Two recent articles from separate platforms have proposed that the Flames should trade Jonathan Huberdeau. Do either of these trade suggestions seem reasonable?
Recently, two major but unfounded trade rumors have circulated involving Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau. While both trades seem intriguing on the surface, they don’t hold much logic. The first rumor links the Flames with the Montreal Canadiens, whose GM, Kent Hughes, is known for making bold moves. The second involves a potential swap with the New York Rangers, sending Huberdeau in exchange for Jacob Trouba.
The Proposed Canadiens Deal for Huberdeau
The Montreal Canadiens have already made waves this offseason by acquiring Patrik Laine, but a proposed trade could see them land another star forward. According to a fan using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, a potential deal would involve sending Huberdeau from the Flames to the Canadiens, with Calgary retaining $3 million of his salary. In exchange, Montreal would trade Christian Dvorak and a 2025 first-round pick while receiving a 2025 second-round pick from Calgary.
Such a trade would be a major shake-up, as both teams would be offloading forwards who have struggled with their current contracts. Huberdeau is entering the second year of his eight-year, $84 million deal, but with Calgary retaining $3 million, his cap hit would drop to $7.5 million annually.
Though retaining $3 million for seven seasons is almost unprecedented, it’s not out of the question. However, it’s unlikely Calgary would agree to such a long-term cap hit, as it would hinder their rebuild. A bump from a second-round to a first-round pick might not be enough to justify it.
In his first season with Calgary, Huberdeau tallied 12 goals and 40 assists for 52 points in 81 games, falling short of expectations. Despite this, with 720 points in 831 career games, Huberdeau has the potential to be a top-six forward for Montreal. Canadiens GM Hughes might consider this gamble if the terms are right.
The Canadiens have a history of taking chances on players needing a fresh start, as seen with their recent Laine acquisition. If Huberdeau can rediscover his form, this trade could significantly boost their offense. However, his large contract and recent performance struggles make this a risky proposition, and with Calgary likely unwilling to retain that much salary, this deal feels improbable.
The Proposed Huberdeau Trade to the Rangers
Jesse Courville-Lynch of The Hockey Writers suggested a trade where the Flames would send Huberdeau, with 50% of his salary retained, to the Rangers in exchange for Trouba. However, this proposal is as far-fetched as it sounds.
The article in question overlooks important details and lacks thorough research, which can be frustrating for informed readers. It fails to consider key issues like no-movement and no-trade clauses, proposes an unrealistic 50% salary retention on over $5 million for several years, and ignores reports about Jacob Trouba’s reluctance to relocate, especially after rejecting a trade to the Red Wings. Why would Trouba suddenly change his mind, and even if he did, why would he waive his no-trade clause to join a rebuilding Flames team?
The article also disregards insider information that suggests the Flames aren’t planning any major moves this offseason. Overall, it seems disconnected from what fans familiar with these players would expect. The proposal is flawed and lacks the necessary details to even entertain serious consideration.
Although both trade ideas neglect that Huberdeau has a full no-move clause, the idea of him heading to Montreal seems at least somewhat plausible. However, the Rangers deal is unrealistic, especially with the suggested salary retention.
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