Huberdeau Opens Up About This Summer's Block Buster Trade
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S. HarperSeptember 3, 2022 (10:39)
It was a surprising off-season for star forward Jonathan Huberdeau, after seeing their playoffs dreams die at the hands of the Tampa bay Lightning, Panthers General Manager Bill Zito knew he had to make some changes.
However, we didn't see the Blockbuster trade that happened between the Panthers and Calgary Flames seeing Matthew Tkachuk and a fourth round pick head to Florida for Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a first round draft pick.
One player especially didn't see it coming most of all was long time Panther Johnathan Huberdeau who was in early contract extension talks with the Panthers when he got the news.
In an interview with Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin, Huberdeau talked about his wild summer and shared some insight into the blockbuster trade that sent him to Calgary.
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"Huberdeau said he had just wrapped up a game of beer league hockey when Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito rang him up. I don't think he's calling me for an extension at this time of night", Huberdeau told his friends.
Zito informed the star forward that he was being shipped to the Flames, along with defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, for young star Matthew Tkachuk, who had informed Calgary's front office he was not interested in signing a long-term deal to stay in Alberta.
The brief call left Huberdeau speechless.
"I didn't have any words to say back,» he told Daily Faceoff.
Zito informed the star forward that he was being shipped to the Flames, along with defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, for young star Matthew Tkachuk, who had informed Calgary's front office he was not interested in signing a long-term deal to stay in Alberta.
The brief call left Huberdeau speechless.
"I didn't have any words to say back,» he told Daily Faceoff.
The 29 year-old has been with the Panthers since being drafted first overall back in 2011, Huberdeau is the franchise leader in games (671), assists (415) and points (613) during his time in Florida.
"It was my second home," Huberdeau said. «My family, we used to spend every Christmas, three weeks, since I was a baby. So I was fortunate to play there for 10 years, and I knew the area before, playing there, living there. It just felt like home.
"The first two weeks after the trade, you think about all that and are a little sad, but then you think, �Life goes on,' and you have to worry about what's ahead. - Jonathan Huberdeau
"The first two weeks after the trade, you think about all that and are a little sad, but then you think, �Life goes on,' and you have to worry about what's ahead. - Jonathan Huberdeau
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