Huberdeau talks new Panthers coach Maurice, career season with NHL.com

In NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down with …" we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. In this special Stanley Cup Playoffs edition, we feature Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who finished tied for second in the NHL with 115 points and led the League with 85 assists this season.

LAVAL, Quebec -- The NHL offseason is always a time of change. For the Florida Panthers, they have a new coach, with Paul Maurice replacing Andrew Brunette one month after they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Second Round.
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau said he's excited to play for Maurice.
"I think it's never easy to say goodbye to your coach," Huberdeau said. "Brunette did a tremendous job this year too but adding Paul is just going to be, can't wait to talk to him, see his philosophy and, obviously, the way he was running the] Winnipeg [Jets as Panthers coach. Your thoughts on him and what he brings as a coach?
"Obviously, he has a lot of experience. I think it's going to help us next year. I think you need experience."
He was a coach for Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Championship when you played for the team. What do you remember from that experience?
"He was an assistant coach, but he was pretty calm. I think he's a great coach that can talk real well and [give] great speeches and stuff. I'm going to ask around and see how he is. Obviously, we always want to get feedback, but I heard just good things about him."
How important is it to have an experienced coach in the NHL?
"It is important, especially with our team. We're a little younger and, obviously, we learned a lot this year. We have veteran leadership. We have the same core, so I think he can come in and help us and the assistant coach too, but I think, obviously it's a guy that's going to help … a lot of experience. It shows. I think Paul is going to do the same thing with us [as previous coaches with experience]."
You're a couple of weeks now removed from playing. What are your general thoughts on how things went this season?**
"I mean, obviously, we had a great year. We learned a lot. Obviously, playoffs didn't end how we wanted but I feel now we know we're a playoff team. This year, we made the playoffs, lost [in the] second round -- at least we won a first round (against the Washington Capitals in six games) in a while for the organization -- and I think that can just help us. Next year we'll come back, we're more confident. … We know we can get into the playoffs and get a good spot and after that, it's just playing with more details, you know, be a better team in the playoffs."

There is always a conversation about it being a learning process, to learn to face adversity and to power through, kind of how the Tampa Bay Lightning have done so. How important was it for your team, considering you have a younger team, to make the playoffs, win a round, face adversity and now moving into the new season?
"I feel every team goes through that. You see Tampa [Bay] get swept by Columbus [Blue Jackets], won two straight [Stanley Cup titles] after. Sometimes you need something like that to happen, to like, add more confidence to you. I feel like we're playing on our heels a little bit and you don't play with as much confidence and you see Tampa, they play with confidence. They don't care. … They won two [Cup titles] in a row and you can tell. They're playing, they block shots, the details, [Andrei] Vasilevskiy is a great goalie and that's all you got to do. A lot of it is details. That's what we've got to do."
For you personally, you had a career year and were on a number of ballots for the Hart Trophy, voted to the NHL player voted most valuable to his team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Looking back, what are your thoughts on your season?
"A hell of a year for me, I can't ask for more. I played well. I was consistent and I was a good leader. But obviously, it was just the way I learned a lot in the playoffs. I didn't play my best hockey (five points; one goal, four assists in 10 postseason games), but I think, obviously, it's always harder in the playoffs and you've got to learn from that and you've got to deal with it, too. When you get in the playoffs it's never ... it's not always going to go your way. And then next year, just going to be a better, better player. And I want to keep going with what I did this year and keep it going in the playoffs as well."