Panthers send top prospect Jonathan Huberdeau to juniors

by Alexander Calloway on Oct 3, 2011 2:52 PM EDT in Florida Panthers Prospects

Over the summer, Dale Tallon has repeatedly said he doesn't want to rush the prospects, today he just backed it up. Jonathan Huberdeau has been sent back to the Saint John Sea Dogs, where he hopes to help them defend the Presidents and Memorial Cups. Despite his solid preseason, where he scored three power-play goals (and led all forwards in points), the Panthers feel it will be better for his development to be sent back to the QMJHL.

With Saint John, Huberdeau will be reunited with linemates Tomas Jurco and Zack Phillips, who scored a combined 246 (102G/144A) points last season.

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Whats the scoop?

Was he outplayed? Being ‘too small’ for a team thats desperately needs scoring seems a bit off to me. Hopefully Gudy at least justifies himself being on the big squad.

Seriously Turtle, Smoke More Weed

by Mannieblunts on Oct 3, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

He wasnt out played at all, his ability almost pushed them to put him on the team but overall hes just too vulnerable (and small) to bring him in at this point

by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 3, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

The kid’s good, but just not big enough yet. GR interviewed him and even Huby was admitting he was getting beat out there. He’s ok with going back to juniors, defending the Memorial Cup and playing for Canada in the World Juniors.

He’s going to be an awesome player one day for this team, but it’s not his time yet. He should be and will be playing on the Panthers’ top line soon enough. They signed all those guys to four year contracts for just this reason: so they have the luxury of letting guys develop before they throw them out there.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Oct 4, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Smart move, Huberdeau is going to be a Panthers All Star in the very near future. However, he is still a boy amoung men and likely would not “survive” the rigors of an 82 game season. He is much better served in St John’s where he can continue to gain size and strength.

by catfan927 on Oct 3, 2011 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Ahmn

Saint John, not St. John’s. From a nerdy New Brunswicker!

by BigTipper on Oct 4, 2011 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions

He will come in next year to a much more familiar and structured team, where a system will be in full swing by Dineen, and hopefully he will be bulked up and ready to score on one of the top lines/pp. Great move by management.

by Nick Lepore on Oct 3, 2011 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed, While I want to win now I don’t want to risk a potential All-Star for a few early season goals.

by Robert Wright on Oct 3, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

olli jokinen likes waffles

by meezus on Oct 3, 2011 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

http://i.imgur.com/gtQro.gif

by meezus on Oct 3, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty good article from our “friends” at Artic Ice Hockey. Just skip the Florida remark.

by Alexander Calloway on Oct 3, 2011 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

Was just thinking about something..

It’s always mentioned how Florida spent redic amounts of money to get to the cap floor.. the problem is we HAD to, we signed 11 players and still barely got to the cap floor, which only means that we have quality and quantity.. sure some contracts may be a little inflated but at the same time what Dale did was pay to bring excitement back to SoFla for hockey..

So compare the two cities for a second, Florida spend roughly 30mil to make its team better and more exciting for this upcoming season.. How much did the Thrashers (never going to stop calling them that) spend to improve and make their team more exciting this season? Considering they didnt have a team last year Id say they spent more money then we did to actually get the team in the first place.. on top of that they didnt get anyone worth mentioning in the free agent situation to improve what was a bad team last season.. So the question of the day is, Who REALLY overpaid?

by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 3, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Can’t believe you let yourself get sucked in, Rob. I, for one, am disappointed.:p

Let it ride man, with kids like Huby, Jugs, Howden, Shore, Hyman, Grimaldi, Petro, Robak, Comrie, Brittian, etc. The future is MORE than bright, and when these 3 and 4year deals are nearing their end, those “ZOMG!!! OVERPAYMENTS!!!!” will be replaced with the talent EVERYONE in the league knows is waiting in the wings…and they’re scared to death that The Cats won’t be able to be kicked around anymore, and that fear tends to manifest otself in irrational hate.

by Yzerfan on Oct 3, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

it wasnt the article that made me think it, it was just the best place to insert the comment since it pertained to the Jets

by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 3, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand. I was just messin wit cha.

by Yzerfan on Oct 3, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Btw as far as Huberdeau being sent down… Just means that Gudbranson (and possibly Markstrom) are up for Rookie of the Year this season and Huberdeau (possibly Markstrom depending on this season) are up for it again next year.. makes things even more exciting for our fans

by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 3, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

AB-SO-FREAKIN-LUTELY

by Yzerfan on Oct 3, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

And I thought people would have actually skip that part and read the actual article.

by Alexander Calloway on Oct 3, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

To hell with them. I’m not bothering to read anything from a site that spends that much time trolling us. Quite frankly, I have better things to do with my time. I’ll be glad when they’re out of our division.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Oct 4, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you mean more like… glad when their team relocates for the second time.

by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 4, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh but we could have taken Sheldon Souray and signed a bunch of one year deals! That would have been the smart thing to do!

I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season.
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots

by Chris S Roberts on Oct 3, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Interested in knowing if Dineen or Tallon had the final say in this. I know this front office doesn’t want to be like predecessors, but if he earned it, he earned it. To me a nine game tryout with the big boys would have let us know for sure. To be honest with everyone, I am bummed. I look at Crosby and Stamkos and see that their first year out was rough but they still played well. And afterwards they rocked the league hard.

A lil thunder and a lil lightning is what the Cats are going to bring this year.

by trinidaddy on Oct 3, 2011 5:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Don't worry Trinny...

I get the feeling that, 3-4 years from now, we’ll look back on this and think that Tallon & Co. did the right(safe) thing.

by Yzerfan on Oct 3, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

And just do at do that..

People may say that the Panthers don’t take enough “risks” and this is just typical of them to send him down because they aren’t willing to go all out.

I think that’s a pretty dumb thing for people to think at this point. Yes, we should try to win now, but not at the cost of having an 18-year-old cornerstone of our franchise being put in a very dangerous situation playing against guys like Chris Pronger and the likes.

Also, this organization has taken enough risks to satisfy the fans for this year. The complete turnover of this team including keeping up Markstrom and Guds for the beginning of the season is excitement enough. To be honest, Hubs played very well but it wouldn’t translate very well into an 82 game season. The most pressure was probably us fans and what the backlash would be like.

Hubs has now gotten a taste of what it’s like to be here. He has been introduced to this organization as one that will not be easy to have a spot on, regardless of draft position, and one that he will have to work hard for. He’s going to back to Juniors with a fire in him and absolutely tear it up (again… It’s inconceivable to think he can actually do better than last season). I can’t WAIT to see what he looks like next training camp. A great move by TallonCat.

by lipsonjeff on Oct 3, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

With 10 new players we’ve got enough to worry about. Let Huby start next year when the chemistry is down and he’ll be fine.

I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season.
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots

by Chris S Roberts on Oct 3, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

This is a very good idea.

Contributor - Anaheim Calling

by light_the_lamp on Oct 3, 2011 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Love and hate this move. Good call

by CatNipp on Oct 3, 2011 9:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I hear ya cat nip. My mind says yes great move but my emotions say no.

A lil thunder and a lil lightning is what the Cats are going to bring this year.

by trinidaddy on Oct 3, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

When even the player involved is onboard with it, this has to be a solid decision by the club.

If only Grabner had been so honest earlier in camp a year ago…punk had to wait until he was in Calder contention before admitting his heart wasn’t in it with FLA. Huberdeau is a genuine gentleman for taking the lick with utmost class.

It’s too bad there aren’t more like him.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Oct 4, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Bottom Line

…is exactly the point! Should Huber stay up here and be buried on the 4th line as did last years Ty Seguin? Or is it better he continue to tear up Juniors; more ice time, a chance to further build on confidence and grow maybe 1 more inch while gaining 15 pounds? At least to Dale, Mike, and some of us too, the answer is obvious.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Oct 3, 2011 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, but if he was up here, I don’t think they’d be giving him fourth-line ice time. I think he’d start on the third and quickly prove he’s too good to be stuck there. Still, with as good as I think he’s going to be, the smart move is give him another season in junior and let him fill out a little because it’s not worth getting him crunched by a nitwit like Travis Moen.

by badger737 on Oct 4, 2011 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions