6:12 pm: Sportsnet’s Eric Francis contested the reported list of teams that Tkachuk will sign a long-term extension with, saying the trade list of St. Louis, Vegas, Florida, Nashville, and Dallas is “not accurate”.
1:16 pm: What has been apparent for a while is now official, as Matthew Tkachuk has told the Calgary Flames that he will not sign a long-term contract, according to Jeremy Rutherford and Hailey Salvian of The Athletic. The report indicates that a trade is “likely to happen soon” and that Tkachuk has provided the team with a list of where he would agree to a long-term extension.
According to The Athletic, that list includes the St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars, with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers also expressing interest in the past.
The Flames filed for salary arbitration earlier this week, taking the threat of an offer sheet off the table and giving them some time to potentially work out an extension, or trade the restricted free agent before he accepted his $9.0MM qualifying offer. It appears to be the latter, as an arbitration award would only take Tkachuk directly to unrestricted free agency a year from now, allowing him to take his services wherever he wanted without the Flames receiving anything in return.
After losing Johnny Gaudreau last week, Calgary must cash in the Tkachuk chip before they run out of time. While that doesn’t necessarily need to be right now, allowing Tkachuk to work out a long-term deal with an acquiring club would likely maximize the return for the Flames.
Like Gaudreau, Tkachuk is coming off a massive career-best season, where he notched 42 goals and 104 points while playing in all 82 games. He received Hart and Selke trophy votes, was named a second-team All-Star, and finished eighth in league scoring. With Tkachuk part of arguably the best line in the NHL alongside Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm, the Flames outscored teams 108-49 with him on the ice at even-strength.
Still just 24, he is a year away from unrestricted free agency due to how quickly he entered the NHL. After being the sixth-overall pick in 2016, he jumped right into the league and scored 48 points as a rookie. Now through six seasons, he has 152 goals and 382 points in 431 games, with nearly 600 hits.
This is the kind of franchise-altering talent that almost never gets to the open market and one that is worth mortgaging some of your future for in a trade package. Tkachuk’s overall impact on the game can be felt in several ways, and he could help a contender looking for the edge, or a younger squad hoping to add some rocket fuel to their rebuild.
Where this leaves the Flames on that spectrum isn’t exactly clear. If they do part ways with Gaudreau and Tkachuk in the span of a few weeks, the entire core of their offensive attack has essentially disappeared. While Lindholm is an excellent player on an outstanding contract, Blake Coleman adds versatility and experience to the middle-six, and Andrew Mangiapane has expressed a desire to be part of the long-term solution, it’s hard to know if that is really enough to stay competitive.
A decision that front should inform any potential return, and whether the Flames would then dive into what’s left in free agency to try and give themselves a boost for next season. With only Coleman, Rasmus Andersson, and Jacob Markstrom signed for more than two years, there would at least be an opportunity for a rebuild, if the team wanted. But with so many complementary pieces in place on reasonable deals, it’s hard to see general manager Brad Treliving tearing it down at this point.
Either way, while Flames fans will be frustrated with Tkachuk’s unwillingness to stay, they can at least be happy that he told them early enough to still land a substantial trade package in return.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Hes either in Vegas or St Louis for sure.
Vegas is willing to wheel and deal anyone/everyone on a constant stream and St Louis cuzza his papa
Cap wise the blues would have to send back tarasenko or Krug. I’d say binnington but then we would have no starting goalie. Like to see scandella go the other way but him by his self won’t be enough cap and he has neutral to negative value because of his contract
Seems pretty do-able, honestly, if Calgary is interested. If the Blues did it and locked up both Tkachuk and Kyrou, you’d have a pretty solid line locked up long term throughout their prime.
Except Kyrou is likely going to other way as part of the package.
Can’t see them including Kyrou in a trade package to get one year of Tkachuk at $9m before he would hit the UFA market anyway. I think they’re more likely to include some established, older players (your Tanks or Krugs) and a high end prospect or two.
That’s why he gave a list of teams he’d be willing to sign an extension with. Presumably, any trade comes with an extension. In that case, Kyrou would almost certainly need to be involved.
Either way, the trade package, and therefore the team, will ultimately be dictated by what the Flames are attempting. Are they trying to stay competitive, or are they rebuilding? Either way, I’m excited to read the comments on here. ‘How about these six healthy scratches I don’t like and a seventh round pick!?’
if a team is trading for him now, it’s gotta be sure he signs long-term.
kyrou likely heads to Calgary with a pick and prospect and tkachuk signs a max extension.
Yeah, I know Tkachuk would sign an extension if traded. But I don’t see why, from the Blues perspective, you would give up an asset like Kyrou just to sign someone at market value. It’d be one thing if he was still 2-3 years away from UFA and you were getting some discount seasons, but you’re going to pay 100 cents on the dollar.
By no means am i suggesting Calgary would take just tarasenko or Krug, that would be delusional, but they would have to take one or the other in addition to other things for a trade to work due to cap constraints
If Kyrou is not involved in this then pass..Who says you only get one year of Tkachuk..If he is traded then make sure you have a long term deal in place. That is smart management…
I’m saying you only get one year of, arguably, below-market-value talent. You’re basically trading for negotiating rights. The idea that you would trade a 24 year-old All-Star AND an established vet (to clear some cap room) AND (a) prospect(s) AND (a) draft pick(s) for negotiating rights to a player that’s going to cost 12% of the cap is insane.
Tkachuk is already making $9M and with his qualifying offer signed he cannot make less than that.
Yeah, I don’t even think you’re getting any discount this season. If he was a UFA now maybe he gets $10m, but $9m is pretty close to market value already.
The reason why you make that trade is because he immediately becomes the best player on your team, and that’s also why the Flames can justifiably ask for the moon and stars.
Only problem is the Flames have absolutely no leverage now in trade talks. Teams know he has to be traded or they lose him for nothing so the offers may not be great
that logic is flawed (though common). it’s not like he is a bottom 6 forward. he’s arguably a top 60 talent in the league. if a team thinks they can play the waiting game, they will lose because 6-7 other teams also want him.
I’m honestly confused by some of these comments. Tkachuk has plenty of value. He’s a 24 year old player coming off a 100+ point season. Any team trading for him would probably have a long term deal in place, before acquiring him.
Preemptive strike here – Some of the membership here *might* end up acknowledging Eric Francis’ blind squirrel moment. I’m not his biggest fan, but he might have this one right.
My guess is St. Louis, though I’d love to see him as a Ranger.
Would be great in NY but no way they can make it happen with flat cap. Would have to move Trouba and his money and then give up a ton of assets. Better to stay the course.
I’d be fine either way, these are my two favorite teams.
Lindgren, Goodrow, Chityl, Kakko =9m+
Kreider and Miller. And if Calgary goes out and signs Kadri, they’re back in it. Rangers get the goal production with some grit to go along with it.
Definitely Stars
Tarasenko, Saad and a first…if you can extend Tarasenko.
The Blues would have to clean out a lot of salary so it’s not that much of an ask from them, but it does fill CGY’s holes.
Sad thing is, he would play for the Preds, but he’s not a Dman so Poile would have no interest in acquiring him. :/
@Gbear – Hynes can convert him! Kind of like rewiring 120V to be 240V, complete with fire protection, “just in case.” :)
Hynes has to first convert Poile that forwards are just Dmen who play in the other zone. Tough sell, but worth a try. :D
Fresh off the wire on Tkachuck
link to youtube.com
Buchnevich or Tarasenko extended, Kyrou, Perunovich and 2023 1st
Ridiculous.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No.
I will have what ever you are smoking…lol
…..
We’re talking about Matthew Tkachuk, not a 21 year old Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky. Tkachuk’s an elite talent, but let’s get a grip.
Tomorrow’s headline! Calgary goes up In Flames.
Johnny Z Is delusional With his trade scenario.
He played in all 56 games and got 104 points. That insane! Haha.
Ha, whoops. My next point was going to be about his durability so far, and the 56 from 2020-21 must have slipped in there. Fixed.
Laine for Tkachuk straight up.
This SHOULD lead to a rebuild. Trading Tkachuk is essentially waving the flag on this team. Trading Tkachuk for far worse and older players like Tarasenko and Krug makes no sense. The Flames are better off using Tkachuk to restock, and should probably extend to players like Lindholm, Markstrom, and Andersson.
No way. The Flames have a very good goalie & some other good young players/pieces.
If Calgary gets a return similar to what Buffalo got for Eichel it will turn out good for them.
Well you’re probably not getting that type of return from St. Louis.
VGK?
Pass.
Blues?
Depends on who they are offering.
Best bet would be Dallas since they unlike VGK has less desirable long term contracts.
Also Florida if Rhino is included (no to that Goalie).
Nashville?
Possibility.
NJ?
Possibility.
Rangers?
Have to include Alex L.
If not Pass.
All teams a 1st + 1 or 2 other picks (not in the bottom half of the draft).
My guess would be Kyrou, perunovich, Neighbors, and 2023’s 1st. Then In a secondary move vladi gets moved, likely for picks. Out of all of that I would hate to lose neighbors most as I’d like to see grow with Schenn.
No way that happens.
They should get more then Buffalo got for loser Eichel. maybe vegas already realized Eichel was a mistake want to pass him on. lmao. they dump fluery for eichel . talk about extremes one of the most likeable players for one of least. Just listen to eichel siad when he returned to buffalo. top players ie crosby ,mcdavid lift their teammates up .
Sabres got character in that trade. Leadership too, something they didn’t have before
Dallas??!!
Man I’d love to see that!! Tkachuk brothers are my favorite forwards in hockey, Brady being my favorite player. Bring that grit and physicality to the Stars!
Calgary: M. Tkachuk and Michael Stone for McCarron, Tolvanen, Marc Del Gaizo, Scissons, Fabbro, a 1st in 24′ 2nd in 25′ and Ingram
I would think the Flames would want one of Evangelista, Svechkov, L’Heureux or Kemmel in a deal for Tkachuk. Might be worth it, but you’d hate to lose one of them.
Stone is a UFA, Calgary cannot trade him.
Maybe the devils could pull it off, but doesn’t seem like a good fit, so…Dallas
Likely St. Louis, but as a Devils fan he was the preferred player over Johnny Hockey all along as they need a sniper/thumper on Jack Hughes’ wing. Though, I don’t know how the Devils could afford the deal without including RFA Bratt due to GM Fitz’s knee-jerk overpay of Palat’s $6M/5yr deal.
That said, Calgary has $18M in capspace, so perhaps if they include the expiring contracts of Tatar at $4.5M and Severson at $4.16M (who does have trade value as a RD off an 11g/35a/46p season) as part of a primary offer of their 2023 1st Rd Pick, 1 of Holtz or Mercer, and 1 of RW Chase Stillman (2021 1st Rd reach) and RD Shakir Mukhamadullin (2020 1st Rd reach). With that said, I still don’t know if that is enough for Calgary.
I thibk your in the wheel house.
Habs fan here. This is really sh!++y for Calgary’s fans, do things right, draft great players and they dont stay with you. Dubois is doing this to and i guarantee Matthew’s leaves and does this to. Its not good for canadian hockey but i can blame guys for wanting to go home. How about the other tkachuk in Ott now? They have come alo g way this off season, did he tell them something similar? Is that part of there moves
Gladly change my login to “Hughes2Tkachuk”
2022-2023 Devils
Tkachuk – Hughes – Sharangovich
Palat – Hischer – Bratt
Foote – Haula – Mercer
Wood – McLeod – Bastian
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Graves – Marino
Bahl/Smith – Walsh/Smith
Vanecek/Blackwood
Have to Trade the “All Swede Line” of LW Johnsson ($3.4/1yr – retain 50%) and RFA Boqvist.and RFA Zetterlund
Would lose a lot of 7-6 games.
At least it would be entertaining to watch. Not trading for Tkachuk doesn’t help the team defensively either:
Sharangovich-Hughes-Holtz/Mercer
Palat-Hischer-Bratt
Tatar-Haula-Mercer/Holtz
Wood-McLeod/Boqvist-Bastian/Zetterlund
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Bahl/Smith-Marino
Vanecek/Blackwood
Frankly, Mason Marchment should have been the push from the start once they didn’t accept the 2nd Overall for Tkachuk. Marchment and Zach Aston-Reese (who is still available) would have been better than the Palat signing and would have cost about the same.
Marino and Haula bring defensive responsibility to our team. Nino Niederreiter still could. He would have been a better pickup over Palat’s 5 year/$6M contract (2 years younger). If they can clear space with Severson and Tatar, I’d still take Nino and Zach. I have a feeling McLeod is caught up in the scandal. Not sure Thompson is ready for centering the 4th line. Like to see him start in AHL with recently acquired (and former colligate teammate) Jack Dugan; I believe both were Hobey Baker finalists.
Just as i wrote it i hear Nino signed a 2 year/$8M contract with Nashville. Nino gives you a “young veteran” (29yrs) leadership, great defense and can net you 20 goals, who could have played on fellow Swiss Nico Hischer’s wing. All for $4M AAV. While I understand perhaps he would have required more $ to go to NJ, but here we are again, GM Fitz LOSES again. No Tkachuk, No job. He’s horrible.
Look for Calgary to get a lesser return that what the player is worth. Nobody will pay a kings ransom for Tkachuk without assurances that he will sign long term. Interested GMs know this. This narrows down the list of participants in the bidding war. And then there’s the cap. Which will further narrow the list. Add all of that together with the assumption that Calgary doesn’t want aging expensive players (bad contracts) in return, they will probably be stuck taking the best remaining deal on the table, and thus FAR devaluing their compensation.
They already lost Johnny G for nothing and hold exactly zero leverage in the Tkachuk situation. They probably need to go scorched earth around deadline time and next off-season, then build it back up.
Wow. I was wrong. What a haul they got.
Anaheim is his next and last team!
Patrick Kane (1/2 salary) Seth Jones for Matty!!!
Move the Flames back to Atlanta !!
MT and kylington for Batherson, Formenton and Brannstrom
That’s an NHL 22 deal brah
Two Deals
NYI – Tarasenko
STL – Mayfield, 1st Rd
STL – Tkachuk
CGY -Barbashev, Scandella, Perunovich, 1st Rd, 2nd Rd
Scannella has no trade to 7 teams. Likely the 7 Canadian teams.
i hate that gutless weasel, but also….. who WOULD want to live in the newest province of china AKA Trudeauville that also happens to be a place that isn’t above 70 degrees long enough for your rear end to thaw out from the winter.