In the visitors’ locker room at the Bell Center on Monday noon, Jonathan Huberdeau uttered the same three words in a row a few times: “It’s going to come back…”
That’s what he said, and that’s what he tells himself. He has no choice in repeating these words, probably, because this record of 2 goals and 5 assists in 14 games is not the one he would like to have.
But it’s the one he has, and this harsh reality is starting to weigh on him a little.
“I just have to find the passion again, I have to have fun,” the Quebec player began by explaining in the Calgary Flames locker room, after his team’s training. I have to tell myself that this is a game, and I have to try to get back to basics. I’m never going to give up, I’m going to work on it, and I know it will come back. »
It will be necessary, because the Flames will probably not be able to get out of this deep slump without him.
With a harvest of only 10 points since the opening of the season, the Alberta club represents a disappointment, and Huberdeau’s performance is perhaps no stranger to this state of affairs.
All this led to difficult episodes, including last Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators, where the 30-year-old forward had to spend the third period drying out at the end of the bench. He also spoke about it with coach Ryan Huska immediately afterwards.
“We had a discussion after the match… of course you’re not happy when you don’t play in the third period, but we won the match, so I was happy for the team. I’ve put that behind me, I don’t want to worry too much about it.
” It is not easy. You go home and you think about that, you want to do well… I’m trying to tune out, that’s what you have to do when you’re not at the arena. When things are going well, it’s easy, you drop out, it’s adversity, it’s part of life. It’s just knowing how to get through it. I’m not going to give up. »
Ryan Huska also believes that the page of last Tuesday has already been turned, and that the best is yet to come for his star player, who obtained an 8-year, 84 million contract with the club in the summer of 2022.
“He’s done a lot of good things since the start of the season,” the Flames coach explained Monday. He has had to make adjustments to his game since last year, and he is a very good player, an important part of our club. When he moves well on the ice and controls the puck, he is very good.
“He needs to get consistency now. The players are not at their best every night. Whether it’s Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux or Jonathan Huberdeau, it happens from time to time. It is the player’s response that is important. »
In the immediate future, Huberdeau will try to respond in the company of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, the companions of the third line with whom he skated in Monday’s training at the Bell Center, in preparation for Tuesday evening’s match against the Canadian .
The rest, he believes, is up to him.
“It’s more about trust,” he added. The numbers will come when confidence returns too… Talent, I have it; I just need to find the little something that’s missing. »