Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
I've been critical of the player over the years. He's been immature and hasn't played well in the playoffs over his years here. Also he's not a good skater which means he's always going to be a complementary player. A very good complimentary player. One of the best in the league. I just find he's a very difficult player to put a value on because for all the things he does at an elite level there are shortcomings that are hard to overlook like the skating as I feel that's played a role in his poor playoffs. I just think he has issues keeping pace with higher intensity and tempo hockey. I hope they can sign him to a long term deal as he's now probably the closest player they have to elite and with no money being sunk into Gaudreau I think they can afford to probably overpay Tkachuk.
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Tkachuk isn't fast, but I wouldn't say he's not a good skater.
Fast forward this clip to 2:40 - anyone who can use their edges like that to deke Sid knows enough to be dangerous. And this is 5 years ago - I assume he still trains with Dawn Braid, and she's done a great job with him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3utwqDYlA4 - Just a link, YT won't let it embed for some reason.
Matthew is Corey Perry - who was reliably a 30G player from age 25-30, before injuries and the weight of that 8-year contract (signed when he was 28) caught up with him a bit. And everybody seems to forget this, but Perry won the Hart and the Rocket in 2011.
And as much as Perry may not have been worth $8.25M, he obviously still had something to bring to the table, given he has 30 points over 72 (!!!) playoff games in the last three years.
Tampa had him on the ice in the last minute to try and tie the game. Tells you all you need to know.
That's Tkachuk's proper opposite number, to me, and I do agree with you, EE, we can afford to overpay a bit to keep him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
Tkachuk's most logical move would be to force a massive contract now, and then force a trade later.
Tkachuk likely has Calgary caught in a bad position now, after the Gaudreau fiasco, and he knows they are willing to offer $10.5 x 8 years to a star.
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This isn't basketball, and Matthew Tkachuk isn't some kingmaker of a talent.
If he signs a $9.76M deal, he can't just demand a trade and then stay home until he gets it. Someone else needs to have room for him.
If he signs, he's here for the long haul.