Huberdeau Hits Setback, Season-Opener Status In Doubt For Flames Winger
Flames GM Craig Conroy says Jonathan Huberdeau suffered a skating setback in his hip surgery recovery, clouding his readiness for the season opener.
Jonathan Huberdeau's timeline for getting back on the ice just got murkier.
Flames general manager Craig Conroy told Jock Wilson on QR770 in Calgary on Tuesday that Huberdeau hit a setback in his recovery from hip resurfacing surgery. Conroy said it happened roughly two weeks ago and was specific to skating, not his overall conditioning.
"I think this is a major surgery, so he had a little bit of a setback, maybe two weeks ago, with his skating," Conroy said. "We just want to make sure we do the right thing for him. If it is to take a little bit more time, and have him 100 per cent feeling good about the hip, that's what we're going to do."
Conroy added that Huberdeau's gym work has remained strong, but the team wants to be cautious before clearing him for contact. "It's still on his schedule," Conroy said. "We're not going to rush him into something, but we feel at the beginning of the year, he's going to be pretty close. It's just when, we're not 100 per cent sure of yet."
Huberdeau was shut down in late January as Calgary fell out of playoff contention, dealing with hip pain he had played through much of the season. He underwent the resurfacing procedure in March. He finished the 2025-26 season with 10 goals and 15 assists in 50 games.
Huberdeau signed an eight-year, $84 million extension with the Flames in August 2022, carrying a $10.5 million cap hit and running through the 2030-31 season. The Flames are scheduled to open the 2026-27 season on October 1 against the Seattle Kraken at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
