Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk’s arbitration date on August 11 looms, but we know now that it’s only a matter of time before he suits up for another NHL team. Tkachuk told the Flames this week that he won’t re-sign long-term, either forcing a trade now or letting him walk for nothing as an unrestricted free agent next summer. With teams having spent a lot already during the free agency period, though, does a good Tkachuk trade exist with a team that he’s willing to stay with?
It’s a rarity that a restricted free agent is able to force a change of scenery like this, especially one of Tkachuk’s caliber. Easily one of the top wingers in the league (and top forwards in general), his unique fiery brand and 100+ point scoring potential is an incredibly valuable package. He finished the 2021-22 campaign with 42 goals, 62 points, and 104 points, all career highs, and received votes for the Hart and Selke Trophies.
He’ll be on his way out of Calgary, though, joining ex-teammate Johnny Gaudreau as marquee players to leave the team this summer. Having grown up in St. Louis, and with his father Keith still working for the team, a potential union between the Blues and Tkachuk has been a long-standing open secret. The Blues have been reported to be in talks with Calgary about Tkachuk, and it was also reported that St. Louis was on the small list of teams Tkachuk would accept a trade to.
While the report was contested and isn’t verified, Vegas, Florida, Nashville, and Dallas were also all teams that Tkachuk would sign a long-term deal with. While the cap situation for most of those teams isn’t favorable, Nashville and Dallas do have some more wiggle room than the rest in terms of tradeable assets that would head the other way.
So, PHR readers — where does Tkachuk end up to begin the 2021-22 season? Does he finally head home to St. Louis, does a dark horse team sweep him up, or is the relationship between him and Calgary somehow salvaged?
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Tampa
I don’t know how, but somehow
He’s going to Boston for every prospect they have in their system O wait that’s not even close enough to get Lucic
Devils
Edmonton fans would agree, but they would swear he’s going as the mascot.
Sabres for Power, Quinn, and a 1st.
Zero chance they trade Power.
I wouldn’t say zero… they have their franchise LD in Dahlin. They might play him for a top line winger.
Is Dahlin a franchise LD?
They sure pay him like he is
He better be a blue. It won’t be easy but they better not give up kyrou. In less it’s a one for one trade.There’s no reason the blues should give up more than ottowa did for debricant.
I’m a Blues fan too, but you’re kidding right? I didn’t see your lol at the end.
Price of doing this kind of business is high. Kyrou, Perunovich and a pick then find a taker for Tarasenko and not take on salary to do so. Will be tough and nothing says it will be the right move to make.
Kyrou, Krug and Neighbours might get it done.
Good stuff! Your post is a Where’s Waldo showing your lack of hockey knowledge. debricant? ottowa?
How is the debrincat trade and fiala for that matter not a comparable. Those are the only two forwards that have been traded this off season.
“My team needs this guy but they better not give anything up to get him or I’ll be mad!!!”
No, it show my lack of caring about spelling in that particular instance.
DeBrincat went for way below his asking price, the original asking was the equivalent of 4 1sts whether picks or prospects, all because he wanted to pick Korchinski, the deal still wasn’t enough like every analyst said, i feel like whoever will have to give up more because Treiveling probably isn’t as dumb as Davidson
“lack of caring about spelling”? How about knowing basic stuff about hockey?
I went with the Blues because everyone knows that’s where MT wants to play. However, GM Armstrong isn’t one to make moves based on emotions (e.g. letting Perron go), so maybe not.
At any rate, I think it’ll be a 3 team trade to make this happen.
P.S. I can’t see the Preds getting in on this. They’d have to move out a big contract to make it work and they’re not trading Josi and Calgary isn’t taking Duchene or Johansen (despite their good seasons last year). That leaves Ekholm or maybe Granlund left with sizeable contracts (obviously not moving McDonough) but would Calgary be interested in either of them as part of the package? Maybe.
Preds do (finally) have some intriguing forward prospects in the system, so they do have that to offer.
Learn from what Columbus did with DuBois. Columbus knew he wanted to go to Montreal 18 months ago, but sent him to Winnipeg instead. Giving in to the player and sending him where he wants to go only encourages a similar ploy by another player down the road. By sending him where he does not want to go, others will think twice before they try to force a trade.
Great point! Even if you have to take a lesser return, trade a guy where he does not want to go just to spite him. Really working out for Winnipeg. They guy will walk or the Jets will have no leverage in a trade because teams know that they need to dump the guy. It is amusing that you goobers continue to get angry about players wanting to have a say in where they live and work. You know, kinda like you and me.
I seriously doubt the Dubois case will make other players get “scared” to try to get where the want to be, especially “post-covid”.
Right! And take less back if you have too, even if it’s Laine.
Everywhere I see kyrou plus in a trade idea. Kyrou is just a step behind tkachuk at this point. Why would the blues give up kyrou plus anything when the flames pretty much have to trade him? The blues have other assets: two good prospects, a recent first rounder, tarasenko, plus first rounders.
because even though the flames have to trade him, other teams may be interested. if Ottawa offered batherson, a 1st and a Brannstrom, Calgary likely takes that over Kyrou alone.
one player I could see the flames being potentially interested in that would help the salaries match closer is Brayden Schenn. he alone wouldn’t match MT but I doubt the flames are willing to take on a Tarasenko for one year just to help St. Louis.
Anyone trading for him is just going to get one 9mil+ year out of him before he’s a UFA and signs to the blues. Stupid move.
Wow, wrong again. Shocking.
Gets traded to Columbus for Johnny Gaudreau
epic!
St. Louis seems like a popular choice, but guys, the Blues are in overage on the cap right now. ANYthing they gave Tkachuk they’d have to hand Calgary salary to meet, and since Tkachuk’s not currently in contract it’s not as if they could have the Flames retain salary. If Tkachuk signs for (say) $9MM AAV, St. Louis would have to give them Tarasenko or O’Reilly for OPENERS. And never mind Krug: ALL their top-four defensemen have full no-trade. None of this is likely to improve the team.
And I agree that dealing Kyrou is demented. The guy’s on a very friendly contract, he’s 23, and only goes RFA in 2023. I can’t think of anyone on their top-six I would be LESS likely to deal.
My vote’s Dallas, actually. That’s a team that needs to get younger anyway. Signing Robertson and Oettinger will eat most of their remaining cap space, and they’d have to do some shenanigans (pity that Seguin and Benn both have buyout proof contracts AND NMC clauses), but it’s worth a try.
well I get the idea that trading Kyrou because he has a good contract is crazy, the reality is if they bring in MT and let’s say move Tarasenko, they are still in cap hell next summer potentially when Kyrou could be offer sheeted.
Not at all: because whichever of O’Reilly or Tarasenko they *don’t* move, his contract comes off the books next offseason, and short of Kyrou suddenly becoming a 50 goal scorer, they’ll have the money to resign him and then some.
The Blues are also an old team, and if any of their 30+ players start to decline … well, I just looked it over, and unlike some teams, St. Louis seems to structure their contracts to make them unusually buyout friendly. Schenn, Faulk, Leddy, Krug: they all have very team-favorable buyout savings.
Flames Pundit Eric Francis who broke this story first stated early yesterday evening that the above list of teams on his so called trade list is completely false based on what hes been told. Seeing as he broke this story a day or 2 before anyone else reported it, id believe him. Now im not saying these teams aren’t on it, but i believe there is obviously more that aren’t mentioned. Like Columbus who apparently is desperately trying to shed cap space as of yesterday’s reporting and potentially Ottawa where his brother just signed long-term
Columbus is looking to sign Laine thus why they need to shed cap space. it’s not to reunite Gaudreau and Tkachuk.
Ottawa however yes I think could be a player if MT wants to go there.
plays in other conference, has some cap space, has his brother, has the pieces Calgary would want back (young players and picks).
the one potential issue is that any package from Ottawa would need to include batherson or formenton likely and those two have their hands full right now with the hockey.canada mess
It sure as hell isn’t going to be Ottawa.
It’s not even this year: with the players Calgary will want back, the money would work. It’s NEXT year. DeBrincat goes RFA. Stuetzle goes RFA. Talbot, Hamonic, Zub and Holden go UFA. That is going to take serious, serious money to re-sign or replace.
It could be ottawa. They can bring in Matthew, try to make a splash this year, even sell off some of those pending RFAs at the deadline to stock up their pick and prospect pool. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of a reason NOT to make yourself the frontrunner if you’re Dorion.
It’s the Blues and has been for over a year . He is just playing the field to get paid
how is he playing the field to get paid?
Nice call.
I’d say the Isles but Lou won’t wake up from his nap until after Tkachuk gets traded elsewhere.
New Jersey. They have cap room and the Gm is related to him. Uncle, I think.
Cousin.
“Fitzgerald grew up with his cousin, NHL player Keith Tkachuk.[11] He is also cousins with Tkachuk’s sons Matthew of the Calgary Flames and Brady of the Ottawa Senators, as well as Kevin Hayes of the Philadelphia Flyers and the late Jimmy Hayes, who most recently played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.”
how could he be cousins to their dad, and cousins to them? He is their uncle.
Second cousin
Tkachuk under the reigns of Craig Berube. Now that’s old time hockey in the mix right there!
He is going to Detroit. Bank on it.
For some reason I did not do anything with my bank based on your babbling.
To the 430 folks that voted correctly, take a bow! :)