[MissTeeks]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/tkac...ry/c-282415436

Maybe it's on the way to becoming a trademark.
A la Air Jordan's tongue-loll, as he elevated majestically to the rim.

Or Mike Singletary's eyes, two laser pinpricks in a backdrop of white.

Gary Player all in black. Or Gretzky's signature jersey-tuck into his hockey pants.
So what on earth is the deal with Matthew Tkachuk's mouthguard anyway?
The darn things seems to be everywhere but … in his mouth.
Sticking up here, jutting out there, clenched between the teeth its been designed to protect, hanging precariously.
"Some of management actually brought that to my attention earlier in camp,'' admitted Tkachuk ruefully, "but I respectfully I told them 'I'll try (to keep it in) as much as possible but it's a habit I've had since I was young.'
"I didn't really, uh, know it was that obvious. But people are talking about it."

"I know it seems every time I look, he's picking it up off the ice,'' joked Tkachuk's centreman, Sam Bennett.
"But whatever works, right?"

It's difficult to see him not at least opening the regular campaign here.
"Gully,'' said Tkachuk, "has put me in a position to succeed, so I'm playing with a lot of great players. I enjoy these tight games, low scoring games, where scoring chances are hard to come by."
Yessir, mouthguard in or out, Keith's kid is making it awful hard on the Flames to ship him back to day care for another term.
He's belongs here, with the adults.
"That's what he wants to do. That was his goal coming into camp,'' said goaltender Brian Elliott.
"This is a guy who's been around NHL locker rooms his whole life, his dad being such a good pro and such a leader.
"And I think you learn by osmosis.
"So when he comes into a locker room, he knows how it's supposed to go, he knows how he's supposed to act, and that's huge."