The NHL rumour mill is on full-wing right now and new names appearing daily. Today a new name appeared and it’s a big one involving the Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk.
Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic reports that teams are calling the Flames on Matthew Tkachuk to feel them out if Tkachuk decides he doesn’t want to remain a Flame long-term.
Matthew Tkachuk Future with Flames Unknown
Johnny Gaudreau hasn’t given the Calgary Flames an answer on whether he will return or leave as an unrestricted free agent as per the latest reporting by Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic. His decision could influence Matthew Tkachuk’s plans. Tkachuk is a restricted free agent and is a year away from unrestricted free agency. LeBrun reports that Tkachuk’s team is waiting to see what happens with Gaudreau before finalizing their game-plan. The Flames want to sign him long-term, but if that’s not what Tkachuk wants, teams have started calling Calgary to feel them out on a potential trade.
Losing one of Johnny Gaudreau or Matthew Tkachuk would be a tough blow for the Flames. Losing both would be a disaster. Gaudreau has only played in Calgary during his eight-year career. In 602 games he has scored 609 points. At his best, he’s a 100-point player. He scored a career-high 115 points this season, tying him for second in the league scoring with Jonathan Huberdeau. Gaudreau also put up 99 points in the 2018-19 season. His brilliant playmaking skills elevate his teammates. Tkachuk scored a career-high 104 points this season with his previous career-high being 77. It’s unlikely Tkachuk can keep that 100-point pace, but he’s a high scoring forward that brings a unique skill-set of finesse, size and snarl.
Will Tkachuk Stay or Will He Go
LeBrun writes that it makes sense for Tkachuk to wait and see how much of a contender Calgary remains after the dust of free-agency clears. LeBrun also points out that he’s not sure there is a player out there that matches Gaudreau’s impact, so if he signs elsewhere, it leaves a big hole for the Flames. There are a few top-six forwards available, but Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk were elevated this year by Gaudreau’s play and playmaking ability. Unless they land Claude Giroux and he turns back the clock a bit, there doesn’t appear to be an elite playmaker available. Without Gaudreau, the Flames have enough offensive talent to be good, but not great.
This situation could easily give Tkachuk reason to sign short-term with Calgary to assess his future. After he signs his upcoming contract, he will be eligible to sign his next one as an unrestricted free agent. The Flames can’t afford to let Gaudreau and Tkachuk walk for nothing, and that’s where trading him becomes a possibility. There certainly won’t be a shortage of suitors for a big, talented, 24-year-old left-winger with a serious mean streak.
The offer reported by Sportnet’s Elliotte Freidman for Gaudreau by the Flames is an eight-year deal with a cap hit of $9.5 million with room to move. If he signs it then that changes things. Matthew Tkachuk scored 11 fewer points than Gaudreau this year but brings that unique size and power forward element to his game. He can’t ask for the same amount as Gaudreau, but $9 million or more is realistic. That’s a lot of money but Sean Monahan‘s $6.375 cap hit and Milan Lucic‘s $5.25 million cap hit are coming off the books next season. That should bring some relief.
NHL’s top offer-sheet candidates in 2022: Matthew Tkachuk, Rasmus Sandin and more https://t.co/FV7TjPaW2Q
— The Athletic New York (@TheAthleticNYC) June 30, 2022
