Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar “open to signing a long-term deal” in Calgary
Newly acquired Calgary Flames players Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar met with the media on Monday morning to discuss the blockbuster trade that ended their respective tenures with the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers sent Huberdeau, Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round pick to the Flames last Friday in exchange for forward Matthew Tkachuk, who immediately came to terms with Panthers general manager Bill Zito on an eight-year contract extension.
Tkachuk, 24, had elected to move on from Calgary as a restricted free agent. He and his agent, Craig Oster, worked closely with Flames general manager Brad Treliving to figure out the best possible trade destination where he could sign a long-term deal.
In exchange, the Flames received two star players — Huberdeau finished second in the 2022 Art Ross Trophy race, Weegar has been in the Norris Trophy conversation for the last two seasons — who both have just one year remaining on their respective contracts.
For a Flames team and fanbase that already lost Johnny Gaudreau for nothing earlier this summer and has grappled with the imminent departure of Tkachuk for the last two weeks, the uncertainty surrounding the contractual situations of Huberdeau and Weegar already seems, on the surface, very familiar.
Understandably, many of the questions directed at both players on Monday centered around their long-term futures.
“Yeah, I’m open to signing with the Flames long-term,” Huberdeau told Flames TV’s Brendan Parker. “My job is to play hockey, coming in, getting ready for training camp and be as good of a player I can be. And after that, I kind of leave that to Allan [Walsh], my agent, and the GM.”
“Yep, same here, open to signing a long-term deal,” Weegar added. “The city and the team, there’s no reason not to be open about it. So I’m looking forward to my agent talking to Brad and seeing what’s going on.”
"I'm excited to be a Flame … a lot of guys have reached out and been really kind to me. I'm excited to go see the city and excited to wear the jersey."
In a #Flames TV exclusive, Jonathan Huberdeau talks about his whirlwind weekend and his excitement around coming to Calgary. pic.twitter.com/gcTOMuidwm
A common refrain heard during the Gaudreau and Tkachuk sagas was the departed players’ desires for change and, particularly in Gaudreau’s case, to be closer to home.
Both Weegar and Huberdeau are Canadian — Huberdeau was born near Montreal, while Weegar is from Ottawa — and were quick to express their excitement about playing in their home country.
“It means the world to me,” Weegar said. “Canadian kid coming back to a Canadian market … that’s super cool. I really can’t explain it to you guys. Obviously, in Florida, the game’s trending upwards there, but here’s [there’s] lots of history with the Calgary Flames, I grew up watching them, obviously, quite a bit.
“The fans are gonna be crazy. It’s gonna be a lot different experience for me, so I’m looking forward to it, and joining the C of Red will be a great time.”
“Who doesn’t have a good time at the Stampede?” Huberdeau added. “You can see the vibe in the city. It’s pretty cool. When I went there I got dressed as a cowboy. It was a cool experience.”
The Panthers originally selected Huberdeau with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. Huberdeau wore No. 11 throughout his QMJHL career with the Saint John Sea Dogs and, later, as he became the Panthers’ all-time leading scorer.
In Calgary, those digits are taken by the Flames’ longest-tenured player, Mikael Backlund, who is a strong candidate to replace Mark Giordano as team captain going forward. (Expect Weegar to keep his common No. 52, which he wears as a nod to his cousin, long-time NHL defender Craig Rivet).
“Backlund is a veteran. He deserves to keep his number,” Huberdeau said. “I’ll change my number. I’ve been thinking about it a little bit. I haven’t made a decision yet. The team kind of asked me what I was going to wear, but we’ll see in the next couple days. I’ve got to talk to my family, I want to get a good number. I’ve always worn 11, so it’s gonna be tough to change.”
Huberdeau also took the time to talk about Elias Lindholm, a finalist for the 2022 Frank J. Selke Trophy and one of his potential new linemates with the Flames.
“Hopefully he can score 50 with me,” Huberdeau said, as Weegar laughed. “I’m a playmaker, and I try to set up the guys, try to make people better around me. Obviously, having him, he’s a guy that goes in the right spots and can get the puck and puts it in.”
Weegar expressed his excitement about joining a team that won a playoff round in 2022 and is aiming for more with the reigning Jack Adams Award winner, Darryl Sutter, behind the bench.
"They want to win and they want to win now. That's really important to me."
MacKenzie Weegar can't wait to get started with the #Flames 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LukBOw3b5T
“I’m excited to join this Calgary Flames team,” Weegar said. “They want to win now, and that’s really important to me. So I’m happy to be joining a team that’s right in the mix to win a Stanley Cup, and that’s what I’m most excited about.
“It’s been an extremely warm welcoming from the team and the staff, so it makes me feel comfortable and confident to join this really solid group.”