'It's awesome' | Calgary Flames

NEWARK – It looks like his good friend Jacob Pelletier will have to do some hard work to get an endorsement deal.

“I've seen it,” Pelletier laughed in a late-night Instagram clip promoting Jonathan Huberdeau's own line of “performance fuel.” “He said he could offer me a package.

“Only one.

“I hope sowhat ever.”

Pelletier isn't too concerned with any freebies right now.

As his mentor prepares to play his 800th career game tonight as the Flames face the New Jersey Devils, there's no wonder how the 11-year vet got here.

And taking care of his body is the reason.

“It's amazing,” Pelletier said of the milestone. “There aren't many players who play that long, so for me I look at what he's done, how he prepares before the game, during the game and after the game, and as a young player you try to absorb all that. as high as possible. You look at it from the ice and you see what's inside and you learn a lot.”

Pelletier may have the most intimate knowledge of what makes Huberdeau such a special case.

Growing up in Quebec, he was the guy everyone loved — and in 2011, fresh off a 105-point season with the St. John Sea Dogs, the legend grew by nine years. old dreamer.

“She was disease“, he was surprised. “I remember watching him play when he was in junior high and I was like, ‘Whoah! You can see his skill and work ethic.

“It was different.

“It was unbelievable.

“I think when people think of Huby, they think he's basically a skill player. But what he does off the ice is crazy.”

Huberdeau has 697 points (220G, 477) in 799 career innings, including 84 points (22G, 62A) with the Flames.

It hasn't always been easy since he bought the Florida Panthers in July 22, but his raw talent — along with his undeniable passion for the game — has been on full display recently.

The 30-year-old is coming off a terrific three-point effort against the Bruins and seems to have found immediate chemistry with rookie Andriy Kuzmenko.

“When you think about it, you don't know how your career is going to go, but it's pretty cool, that's the number,” Huberdeau said after the morning skate in Jersey. “Eight hundred is great, but it's getting close. 1000 (and) that's your goal.

“I'm grateful to be able to play this game, this passion, and to be able to do it every day of your life.”

“It's a big night,” added head coach Ryan Huska. “When you consider what it's like to be an NHL player and the challenges that come with it, 800 games is no small feat. He should be very proud, but I feel like his game is starting to go in the right direction.”