Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

‘I’ve been digging a hole': Huberdeau responds to benching vs. Isles

Jonathan Huberdeau

FILE - In this Saturday, March 30, 2013 file photo, Florida Panthers’ Jonathan Huberdeau celebrates the Panthers’ first goal of the game against the New Jersey Devils during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Sunrise, Fla. Montreal Canadiens right-winger Brendan Gallagher, Huberdeau and Chicago Blackhawks left-winger Brandon Saad were named finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy on Monday, May 6, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File)

AP

Reigning Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau was parked for the final 17:22 of Florida’s 4-2 win over the Islanders on Tuesday, and acknowledged he saw the move coming.

“I understood why [head coach Peter Horachek] didn’t want me on the ice,” Huberdeau said, per the Florida Sun-Sentinel. “It’s a learning process.

“I’ve been digging a hole, being negative all the time. I just need to keep positive. It’s good that the team is winning.’'

Huberdeau, goalless in his last 14 games, had a rough outing against New York, taking a pair of penalties and turning over a puck that led to Thomas Vanek’s third-period marker.

The 20-year-old center is suffering through a sophomore slump, and his production has fallen off considerably. He won the Calder on the strength of 31 points through the lockout-shortened ’13 campaign but, with just 17 points through 44 games this year, is on pace for 31 again this season -- over an 82-game schedule, not 48.

Horachek said the only way Huberdeau was going to see more minutes was through added effort.

"[Huberdeau’s] time is earned, right now he’s going through a tough time,” he explained. “We’re asking him to work harder because he’s feeling the pressure of not scoring.’'