According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Matthew Tkachuk is on the move
It all began when Sportsnet commentator and former NHL player Shane O'Brien speculated that Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk "may want out of Calgary" this offseason. Many speculated that Tkachuk could be moved this offseason when O'Brien made the remark on the Powerplay Podcast with Steve Kouleas during a bigger conversation about the Flames and their future. The talk even reached the St. Louis Blues, who may present the forward with the ideal trade scenario, allowing him to play in his hometown.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Flames issued firm denials regarding a recent rumour claiming Tkachuk wanted out of Calgary. On top of that, the insider believes the Flames wouldn't deny the rumours if they were true:
«This is what I can tell you about the rumours that Matthew Tkachuk wants out of Calgary: When the news about Seth Jones got around, no one was thrilled it had leaked, but no one denied it. Same for Oliver Ekman-Larsson being available and Dougie Hamilton free to talk to other teams. With Tkachuk, there've been firm denials. I do believe the Flames refused to include him in any Pierre-Luc Dubois trade talks last season.»
Without a doubt, the Flames would have to think about this one seriously. Tkachuk, a 23-year-old power forward, has already had a season with 30 goals and 70 points. He exudes self-assurance and authority. In a nutshell, he's been everything the Flames could wish for. There's just one problem: his contract is coming to an end. He's in the final year of a three-year contract with the Flames that pays him $7 million each year. Tarasenko's current contract, which pays him $7.5 million per season, has two years left on it. He also has a no-trade clause in his contract. For the year 2021, both Calgary and St. Louis are expected to have more than $14 million in cap space.
| POLL | ||
Which team will make a push for Tkachuck? | ||
| Oilers | 89 | 43.8 % |
| Habs | 114 | 56.2 % |
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