Using his elite passing skills to pile up points, Huberdeau's 85 assists were not only the most by any player in the NHL this season, but also the most-ever a left winger in the history of the NHL.
"My vision has always been my strength my whole career," Huberdeau said of his playmaking. "You get better and better every year. I try to work on vision stuff before games. I'm not the fastest guy out there, but I think I use the toolbox I have -- my vision and my passing skills."
Never going more than two games without a point, Huberdeau ranked second on the Panthers in multi-point performances, including five games with at least four points. Feeding off the crowd at FLA Live Arena, he accumulated a franchise-record 71 points (17 goals, 54 assists) at home.
Spending the majority of the season playing alongside Sam Bennett on the second line, the duo picked up right where they left off in 2020-21. During the 334:55 they shared the ice together at 5-on-5, the Panthers led 360-245 in shot attempts and 23-15 in goals, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
Of Bennett's 28 goals, 12 were assisted by Huberdeau.
"His playmaking abilities, his ability to find plays that no one would be able to make or see, he does that like no one else I've ever seen," Bennett said of his linemate. "I think one thing that really separates him from a lot of other really good playmakers is just his [high] compete level."
Named one of the NHL's "Three Stars of the Week" three times, Huberdeau was also honored as the league's "First Star of the Month" in January after posting 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) over 15 games to help the surging Panthers set a new franchise mark for wins in a month (12).
In February, Huberdeau represented Florida at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game.
"I think he's been unbelievable," Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said of his longtime teammate. "He's been leading this team the whole season. No nights off at all. He's just really solid every time he shows up. It's incredible how good he is and how he does those things."
In addition to tearing up the opposition at even strength, Huberdeau, doing most of his damage operating from the left circle, led the Panthers with 38 power-play points (five goals, 33 assists), which placed him just one point behind Keith Yandle (39, 2018-19) for the most in club history.
Taking on a brand-new responsibility, Huberdeau saw plenty of time on the penalty kill as well. After finishing with 1:08 of shorthanded ice time in 2020-21, he ranked third on the Panthers in minutes (146:28) and second in both goals (3) and points (tied-5) on the penalty kill this season. When asked about this new role, he believed it had a positive effect on his all-around game.
"I'd never really done penalty killing, but it's fun," said Huberdeau, who was typically paired with Eetu Luostarinen up front on the PK. "You get more chances with that to take advantage of."
Helping the Panthers advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1996, Huberdeau recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in 10 postseason games." Finally we're rewarded," he said after beating the Capitals in Round 1. "Guys played hard all series long."
Already the franchise's all-time leader in points (613), assists (415) and games played (671), Huberdeau will continue to pad those numbers as the Panthers look to build off their strong season by taking another big step and making an even deeper postseason run in 2022-23.
"Huby is one of the most patient superstars in the entire league," Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said back in January. "I think his ability to make plays is unmatched. … His ability on the ice is truly incredible. It's fun to be on the ice with him at all times because you might be on the end of one of those silky passes. … He's an all-star, a superstar and an MVP in this league."