Despite their recent two-game losing streak, the Calgary Flames woke up today still comfortably in first place in the Pacific Division, four points ahead of both the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. The team is also tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the best goal differential in the entire Western Conference, and have bought themselves some time to slowly assess their roster heading into 2019. When looking at their contract situation though, one name sticks out as a pending free agent. Matthew Tkachuk will reach restricted free agency for the first time at the end of this season, and Flames GM Brad Treliving made it quite clear to TSN’s Jermain Franklin that a re-signing the young forward is a focus:
Matthew is a terrific player. He’s on the last year of his contract. We’ve said all along, our goal is to get him signed obviously before the start of next season. Nothing’s changed in that regard, we’re going to continue to see if we can’t get something done. Both Matthew and us know the most important thing right now is the play on the ice of the team, and Matthew’s play. We’re trying to limit any distractions so that the sole focus can stay on the games ahead of us, but certainly it’s priority one for us to get him signed to a new contract, and we will.
Tkachuk, 21, is one of a number of talented players coming up on restricted free agency at the end of the year, and could very well wait to see what his contemporaries sign for before putting ink to paper. The entire league just watched a long negotiation between the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander result in a hefty long-term contract, and most will want to avoid that type of situation. While Tkachuk’s first two seasons didn’t have the same sort of offensive totals that Nylander did, he’s off to an outstanding start in the first half of 2018-19 and could very well set his asking price extremely high.
The physical, talented winger was selected sixth overall in 2016 and had an immediate impact for the Flames, recording 13 goals and 48 points as a rookie. His total increased by just a single point in his sophomore season due to playing just 68 games, but this year Tkachuk already has 41 points in his first 36 games. That kind of output could very well put him in another category of contract, one that the Flames will have to carefully plan over the coming months.
While he may call it a priority, it’s also important to note that Treliving and the Flames have never rushed before in their contract negotiations. Johnny Gaudreau inked his second contract on October 10th, 2016, just two days before the season began and Sam Bennett waited until September 2017 to sign his two-year bridge deal. Perhaps the team will want to avoid that delay with Tkachuk, but won’t put themselves in a place to get pushed around given that they don’t have unlimited cap space going forward. The team already has over $67MM in commitments for next season, which doesn’t include a new deal for Bennett or an extension for one of their current goaltenders.
Woah, the flamers WANT TO KEEP a Boston based area kid? Who would have thunk it?
Ya don’t say they want to resign their 3rd best forward what a shocker
Ok that’s a weird comment…? Tkachuk is actually from St. Louis. If you are referring to Johnny Hockey…well he’s closer to Phili maybe for a Metropolas (Salem, NJ). Actually, the only known name from the Flames I know of from the Boston area is Hanifin, and he’s new. Can you enlighten me on this, cuz I’m confused lol.
Gaudreau has ties to Boston because he went to Boston College. Tkachuk’s dad is from the Boston area. That’s his only tie to Boston. He was actually born in Arizona.
Hey teams aren’t allowed keeping players unless they’re actually from that particular city
Whole father’s side of the family is from MA, he played for the Bruins extensively. As such, his kids spent much of their lives there, not hard to hit google, but happy to help. lol
True lord, he wasn’t actually born in MA, but obviously spent a portion of his life there from what I’ve read.
Just to clarify, Keith Tkzchuk never got to play professionally for the Bruins in the NHL. Didn’t want to indicate that he had. He just lived there.
Kieth Tkachuk has never played for the Bruins, so I don’t know where this is coming from. Matthew was born in Arizona yes, but grew up in the St. Louis area where his dad still resides today. I wasn’t commenting about where his dad grew up, I was commenting about where Matthew grew up. When Matthew goes East, it’s considered a homecoming when he hits St. Louis…not Boston. I don’t need to google him cuz I watch and follow him intently in my own back yard (Calgary). Maybe you need to use google once in awhile just to keep up with what you are trying to put down.
This is just plain ignorant
Yeah Lord I guess you’re right. So we should say that Matthew has ties to Toronto then, cuz he played juniors in London ON? I get the ignorance on this.