Jonathan Huberdeau's agent gets candid about the Florida Panthers and why he felt disrespected
Allan Walsh is a player agent to some of the biggest names in the NHL. His client list includes Max Pacioretty, Jonathan Drouin, David Perron, and most famously Marc-Andre Fleury.
He has always stood up for his players when team management has unfairly treated one of his own clients. Now he's sticking up for Jonathan Huberdeau and how the Florida Panthers blindsided their star player by trading him.
And that's the way we left it. So, imagine Jonathan's surprise getting a call at 11pm on Friday last week, letting him know "Thank you very much for everything, but you've been traded to Calgary."
Allan Walsh was Wednesday's guest on the "Agent Provocateur" podcast. When he was asked if there were any contract extension talks with Florida before the trade. He was honest and said yes there were. Walsh and Florida general manager Bill Zito had a discussion at the draft and Zito told Walsh he would send an offer for a contract extension after free agency slowed down. Walsh and Huberdeau were led to believe that Huberdeau was a very important piece to the Panthers and would be there long term. So everyone was shocked when Huberdeau was traded to Calgary.
At the time of the NHL Entry Draft there were no talks about Matthew Tkachuk being traded so this may all be true. Johnny Gaudreau wasn't expected to go to Columbus at that time either. It just shows how fast during the off-season a franchise can completely change its direction.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531807.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
