Huberdeau's revamped approach helps Flames discover new first line

CALGARY – Out of the ashes of an 8-3 drubbing, and a recent eight-game road slide, the Calgary Flames have seen the rise of something not seen around these parts in years.

A true first line.

Well, signs of it.

“We haven’t had a first line, if you want to call it that, for a while,” said coach Ryan Huska when asked about the production and chemistry on display the last half-dozen games from Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri and Martin Pospisil.

“So, if we can get them contributing consistently, like the way I feel they have over the last number of games, that’s a great thing for us.

“Really significant.”

The last time a Flames coach could roll out a legitimate top line was four seasons ago when Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm led the league.

Since then, the organization has been unable to find a consistent leading trio, which has plenty to do with Huberdeau’s well-documented struggle to find past form.

When the Panthers star arrived as part of the Tkachuk trade, Darryl Sutter identified his first order of business as determining whether the $10.5 million man was a better fit with Lindholm or Kadri.

He quickly determined neither worked, as Huberdeau embarked on a lengthy journey to redefine his game.

His concentration on becoming a 200-foot player has made him a more useful and versatile winger, prompting Huska to reunite the two in the latter stages of a beatdown in Pittsburgh two weeks ago.

Each one promptly set the other up for late goals, earning them several encores, with Pospisil playing an effective supporting role.

On paper it makes sense, as Huberdeau is a passer, Kadri a shooter and Pospisil is a board-crashing speedster who creates room for the others to operate.

It seems to be working, as Huberdeau is on a six-game point streak (4-4) that has seen him score in three straight, while Kadri has scored three and added three in that span.

Asked about the reunification with Kadri, Huberdeau smiled.

“I mean, I think I’ve tried with everybody,” he chuckled.

“So, I had to go back to the first one. I did the full cycle.”

What’s changed is Huberdeau’s approach to the game, prompted by a summertime meeting with Huska, during which the former 115-point winger understood he had to adopt a radically different approach than the Panthers' run-and-gun style.

“I haven’t pointed a player out to him (to model his game after) but we’ve talked to him about that stuff for sure,” said Huska, whose club hosts Huberdeau’s former club Saturday.

“Over the last couple years it hasn’t really been easy for him. He’s a really proud guy and he’s like, ‘well, if I’m not scoring I’m going to do something else to help the team win.’

“I feel like over some tougher times for him he’s made himself a better overall player. Now he’s getting some traction on the offensive side again, which is exciting for us.”

During his meeting with Huska, Huberdeau asked for more ice time, which he’s been granted by way of a new penalty-killing role he feels gets him more involved.

“I feel like early in the game, I’ve been playing a lot, and I think it gets me into the game and into a rhythm,” he said.

“I think since I’ve been here, I’ve learned way more defensively than I used to play. Husk trusts me to go out at the end.

“I think I’m in a better position when I play well defensively, so I’m always below the puck. That’s what I’ve learned, I’ve got to do every game to be successful.

“The overall game is better. I'm not worried about the points really, it’s more to just play a complete game and that’s what I’ve been doing lately, so just keep it going.”

His game still comes with a degree of risk, which was on display Thursday when the playmaker was stripped by Nikita Kucherov at Tampa’s blueline, kickstarting a six-point evening for the Lightning star, who deftly converted his breakaway chance.

Leading the team with 11 goals and 21 points in 30 games, his club is still woefully short on offence, sitting 27th in the league in goals-for.

They still need more from him offensively, but his efforts to get greasier goals and play somewhat grittier at both ends have been noticeable.

“He’s competing everywhere on the ice - away from the puck, with the puck - he wants to make a difference every night,” said GM Craig Conroy of Huberdeau’s new, 200-foot approach.

“He’s a point guy, still, and makes plays, but it’s away from the puck and him being on the penalty kill where he’s really bought in.

“We’re going to play a low-scoring game, and his work ethic, shift in and shift out, I couldn’t be happier with him.”

NOTE: The Flames recalled goalie Devin Cooley from the Wranglers on an emergency basis Friday, as Dan Vladar is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Cooley practiced with the Flames Friday and leads the AHL with a 1.80 GAA and .942 save percentage.