Top Florida Panthers 2011 Entry Draft pick Jonathan Huberdeau sent back to minors -NHL News Update
Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers top 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft pick certainly did not fail to impress the struggling teams’ management throughout the preseason but according to them, it was not enough and they want to allow him to
grow by sending the 18-year-old back into the minor leagues on Monday, October 10, 2011.
For Florida, it was a tough decision to make since the rookie led the team in scoring during their exhibition matchups but keeping him on the NHL would mean stunting his growth as a player.
"He made that an extremely tough decision for us, given his maturity as a person and his play", Florida head coach, Kevin Dineen, said of Huberdeau, before adding, "At this time, he still has some physical maturing to do and that is better suited at the
junior level".
Huberdeau participated in five preseason contests with Florida Panthers as their top prospect player and potted four points, of which three were goals on power plays, something which proved him to be a performer that could take advantage of opportunities
if given them.
According to Florida Panthers general manager, Dale Tallon, it was tough, but the decision will benefit him in the long run.
"It was tempting -- really tempting", said Panthers General Manager, Dale Tallon. "But you've got to make the decision that's best long-term, for the kid's benefit and our benefit. You could tell there's a vulnerability as far as the size, but we know we
didn't mess up on the draft, that's for sure”.
Now that Jonathan Huberdeau has been relieved of his duties in the NHL, he will be returning to his junior team, Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Being picked as the third overall during round-one of the previous entry draft, Huberdeau has a lot of ability and talent, which needs to be polished of before he can pursue his career in the major leagues, something that is possible only by playing again
in the minor leagues.
Ranking third overall in the QMJHL last season, returning back to the NHL for the 2012-2013 season will be a feat not hard to achieve for the Saint-jerome, Quebec native.
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