Defensive skills don't usually earn very much in contract negotiations relative to offence. Tkachuk has been great this year all around but over the last 3 doesn't have the offensive track record of Laine or Matthews. I think he'll make way more money than we all expected last summer but not in the Matthews stratosphere but maybe I am just wishful thinking. For me if the ask is over 10 and they play hardball I'd trade him for the right offer, and I love the way he plays. I don't know if his value will ever be higher.
My opinion is that he's a great player but almost 40% of his points came on the powerplay with Gaudreau and Monahan and those guys face way tougher even strength matchups on the road. He's also a little slow footspeed wise and everybody on the flames is having career years, for me this may be a Phaneuf situation where his peak production is occurring in the wrong season for the team.
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