Jonathan Huberdeau Signs $10.5m Yearly Contract Extension

Today, news broke that will likely excite fans of the Calgary Flames. Left winger Jonathan Huberdeau has just signed a new extension on his contract, which keeps him at the club until the end of the 2030-2031 season. This contract is worth a yearly average of approximately $10.5 million, with Jonathan having an expected value of 2.8 wins per season.

While this news has been rumoured for a few days, some fans were hesitant to believe the speculation. Huberdeau was recently acquired from the Florida Panthers, a team that he has spent ten years at. The Calgary Flames shared this announcement on their Twitter account, stating that ‘Huby is here to stay!’.

Brad Treliving, the general manager of the Calgary Flames, had a lot of positive words to say about Jonathan's influence on the team itself. He stated that the left winger improved the play of everyone around him, particularly other attacking-minded players.

So, how much of a role will Jonathan Huberdeau play in the future of the Calgary Flames? In truth, we think he will make a massive difference for the team moving forward. It's clear that Treliving has plans to utilise the depth and opportunities he can create down the wing. However, Huberdeau is also not shy in front of goal either. Last season he tallied up 30 goals while assisting an incredible 85. He also generated a total of 115 points, albeit on a relatively stacked Florida side.

Impressive stats are not the only accolade that the 29-year-old acquired in the 2021-2022 season. Huby was named the fourth best forward in the league after Hart Trophy votes were counted. He helped the Florida Panthers to secure a playoff series win, a feat they last achieved in 1996. In his last season for the Panthers, he also played during the finals of the President's Trophy, helping his former team to defeat the Colorado Avalanche. 

However, not all fans are ecstatic about this move. Some are critical of the high price point for a player that will turn 30 next year. Of course, this will only be the first year of Huberdeau's contract, which will expire when he is 38. Even at this age, he will still have an AAV of $10.5 million, a sum that is considerably higher than other veteran players.

Jonathan began his NHL career in 2011 with the Florida Panthers, being the third pick overall. He debuted for the team in 2013 and established himself as an integral part over the course of the following years. He also plays for the Canadian national hockey team and has made many appearances on the youth team. 

This is the largest signing that the Calgary Flames have ever made, sitting at a total of $84 million. Will Jonathan prove to be worth this significant investment? Does his signing enable the Calgary Flames to challenge for the champions title? We can only sit back and wait for him to hit the ice again to find out.