Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau Rising Above Heights; Named First Star of the Month

Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau has been named NHL’s first star of the month, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to many.

This season, Jonathan Huberdeau has been absolutely killing it, regardless of who he’s been playing with. Whether it’s on the first line with Aleksander Barkov and Evgenii Dadonov or on the second with Vincent Trocheck and Noel Acciari, Huberdeau has made it work.

In 39 games, Huberdeau has put together a strong slash line of 16G, 37A, for 53 points, on pace for a 100-point year. Over his last five games, Huberdeau has recorded eight points (4 goals, 4 assists), as well as 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) over the month of December, crowning him the NHL’s first star of the month.

In result of his outstanding play, Huberdeau was recently nominated to represent the Florida Panthers at the 2020 All-Star Game this year in St. Louis, making it his first all-star appearance. In all fairness, the nomination was well-deserved from the 26-year-old, who’s been absolutely crucial towards the Panthers’ offense and team.

For years, Huberdeau’s name hasn’t been given the kind of respect and credit that he deserves, often being underlooked by many in the league. But over the past couple of seasons, along with his growth, Huberdeau has been wowing the eyes of many, solidifying his place among one of the NHL’s best wingers.

His duo and partnership with partner in crime, Aleksander Barkov, shouldn’t go unnoticed, considering how scary the two are when they are connecting. They, along with the first line’s trio, rank among the very top of the league in offensive production per line, which shouldn’t surprise many as they’ve been at the top over the last few seasons.

When Huberdeau and Barkov both play through each other, it’s a nightmare for the opposition to defend and game plan around, given the headaches that both cause to their opposing defenders. It leads to chances being created and goals being scored, evident by Huberdeau’s three four-point games throughout this past month of December.

Even when Huberdeau isn’t with his regular linemates, he still manages to remain productive, driving play at similar rates with Trocheck and Acciari by his side. Ultimately, Huberdeau is the perfect player to pair with anyone and can play in a multitude of roles. His ability to play-make and score are what make him the ideal teammate to place with on any scoring line. Ideally, Huby is the total package and has developed ever-so-graciously into the complete player that we witness today.

This season has Jonathan Huberdeau’s name written all over it, and if the Florida Panthers can manage to clinch a spot for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Huberdeau will undoubtedly be among one of the few individuals to be heavily credited for this feat.