While it’s easy to root for certain players and against others when your favorite team is out of the running for the Stanley Cup, it’s also hard not to feel a tinge of jealousy. There’s always a selfish desire among sports fans for their team to win it all constantly. That’s the thrill of competition and why sports mean so much to so many people—winning matters. And even for Calgary Flames fans who enjoyed seeing Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Ryan Lomberg win the greatest trophy in all of sports, it’s hard not to feel even semi-jealous given the current state of the roster.

But it’s not just fans that have that feeling. For players, that feeling is amplified, especially when you’re a player who was involved in one of the biggest trades in recent history, all for the direction of the team you were traded to trend down while the team you left trended up.

In a recent interview with La Presse, Jonathan Huberdeau made some comments regarding his time with the Panthers and Flames. He mainly focused on the differences in attitude toward winning and rebuilding at different ages and also a bit on how it’s a tough gig watching other players win the Stanley Cup for the team you used to play for.

“It’s hard to see the guys lift the Cup,” Huberdeau said. “You say to yourself: I was there for 10 years during more difficult times. But that’s how you build a team. When you’re young, you don’t care; you want to build your career. Now I’m back in that situation, but a little older.”

Rebuilding is hard for everyone involved, but for many franchises, including the Flames at this very moment, it’s necessary to try and establish a core of players that can lead the team back to the promised land. Unfortunately, though, the older players on the squad, especially those who don’t have contracts that can be moved easily due to clauses or the sheer amount of money being given to them every year, have to deal with the reality that the team isn’t going to be very good for years to come. Time isn’t unlimited, especially in professional sports. For a player like Huberdeau, who is in his early 30s and looking to win a Stanley Cup, the future isn’t as promising as it was with his former Florida team.

“It’s never fun to be in reconstruction,” Huberdeau said. “When you are young, you can learn [and] gain maturity. You have time. But at 31, you want to win, and you want to win there. It’s harder to swallow, but you have to accept your role 100%.”

Winning a championship is the ultimate goal in every sport, and even though Huberdeau has struggled with the Flames after signing his hefty contract and being moved, winning the trophy is still his top goal. But it’s going to be a few years before that goal comes into the picture more clearly, and the Flames have a team that can compete for the playoffs, let alone win the whole thing.