[BACKCHECK!!!]

If Tkachuk wants Toronto money, he can go ask Toronto for it.

They might have some difficulty clearing the cap space or trading the four 1st rounders for the privilege of paying him $9m+ per year, but I guess he thinks that somebody out there must be willing to do it.

If the kid is going to play hardball, the team should do it right back. I see no reason to offer him a penny more than the highest offer sheet he signs.

Because if his own team would rather have him sit than pay him $9m, and no other team will give up the four draft picks and clear out the players necessary to pay him $9m, then there are exactly zero hockey teams in the world willing to pay him $9m.

Tkachuk is worth whatever a team is willing to pay him. If he doesn't think it's worth his time to play for the Flames for $7m per year, he's more than welcome to get a different job that pays him what he feels he deserves.