Although he's skating on his own and working out off the ice, Huberdeau needs more time before he can take part in practices in anticipation of returning to game action.
"It's hard because they cut a lot of muscles in there when they (did) the surgery, so I think it's just to kind of reactivate everything in the right way," Huberdeau said. "I think there's progress every day in the gym and on the ice as well, so I think I'm not that far.
"I'm staying positive. I just want to come back and feel like myself and feel good and I know I'm in the right direction. It's been going really well. I think just taking a little bit more time and make sure everything is all good."
Citing Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane as an example, Flames general manager Craig Conroy said he expected it to take 7-9 months for Huberdeau to recover from the surgery.
Kane had hip resurfacing surgery June 1, 2023, and played his first game back Dec. 7, 2023.
"A guy like Patrick Kane, I think it was (six) months, and that's worked really well," Conroy said. “We were hoping for the early side of it, but it might be a little longer, so we'll just wait and see. It’s going to come down to when he feels ready, but I do want him to be 100 percent. It's a major surgery and I want him to feel comfortable going on the ice, because it's the NHL. It's going to be fast and physical."
Only after continued consultation with Calgary's medical staff and Huberdeau will the Flames determine when the time is right for a return to action.
"He's going to skate on his own and then we'll integrate him in as we go," Conroy said. "I mean, I think he wants to, but we've got to make sure we do what's right for him long term, not just the start of the season here."
Calgary coach Ryan Huska has been encouraged with what he's seen from Huberdeau, who had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 50 games last season; he didn't play after Feb. 4.
"I think he looks great," Huska said. "When he's on the ice right now, he's able to do everything that's asked of him. He's doing everything and more in the gym right now.
"It's just part of the process that he's continuing to work his way back to feel comfortable enough to get himself back full time and that's a process for him mentally, physically, all the things. We have a great plan for him moving forward and he'll be up and running with our team sooner than later."
Calgary captain Mikael Backlund empathizes with the challenge Huberdeau is facing.
"I remember when I missed the start of the season a couple times," Backlund said. "It's never easy, I don't think, for any player to come in later in the season. We're going to have to give him some time when he comes back, but I know he's really excited to eventually come back and be part of team and help us win games."
Entering his fifth season with the Flames and 15th in the NHL, Huberdeau's leadership and experience is especially valuable as the Flames are trying to develop a core of younger players in a quest to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022.
"It's his presence, just the way he handles everything," forward Matt Coronato, 23, said. "He pulls guys along with him, so positive during games, in between periods. He's so good with the media answering questions, but especially for me in my last couple of years before this being younger, he really just takes young guys and makes them feel part of the team right away. He just has a way of doing that, whether it be taking them out to dinner or whatever it is, he has a special way about it."
NHL.com senior director of editorial Shawn P. Roarke contributed to this report
