Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntingwhale
I heard on the Fan this morning that Chucky is the only person who stays late to practice tips in the front of the net. I mentioned this in another thread, but for years I've been praying to the God Jesus for the Flames to somehow acquire a player like Tomas Holmstrom, who made a living in front of the net tipping in shots. When people think of the Red Wings powerhouse, it's HOF players like Yzerman, Lidstrom and Federov who come to mind. But equally important for that powerhouse was Holmstrom. Definitely an unsung hero on that team.
I feel like Tkachuk can be that guy, except with a higher ceiling. The 2 tips he had yesterday vs the Islanders were incredible. Especially the game winner. Reminded me of how some cheaters in EA NHL can tip pucks that are going wide by 5 feet. Just an incredible move to pot the winner.
I'm also extremely grateful that he carries the Tkachuk name, and undoubtedly learns a ton from his father. He's the perfect mentor for the kid.
Can't say enough about the kid. He really is something special and seems to get better each and every game. I really hope he can take his game to the next level in the playoffs. Last year he seemed a bit neutered after he got suspended at the end of last season, and it seemed to carry over into the playoffs. But he's found his groove now, and I really hope he can take that next step.
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I watched a lot of Corey Perry living in Southern California for 7 years and Tkachuk is basically a clone of a young Perry in my opinion. Both play the game at their own pace and use their IQ to outsmart the opposition, along with their quick hands and amazing strength along the boards. Perry may have a better shot but Tkachuk seems to be way more of a complete player at this stage of his career. I think what’s often lost about Tkachuk is how good he is in his own zone against other teams best players. He’s such a unique type of player it’s hard to find comparables, but I think Perry is the best one. Perry was still in the OHL at Matt’s age tho, which just shows you how mature of a game Tkachuk plays for his age.