Flames’ Sutter reveals why Jonathan Huberdeau is struggling so much

It hasn’t been easy this season for forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who is settling in with the Calgary Flames. Head coach Darryl Sutter has been been both critical and complimentary of Huberdeau since he was traded to Calgary. Sutter has said Huberdeau could be “the best passer the Calgary Flames have ever had” but also demanded he “speed up his game.”

Huberdeau was also trending earlier this season when he left the bench, and Sutter suggested his star forward had to go take a sh*t ” when reporters asked about it.

There was no bathroom talk however on Friday when Sutter met with media in Florida ahead of Huberdeau’s first game against the Panthers in Miami since the trade.

Sutter offered a very sincere explanation on why Huberdeau has struggled this season, posting just two goals and eight points in 13 games. He also missed time due to an upper-body injury according to the team. But this is much more than that, per Sutter:

“You look at Jonathan (Huberdeau), that was an emotional time for him and I think that’s why he had a hard time early. He wasn’t expecting to be traded out of Florida. That was hard for him. Now his game is where you want it to be, but that takes time.”

On Saturday, Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar will face their former teammates in their old yard, and it will most definitely be an emotional game for both.

It is good to see that Sutter can understand what Huberdeau is going through and maybe, ripping the bandaid in this game against the Panthers is what he needs to get back on track and where everyone expects him to be.