The Flames are getting used to big late announcements. The Alberta team announced that it had agreed to the terms of an eight-year, $84 million contract with Quebecer Jonathan Huberdeau late Thursday evening.
Updated yesterday at 11:40 p.m.
As recently as Monday, we learned that Flames general manager Brad Treliving had traveled to Montreal to share a meal with his new forward, acquired from the Florida Panthers on July 22. We have to believe that the discussion went well; Huberdeau signed today the most important contract of his career, which will earn him 10.5 million annually.
As he still has one season left in his current contract, this contract with the Flames will not start until the 2023-24 season and will end in 2031. The forward will then be 37 years old.
This agreement is the icing on the cake after an extraordinary season for Huberdeau, the best of his career. With 30 goals and 85 assists for 115 points in 80 games, the Quebecer finished the campaign second in NHL scoring, tied with Johnny Gaudreau.
In a press release, Brad Treliving said he was “excited” to see Huberdeau in the long term with his training. “He’s an elite player, one of the best strikers in the League who makes the players around him better. We look forward to welcoming him to our community and seeing him contribute to the success of our team. »
As for him, Huberdeau said he was “delighted” with the agreement. “I am excited for this new chapter and I am dedicated to this team. I’m going to give it my all, on and off the ice. I can’t wait to play in front of the passionate Flames fans. »
A winning bet
On July 22, Treliving shocked the entire NHL by making arguably the most spectacular trade in years; forward Matthew Tkachuk headed to Florida for Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, young forward Cole Schwindt and a first-round pick.
” I was not excpecting that at all ; it happened out of nowhere, ”said the Quebecer in a videoconference organized by the Flames, three days after the exchange.
While he and his family were now firmly rooted in South Florida, he did not hide that he found it “sad” to see his plans change so quickly. But after the “shock”, “you have to get used to the idea”, he had said.
Obviously, he listened to his own advice. Here he is, two weeks later, with a contract that will bring him nearly double his salary for the past five seasons.
At the Flames, this agreement confirms the good move of Treliving. After Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk refused to agree on a long-term basis for the past few weeks, the general manager has found a way to keep his team on track.
The Alberta team continues to rely on a goaltender, Jacob Markström, who is one of the best in his profession; on an already solid defense and further improved with the addition of Weegar; and on an attack that still has a highly lethal arsenal.