Jonathan Huberdeau’s disastrous 2025-26 season has come to an end. The Calgary Flames announced on Thursday that the 32-year-old will undergo hip resurfacing surgery following the Olympic break. He is expected to make a full recovery and is expected to be ready to rock for the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
There is no hiding the fact that the 2025-26 season was a disaster for Huberdeau. While his entire Flames tenure has been disappointing, he was appearing to take strides in the right direction in 2024-25, a season which saw him score 28 goals and 62 points.
Related: Flames’ Nazem Kadri Open to Trade: Where Could He Land?
This season was far different, as Huberdeau was producing at the worst rate of his career. In the 50 games he was able to dress, he scored just 10 goals and 25 points. That had him on pace to register just 41 points over a full 82-game schedule.
Given that he commands a massive $10.5 million per season, you can understand why Flames fans have been hard on Huberdeau. He hasn’t come anywhere close to living up to the extension he signed shortly after being traded to Calgary, looking like a shadow of his once elite point-producing self. That said, comments from general manager (GM) Craig Conroy on Thursday prove that the lack of results, particularly this season, were not due to a lack of effort whatsoever.
Huberdeau Has Been Hurting All Season
Though this surgery announcement came as a surprise to media and fans alike, it didn’t come as any sort of shock to the organization. It sounds as though this injury has been plaguing Huberdeau all season long, but he attempted to gut through it until he simply could not do so anymore.
“After extensive evaluation, this was determined to be the best course of action for Jonathan’s long-term health and performance,” Conroy said. “While it is difficult to lose a player of his calibre, our priority is ensuring he is fully healthy moving forward. Huberdeau has been managing hip-related symptoms throughout the season. The decision to proceed with surgery was made in collaboration with Jonathan, his representative, our medical staff, and specialists to support his long-term well being.”
Conroy also revealed that Huberdeau had been getting injections throughout the entire season as he tried to limit his pain as best as possible.
The fact that Huberdeau was gutting things out this long is quite impressive, and shows just how much he cares. Even more impressive is the fact that he never once complained or made any sort of comment about being at less than 100 per cent. That is quite remarkable given all the bashing he’s been forced to take from plenty of Flames fans due to his less-than-ideal contract.
Could a Bounce Back Be in Store?
The silver lining in all of this is that it shows Huberdeau may not be over the hill as bad as feared this season. Nobody expects him to get back to the 115-point player he was in 2021-22 as a member of the Florida Panthers, but the hope was that he could continue to put up similar stats as he did in 2024-25. His poor showing in 2025-26 now appears to have been in large part due to the injury he was battling.
It also says plenty about Huberdeau that he was willing to go out and compete each and every night despite being far less than 100 per cent. Though taking massive criticism for his struggles, he went out every night and tried to gut through it. It goes to show just how much character and pride he has.
Related: Calgary Flames Retired Numbers
Though his play since arriving in Calgary has certainly been frustrating, playing through such an injury should show Flames fans that his struggles aren’t due to a lack of effort. While his contract is a burden, the fact that he was willing to go out and give his teammates and the organization everything he had on a nightly basis in a season with such low expectations should go a long way in earning him respect from this Flames fanbase.
