Jonathan Huberdeau

Growing up in Saint‑Jérôme, Jonathan Huberdeau spent his teenage years sharpening a bilingual, North American path to the NHL; winter trips to Florida and attending an anglophone school were part of that preparation. He rose through Midget AAA with the Ste.‑Eustache Vikings, leading that league in 2008–09 before being taken 18th overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2009 QMJHL draft.

His junior tenure was defined by steady ascent: a goal in his first QMJHL outing, the leading scorer among 16‑year‑olds in 2009–10 and recognition as scholastic player of the month in January 2010. The 2010–11 season was a breakout—43 goals and 62 assists in 67 games—and the Sea Dogs captured both the QMJHL title and the 2011 Memorial Cup. Huberdeau was instrumental in the Memorial Cup final (a goal and an assist), earned the Stafford Smythe Trophy as tournament MVP and a place on the all‑star team.

Selected third overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Huberdeau made his impact at the NHL level in 2012–13, scoring in his debut and remaining with Florida for the full season—an effort that won him the Calder Memorial Trophy. Over ten seasons with the Panthers he developed into the franchise’s top playmaker, surpassing Stephen Weiss as the team’s all‑time assists leader in 2019 and setting the NHL single‑season assists mark for a left winger with 71 in 2021–22. Florida signed him to a six‑year, US$35.4 million pact in 2016, and he reached 100 points in 2021–22, scoring the overtime goal that secured that milestone.

On 22 July 2022, Huberdeau was traded to the Calgary Flames in the multi‑player deal that sent Matthew Tkachuk to Florida. Shortly after, he agreed to an eight‑year, US$84 million extension with Calgary—an AAV of US$10.5 million and the largest contract in Flames history. His point totals fell sharply in 2022–23 (115 to 55), then to 52 in 2023–24, before climbing to 62 in 2024–25. A hip operation announced on 5 February 2026 ended his 2025–26 campaign; through 50 games he had registered 10 goals and 15 assists.

Internationally, Huberdeau represented Team Quebec at the 2010 World U‑17 Hockey Challenge (2 goals, 1 assist in five games), helped Canada to gold at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka with three assists, and played at the 2012 World Junior Championship, contributing notably with 1 goal and 4 assists in Canada’s opening win over Finland. His game is defined by playmaking instincts: vision, passing and a knack for generating offence.