The Daily: Flames winger Huberdeau Hits Jackpot; Pacioretty Says Vegas Lacks Accountability

The Calgary Flames could have been decimated by Matthew Tkachuk’s and Johnny Gaudreau’s decisions to leave Calgary.

But the Flames continued their recovery Thursday night by signing Jonathan Huberdeau to an eight-year, $84 million contract. That’s $10.5 million per season. Huberdeau, who came from the Florida Panthers in the Tkachuk trade, is a winner in that deal.

Critics will point out Huberdeau is older. He just turned 29. It should be noted that Gaudreau just turned 28 and the Flames would have given him eight years as well.

So if you are keeping score: the Flames had to trade Tkachuk, 24, and lost Gaudreau to free agency and now have Huberdeau locked in, MacKenzie Weegar on their defense, a should-play-in-the-NHL prospect in Cole Schwindt and a lottery-protected first round pick in 2025.

GM Brad Treliving had a bad hand to play and yet has kept the Flames in the game. Hockey Now’s Steve MacFarlane has Brad Treliving‘s comment in his story.

Speaking of recovery, former Vegas Golden Knights player Max Pacioretty, now with the Carolina Hurricanes, said on a recent podcast that he found it strange there was “no accountability” in Vegas.

He had come from Montreal where everyone kept the Habs accountable.

“When I first got to Vegas, it was weird that there was, like, no accountability. And I’m not talking about in the team; I’m talking about like ever. You couldn’t feel pressure coming off anyone else, from the coach to the management,” Pacioretty told  Raw Knuckles Podcast with Chris Nilan and Tim Stapleton.

Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson provides excerpts and links to the Max Pacioretty interview.

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Hockey Now Network

Florida: Can Ryan Lomberg be more than a fourth-line player for the Florida Panthers? Colby Guy weighs in on that question.

Montreal: The Montreal Canadiens are very high on prospect Sean Farrell’s potential.

Philadelphia: Philadelphia Flyers prospect Alex Bump was named the best high school hockey player in the country.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now opines that the Pittsburgh Penguins should avoid all of the drama and sign Tristan Jarry to a new contract.

San Jose: Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reviews the San Jose Sharks‘ cap situation after signing Mario Ferraro for $13 million over four seasons.  Peng feels the Sharks have banked enough cap space to handle most possible issues. The Evander Kane grievance, of course, could be a different story.

Vancouver: Rob Simpson takes a hard look at the potential of Vancouver Canucks prospect Jett Woo.

Vegas: It’s clear the Vegas Golden Knights need some help on the wing.

Washington: Washington Capitals prospect Dru Krebs finds a way to excel despite his WHL team’s rough season.

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