The Calgary Flames lineup is devoid of elite level talent, and unfortunately, there are players the team have landed that simply haven't been able to live up to the hype and the expectations that were placed upon them.
No one does that represent more than Jonathan Huberdeau, who arrived in Calgary on the back of a 115-point campaign with the Florida Panthers, but unfortunately, the expectations on the back of his extension haven't helped with his perception in Calgary. Now, he's looking for a bounce back campaign after injuries ended his 2025/26 season, and given that he's in Calgary to stay, the hope is that he can finally figure things out in his new role.
Injury cut a Disappointing 2025/26 Season Short for Jonathan Huberdeau
Since arriving in Calgary, Huberdeau has been a major disappointment, but in 2024/25, he showed major signs of turning things around, posting 28 goals and 62 points, both the highest marks in his time with the Flames. Unfortunately, 2025/26 was a major step back, as he had just 10 goals and 25 points through 50 games played before his season was ended with injury, as he quickly underwent surgery with the hopes of getting back to 100% this off-season.
It's unclear how close to that he is, but last year, Huberdeau was simply behind the pace for the Flames, and with the lack of elite level talent around him, he was on pace for career lows across the board, even compared to the poor early years in his tenure with the Flames.
What Role Will Jonathan Huberdeau Play in 2026/27?
While the Flames will focus on the youth movement in 2026/27, given what he's owed over the next five years, the team simply must find a way to get Huberdeau going, and as a result, he'll play in the top-six again and likely play a role on the top powerplay and penalty kill as well.
Given that the 33-year-old has 14 seasons under his belt in the NHL, he is up to the task for that type of workload, and with the Flames hoping to push Matvei Gridin, Zayne Parekh and others into bigger roles with the team in the coming 9 months, it's up to Huberdeau to be a leader and help them develop as well.
Ultimately though, 2026/27 will be about bouncing back for No. 10 on the back of the most disappointing season of his career to date, and if he can get some of the young guys going in the process, he could recoup plenty of his value in the season ahead.
Final Predictions for Huberdeau in 2026/27 (based on the assumption of 82 games of health): 21 goals, 39 assists, 60 points.
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