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Originally Posted by bax
Tkachuk can be easily replaced? What are you talking about? He is getting so underrated here it isn’t even funny.
Come out ahead by paying Forsberg? (Provided he would even be willing to sign here over 31 other teams).
Forsberg has been over a point per game exactly 1 time in his career and is turning 28 this summer. Tkachuk is 4 years younger and just outscored him by 20 points for crying out loud. The age difference alone is enough to choose Tkachuk, but even then he’s already a way better player - at both ends of the ice. Lots of other options? Who are they?
Tkachuk also boasts elite defensive metrics and has the intangibles of being able to hit, fight, and get under the opposition’s skin. Not to mention his elite hands in tight around the net.
Dom (advanced stats guy from the Athletic) just had an article on the best RFA players this year and this is what he had to say about Tkachuk:
“At 4.4 projected wins, Tkachuk is expected to be one of the 10 most valuable players in hockey next season after a massive breakout year where he scored 104 points and dominated play at 5 on 5 at both ends of the ice. The fact he’s also a rugged power forward only adds to the intrigue. He’s a very special player, a unicorn in this league that features a rare combination of brawn and skill. There’s no one like Tkachuk and he’s a cornerstone piece that teams can build around.”
He also wrote that he would be willing to make Tkachuk the 5th highest paid player in the league and he would still be worth it. Called him the most valuable asset on the market this summer.
You can make the argument that you don’t think he is THAT valuable - fine, but to say he is easily replaceable is just fantasy.
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Firstly, I said somewhat easily replaceable....and yes, we all know what Tkachuk brings.
You can disagree with me, but it's also obvious that Tkachuk's numbers were inflated this year due to playing with Gaudreau. Tkachuk himself has only hit PPG once, and that was this year. And yes, his line was dominant 5v5, but how much of that was Tkachuk and how much was his linemates.
As for his "brawn" and "power forward" abilities....that has yet to consistently show up in the playoffs. Tkachuk IMO is far more of a pest, than a true physical player. That has value too, but let's not pretend he is Iginla, driving through the defence.
Tkachuk is also the type of guy who is going to squeeze a major contract out of whoever he signs with. There are UFA players almost every year that you can acquire if you are willing to spend big bucks (which Tkachuk is almost certain to demand). And it's this likely big demand that might force the team to make a change. Tkachuk may be holding out for $10 million, so that means making cuts in the lineup elsewhere.
There are most certainly ways to trade Tkachuk and still come out ahead. Firstly, you can hopefully get a boatload of assets. Secondly, as I stated before, Gaudreau can play with a lot of guys and he's been shown to consistently give his linemates 20+ bumps in their point production.