With the 3rd overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft the Florida Panthers selected the skillful Jonathan Huberdeau (forward). The skilled Left-Winger was invited to the Florida Panthers development camp, as well as the main training camp. In both camps he showed amazing potential and wowed the coaches, staff, and fans. Following those solid looks into game performances during the rookie games against the Lightning (2 games) and the Predators (1 game), playing on the 1st line, being named 1st star after the game 1 victory over the Lightning as hoping to bring those talents into the pre-season. In just his first pre-season game against the Predators he became the 1st star once again, tipping a Gudbranson slap-shot for a goal, and a beautiful assist to Santorelli. He showed poise, amazing vision, hockey IQ, great puck/stick handling abilities, and just having a knack for getting on the scoresheet. even though the young 18 year old Huberdeau only weighs give or take 175lbs he doesn't go down easily. That has been the main issue with him, is the weight. Players like Patrick Kane, who are smaller, show that you don't need to be huge to succeed at the NHL level, it's more the skill, but there is no doubting that more size makes it easier on the player. He has incredible balance, skating ability, and even delivered a solid check during that 1 pre-season game so far. I've even seen him stick up for team mates and i've yet to see him fall once. He can handle the puck through heavy traffic yet still remain control. Can strip it from opposing players as well as having a solid 2-way game where he is effective in his own end as well. So my question is this...what do the Panthers do? If he continues to "wow" during the pre-season should he be given a shot on the main club? Should they send him back to juniors for another year anyways to mature, develop more, gain size and strength, and play for team Canada? Should they at least sign him and give him the "9 game tryout" and go from there? Read more after the Jump.
I guess it all depends on how the following days go. I think he's playing beyond his years, more so than most people were expecting. Even during an interview with new head coach Kevin Dineen where he was sighted at the Florida Marlins baseball game, they asked him that it must be great seeing such great things coming out of their young players and if he could make any comparisons. His answer: I hate to make comparisons, but that kid Huberdeau scored a goal the other day (in practice) that just wowed us all. From development camp, rookie camp, the rookie games, and now pre-season, he's continued to impress every step of the way. With the current depth on the Florida Panthers line-up there is no rush for him, but if he truely shows he can handle it, do they make room for him? (projected) On the RW they have Versteeg, Upshall, and Kopecky/Dadonov, Skille (with Weiss, Santorelli and Kopecky/Goc/someone else up the middle at center) . On the LW they have Fleischmann, Booth, Bergenheim, and Bradley. Dale Tallon seems high on Fleischmann. When asked who he was most excited about signing this offseason he pointed to him and said he's gonna be something special for us. He's currently the highest paid forward on the team to prove his faith in him. So it's safe to say he stays. Could the Panthers actually trade fan favorite David Booth if they felt like Hubderdeau deserved to stay? do they waive/trade newly signed Sean Bergenheim, which could possibly turn into this years "Grabner"? Or do they just run the current 3 top LW they have? It seems like with the current depth on the roster, if Huberdeau were to play, they would have to make room somehow, through waivers or trade. What do YOU think the Panthers should do if he continues to "wow" and possibly becomes this years Jeff Skinner?
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