Despite an offensive performance that is below that of previous years, Jonathan Huberdeau is pleased with the victories of the Flames.

“We have to understand that [à Calgary] Let’s play a much more defensive style than I’m used to,” noted the Alberta team No. 10 when interviewed by Jean-Charles Lajoie on Thursday night’s show. Watch the full interview between the two men in the video at the top of the article.

This mentality shift results in a harvest of 4 goals and 12 assists in 23 games. That’s meager compared to the 30 goals and 85 assists that he accumulated last year. That’s a total of 415 points in 368 games over the past five seasons.

Flight soon?

Huberdeau admits he faced more adversity than he could have imagined after the trade that brought him to western Canada this summer.

“It was the first time I lived [un changement d’organisation] my career. It took me longer to find my way,” he adds. In fact, the former Panthers’ third overall winner spent his entire junior career with the Saint John Sea Dogs between 2009-10 and 2012-13.

However, Jonathan Huberdeau seems comfortable with his new team. He has six points in his team’s last five games. As a result, the Flames have accumulated four wins in this all-game series in the Saddledome. Thanks to that push, Darryl Sutter’s team is now in the playoff portrait as the last team drafted with 29 points from 26 games. On the other hand, teams like the Avalanche and the Predators find themselves behind them with 2 and 3 games in hand respectively.

“In the end I’m happy as long as we win,” concluded Huberdeau.

A player who impresses Huberdeau

JiC and the Flames’ 84 million man also reflected on Tage Thompson’s incredible game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. The Sabers’ great center scored five goals and one assist in the team’s 9-4 win.

“He’s incredible. It is this fun to see him, especially since almost all of his goals are highlights,” concludes the native of Saint-Jérôme.

It remains to be seen whether Huberdeau will be able to repeat Thompson’s exploits when the Flames take on the Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. on Friday. This game will be broadcast on TVA Sports.