau rebound and try and trade him after another season than sell low on him.

I'm kinda mixed on this. No doubt Huby is an elite playmaker, but I don't think they need a pass-first kind of guy at 8-9 mil until his late 30's. I just don't see that contract aging well. Not to mention his lacking defensive game. Canes have always been ones to think outside of the box but i think even this is too out of their box.

Plus if I were Calgary I wouldn't sell low on him with retention. They're better off hanging on to him and hoping he bounces back and trading him when his value is higher.

The only positive from Huby last year, was his defensive game was much better than I expected probably because of who the coach was. We'll see if that continues with Sutter gone now, but I'd happily sacrifice the defensive growth for a return to 80-90 point offensive form

Calgary will let Huberdueau play under a different coach before trading him

What makes u think the Sabres wanna pay Pesce till he’s 37years old??

Plus, the Sabres are unlikely to bring in any defenseman that makes that kid of $$$
We are about to pay Dahlin & Power huge contracts,
& very likely won’t look to have a 3rd guy making big bucks on the backend

You’re basically in a 2 year window to win the cup. In 2 years Burnzie retires, then what for RHD?