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Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan
I think that’s too harsh on Tkachuk’s value. Based on the large sample size we have, this is clearly his worst year. He still has a ton of value, and I would wager that many GMs would rather pay for Tkachuk’s services at 9m for a long period of time over Boeser or Meier. He brings more to the table, when you factor in things outside of scoring, namely agitating the opposition. He draws penalties like no other. Unfortunately, we’ve lost the locker room with him there. I don’t know what happened after the Muzzin scrum, but everyone with eyes can see that something leadership wise went down and Tkachuk hasn’t been the same. We don’t know who those players are, but signs point to Gio and maybe a couple of others.
If you want to retain Tkachuk, you’ve got to move the other ones that are against what he does. I don’t think he’s happy here anymore though, based on his lackluster play and also trading two of his very good friends in Rittich and Bennett.
If there was any time to sell him, then it has to be this offseason.
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Good points, and I agree with the last sentence.
But compared to a year ago, there’s a lot more risk associated with this player, no matter what you choose to do. He’s certainly not earned $7M with his play this season. I think the likely choice the Flames will make is to keep him, hope for the best, and if it doesn’t work out, trade at the deadline or keep and walk away at the end of the season. I don’t see the Flames management taking the gamble that his play would improve if the Flames moved the Tkachuk haters in the dressing room (if that really is the problem).