Quote:
Originally Posted by Clarkey
Pinder had a good point, who's better on the farm?
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I'm sure given a chance, a number of players. Sorry, Tkachuk has been underwhelming in his performance. I don't see what anyone is so excited about. He is everything I thought he would be when he drafted, a work in progress. His skating needs work, he needs to get stronger based on the game he's trying to play, and he needs to learn to make plays quicker. He's on par with an AHL player IMO and is not ready for the NHL. He needs further development, just like Draisatl did with Edmonton.
This is where I find Flames fans to be most hypocritical. If this were the Oilers playing a guy like Tkachuk we would be up their ass about rushing a prospect and putting his future at risk. Tkachuk is not making a case for staying up. He isn't scoring and he isn't a physical force. He's just okay, and that isn't enough. Not when you consider the long term ramifications of keeping him up and how it affects his long term status. I find it quite ironic when the team practices this tough love and commitment to over-baking other players. Just a very bizarre decision so far. If he were scoring or contributing by standing out with his physical play, I'd say maybe. But he's not doing anything that Brandon Bolig couldn't do.
I'd rather see what Hunter Shinkaruk, Morgan Klimchuk, or Mark Jankowski can accomplish at this point, and push Tkachuk's contract off another year. Based on the salary structure that Treliving has put together we are going to need these high performers on their entry level contracts to support the high paid players when it matters most. Now is not Tkachuk's time. Send him back to junior.