Huberdeau and Weegar Return to Florida as Calgary Wins 5-4

Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar received a positive reception from Florida Panthers fans until late in the game as the Calgary Flames came to town.

Contrary to what Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar anticipated, there were not many boos. At least not until a win was on the line.

The former Panthers were warmly greeted in their Florida homecoming on Saturday the moment they hit the ice for warmups. But in the first meeting between the teams who shook the hockey world with a blockbuster deal last summer, it was Adam Ruzicka’s three-point effort and Rasmus Anderson’s game-deciding shootout goal which keyed the Flames to a 5-4 win.

"I feel that was a vintage Panthers game – 5-4 in a shootout. We were in lots of those games," Weegar said. "I wanted to beat these guys really bad. They were chirping on the other side and whatnot. To get the two points feels really good against that team."

During warmups, fans lined the glass along Calgary's end with "welcome back" signs for the duo. Weegar took a stick tap from Panthers winger Ryan Lomberg. Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov exchanged passes across the center line. The friends then reunited for a brief chat along the benches, which was backed by more cheers.

Huberdeau remained on the ice until the end and lifted his stick in the air to salute the fans. He called the reception, "special."

"I didn't expect that many people," he said. "It was a great atmosphere and emotional as well."

The biggest cheers from the home crowd, however, were saved for Matthew Tkachuk. He tipped a Sam Bennett shot at 13:46 of the third period to force overtime. The winger also picked up an assist.

Huberdeau, Calgary's third-line winger, only heard jeers when he set up at center ice during the shootout. Fans doubled down when he scored to tie it. Weegar logged 16:25 in ice time and only heard boo-birds when he tripped Bennett late in the third period.

Both Huberdeau and Weegar noted at Friday's practice they were unsure of the reception they would receive. It’s understandable why, despite having developed into top players in Florida, the duo had reservations.

After a franchise-record, 115-point season, Huberdeau’s dynamic offensive prowess disappeared in the post-season. Weegar’s egregious mistake with 3.8 seconds remaining in Game 2 allowed Tampa Bay to grab a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead. The Panthers never recovered and were ultimately swept by the Lightning. Neither got the opportunity to atone for the mishaps before they were traded to the Flames along with Cole Schwindt and a first-round pick in exchange for Tkachuk on July 25.

But there were too many good memories for the pair to be rejected by Panthers fans. Huberdeau, Florida's third overall selection in 2011, re-wrote the franchise record book as its leader in games played (671), assists (415) and points (613). Weegar, meanwhile, went from an underdog seventh-rounder in 2013 to a dark horse for the Norris Trophy the past two seasons.

The weight of such a blockbuster deal perhaps unfairly added expectations for immediate personal and team success.

Huberdeau has chipped in two goals and six assists in his first 13 games with the Flames — far off his 1.4 points-per-game pace last season.

"That was an emotional time for (Huberdeau),” coach Darryl Sutter said. “I think that is why he had a hard time early. He wasn't expecting to be traded by Florida. I think that was hard for him and now his game is where you want it to be. But that takes time."

The move wasn't necessarily easy for Weegar, either.

"At first, I thought I'd just got traded alone," Weegar said. "Then my mom told me that Johnny was with me. I said thank God because I didn't know what to expect. (Huberdeau) is kind of been a big mentor. He's always been there on my side and I'm happy that we're going through it together. We're getting comfortable together in Calgary."

Numbers-wise, Weegar’s adjustment has been smoother, but also off the mark from the campaigns which elevated him into league-wide awareness. He ranks third among the Flames in ice time with an average of 21:42 but has just four assists in 17 games.

Tkachuk, meanwhile, has produced as expected with a team-leading 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 16 games. Sutter was not surprised the 24-year-old's transition has been smoother.

"Matthew made that choice (to be moved) and he was ready for it. He jumped right in," Sutter said. “It had nothing to do with Calgary. COVID alienated him from his family (in the U.S.). There were times I felt sorry for Matthew. He was always at the rink. He couldn't go anywhere. He couldn't go home (to see his parents). Good on him for going to Brad about it, that's what I think."

But while Tkachuk’s aggressive energy has given the Panthers the edge they lacked in the post-season, it has at times drawn Florida into playing an undisciplined game. The Panthers entered Saturday leading the league with 83 minor penalties. Their middle-of-the-pack penalty kill has been successful 78.5 percent of the time.

From a team standpoint, there have not been immediate dividends, either.

With the win, Calgary improved to 8-7-2, while Florida dropped to 9-7-2. Both are on the bubble of wild-card territory, a significant difference from when they each won their divisions last season with 111-point and 122-point campaigns, respectively.

"Florida is making an adjustment — new coach, different players, being more of a playoff style team instead of a run-and-gun team," Sutter said. "You can see that for sure. Our team, we don't have coast-to-coast guys. You have to rely on your discipline in terms of structure."

Added coach Paul Maurice: “We knew there was going to be a big amount of transition for us this year. Aside from the trade, with players out and kind of some of the challenges that we have right now with the cap. But our move was an eye (for the future) and I'm sure for Calgary, too."

Outcome aside, all three players who signed long-term deals during the off-season are eager to move on with the latest chapters in their careers.

"It's probably not going to sound great, but I probably already closed it. I mean, I have to," said Tkachuk, who's expected to make his first appearance in Calgary on Nov. 29. "You have to move on. I've got great memories there, but it'd be unfair to my teammates here to the fans and this whole organization that put a lot into this trade into getting me, and it'd be unfair for me to not close that book yet."

Added Huberdeau: "After the trade, in the summer, I circled the date. I want us to do well. I want us to win. After that, it's kind of turn the page."