Dan Spiegel: Does Huberdeau Deserve First Line Minutes?

Yes. A Promising young talent like Huberdeau should get quality minutes. Given the Panthers surprise Division title last year, not much should be expected of the Panthers this season. An 8th seed is a realistic wish for fans, so why not see what Huberdeau can handle right out of the gate?

Probably do the samething that happened in Edmonton. Give him primo PP minutes and as much time against weaker competition as possible.

If you want we are done with Shawn Horcoff, he could really help in the sheltering.

Yes. A Promising young talent like Huberdeau should get quality minutes. Given the Panthers surprise Division title last year, not much should be expected of the Panthers this season. An 8th seed is a realistic wish for fans, so why not see what Huberdeau can handle right out of the gate?
- trolleytracks

He might already be your best center so yes.

Probably do the samething that happened in Edmonton. Give him primo PP minutes and as much time against weaker competition as possible.

If you want we are done with Shawn Horcoff, he could really help in the sheltering.
- Lahey

Lahey is right.

Probably do the samething that happened in Edmonton. Give him primo PP minutes and as much time against weaker competition as possible.

If you want we are done with Shawn Horcoff, he could really help in the sheltering.
- Lahey

Agreed. PP time, high % of offensive zone starts and against 3rd and 4th lines as much as possible is the best way to go with young players.

Not yet. Burrows has earned the top line minutes. Unless they move Kes to the wing, Huberdeau will likely start centering the 3rd line.

Not yet. Burrows has earned the top line minutes. Unless they move Kes to the wing, Huberdeau will likely start centering the 3rd line.
- Fosco

So does this deal happen before or after Weber and Nugent-Hopkins are acquired for Ballard and Raymond respectively?

Not yet. Burrows has earned the top line minutes. Unless they move Kes to the wing, Huberdeau will likely start centering the 3rd line.
- Fosco

that awkward moment, when clemmenson and upshall are shipped for luongo...

So does this deal happen before or after Weber and Nugent-Hopkins are acquired for Ballard and Raymond respectively?
- MaximumBone

RNH will hold out during his RFA year, and you'll end up having to trade him to the Canucks for scraps—you'll be lucky to get a Raymond or Ballard type player.

Weber will never join the Canucks as long as they have guys like Kesler and Lapierre—let's be realistic here.

that awkward moment, when clemmenson and upshall are shipped for luongo...
- Mapleleafs_91

Pretty much. Maybe one or two more pieces added.

Why's everyone so serious today?

that awkward moment, when clemmenson and upshall are shipped for luongo...
- Mapleleafs_91

Lol. I'd be flabbergasted if Tallon made any such deal. Doesn't make sense, unless something bad is brewing on the Markstrom front.

Agreed. PP time, high % of offensive zone starts and against 3rd and 4th lines as much as possible is the best way to go with young players.
- Nucker101

you forgot to add that he never takes faceoffs in the defensive zone and that he was the worst player on the team on the backcheck. oh wait, my mistake. i thought you were talking about hodgson for a second.

RNH will hold out during his RFA year, and you'll end up having to trade him to the Canucks for scraps—you'll be lucky to get a Raymond or Ballard type player.

Weber will never join the Canucks as long as they have guys like Kesler and Lapierre—let's be realistic here.
- Fosco

raymond will already be gone to toronto for kadri, o'reilly and toronto's first in 2020-2025 and ballard will be gone to montreal for subban and futures so you're trade is totally unrealistic if you're including raymond and ballard to get the nuge. it would probably take more like weiss and alberts to get the nuge.

No I don't think he should start in the top line. I think he needs to prove what he can do first give him 2nd line mins with all the power play he could ask for.

No I don't think he should start in the top line. I think he needs to prove what he can do first give him 2nd line mins with all the power play he could ask for.
- Crazycaboose

you do realize your avatar is a cougar and not a panther, right?

cougars, for the record are better anyway.

Lol. I'd be flabbergasted if Tallon made any such deal. Doesn't make sense, unless something bad is brewing on the Markstrom front.
- spiegs13

Well I could see us taking him if it's cheap. Then when markstrom is ready to take the starting role just move Lu or keep him as back up if he will allow it. Also taking him would be a nice safety net if mark doesn't pan out.

Does anyone know if he gets traded does his NTC go away?

you do realize your avatar is a cougar and not a panther, right?

cougars, for the record are better anyway.
- therealagent

Doesn't really matter to me honestly both are cool anyway.

you forgot to add that he never takes faceoffs in the defensive zone and that he was the worst player on the team on the backcheck. oh wait, my mistake. i thought you were talking about hodgson for a second.
- therealagent

I was one of the many over-reactors on that trade and I'm still against it today, but I'll admit that looking back on the deal that it isn't wasn't so bad since Cody's lack of speed and size limits his upside, but I still think you have to keep the blue chip center prospect over the blue chip winger, especially with the seemingly high bust rate of young power forwards.

I was one of the many over-reactors on that trade and I'm still against it today, but I'll admit that looking back on the deal that it isn't wasn't so bad since Cody's lack of speed and size limits his upside, but I still think you have to keep the blue chip center prospect over the blue chip winger, especially with the seemingly high bust rate of young power forwards.
- Nucker101

i didn't mind trading him but they should have gotten a better return. kas might be a monster one day but our window is the next 5 years so for that reason i didn't love the deal. they knew kes was injured so why not keep him as a backup plan.

hindsight is 20/20 but if they had kept hodgson, luongo would have been gone a long time ago. all they would have had to do is to include cody in any luongo deal and they could have gotten a huberdeau in a package coming back.

i don't think cody suits the more physical eastern conference. he's going to get killed nightly which means his parents will demand a trade back to the west.

i didn't mind trading him but they should have gotten a better return. kas might be a monster one day but our window is the next 5 years so for that reason i didn't love the deal. they knew kes was injured so why not keep him as a backup plan.

hindsight is 20/20 but if they had kept hodgson, luongo would have been gone a long time ago. all they would have had to do is to include cody in any luongo deal and they could have gotten a huberdeau in a package coming back.

i don't think cody suits the more physical eastern conference. he's going to get killed nightly which means his parents will demand a trade back to the west.
- therealagent

I dont think we will know who got the better of the deal for a year or two what we do know is Hodgsen is gonna get first line time right away and Kass is gonna have to fight for every bit of time with coach V in charge. I wasn't opposed to the deal. He wanted out you don't wanna be here...don't let the door hit you on the a$$ on the way out. Kass was the upside because we didn't give KOHO away for nothing.

raymond will already be gone to toronto for kadri, o'reilly and toronto's first in 2020-2025 and ballard will be gone to montreal for subban and futures so you're trade is totally unrealistic if you're including raymond and ballard to get the nuge. it would probably take more like weiss and alberts to get the nuge.
- therealagent

- JVR2112

or luongo, kesler, burrows and bieksa to philly for:

bryz
coburn
giroux
briere
read
tim kerr's autograph

or luongo, kesler, burrows and bieksa to philly for:

bryz
coburn
giroux
briere
read
tim kerr's autograph
- therealagent

Philly wins that deal by a landslide.

Imagine there was a Leafs blog about a rookie possibly getting 1st line minutes in their 1st NHL game? The poopstorm would be MASSIVE --so many hits! And yes, I realize the Leafs currently have no prospects as promising as Huberdeau, but it's funny to think about.

Sorry, not a Leafs blog.....carry on