Panthers Send Huberdeau Back To SJ

The Florida Panthers assigned a whole lot of firepower back to the Saint John Sea Dogs today.

The Panthers announced this afternoon that Jonathan Huberdeau, their top pick in June’s National Hockey League Entry Draft, has been sent back to junior for another year of seasoning. The club had to sign him by Tuesday if they wished to play him in the NHL this season.

Huberdeau led the Panthers with three goals in the pre-season. He proved he is skilled enough to play the pro game but still isn’t big enough.

“It was really tempting,” said Panthers general manager Dale Tallon to the Florida Sun-Sentinel about the possibility of keeping the 18-year old.

“You have to make the decision that’s best for the long term, for the kid’s benefit and for our benefit. He’s 173 pounds, and I think in his heart, too, he knows he needs to get stronger. The discussion with him, his family, his agent on a regular basis the last week or so you can tell there’s a vulnerability there on the size, but we know we didn’t mess up in the draft, that’s for sure.”

Huberdeau agreed.

“It’s just precaution. I’m not big and don’t want to get hurt this year. It’s a marathon not a sprint, better to be here next year healthy and bigger.”

Huberdeau recorded 43 goals and 62 assists in 67 games with Saint John last year. In the playoffs he added 16 goals and 14 assists en route to helping the Sea Dogs win the President’s Cup and being named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's post-season Most Valuable Player.

He continued to dominate in the Memorial Cup where was named the MVP of the tournament.

Many of the goals he scored last season have to be considered some of the biggest in franchise history. He’s goal in the final seconds against Chicoutimi that kept the Sea Dogs' unbeaten-in-regulation-at-home record going, his game-tying goal in the final minute of Game Six in Gatineau, his overtime strike against Owen Sound and the marker that made it 3-1 in the Memorial Cup final against Mississauga were some of the most memorable moments of Saint John's incredible 2010-11 campaign.

Now, Sea Dogs fans will be looking for some more memorable moments with the team back together. Once missing 13 players due to NHL rookie and training camps, the Dogs can now get to work on trying to repeat as Memorial Cup champions.

Saint John should have one of the best offensive clubs in the country once again. The top line of Huberdeau, Zack Phillips and Stanislav Galiev was unreal last year. Add in drafted forwards Tomas Jurco, Ryan Tesink and Stephen MacAulay along with NHL camp attendees Danick Gauthier and Scott Oke and you’ve got a decent looking group of attackers.

Huberdeau’s return to junior is also good news for Hockey Canada who will surely be inviting him to World Junior camp this December.

The Sea Dogs, who are coming off an ugly 7-0 loss in Victoriaville, return to action Saturday at 7pm at Harbour Station when they host the Rimouski Oceanic.