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Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus
Look!
Tkachuk was coming off of 77 pt season, even without my source telling me his agent was stuck on 8x$8.5 Tkachuk himself has publicly stated he wanted a long term contract and plus said Treliving wanted to keep Frolik and the team together so the higher cap hit didn't work and convinced him on 5.5-7-9m bridge to do so.
We may not ever know if Gaudreau leaving had anything to do with Tkachuk telling Treliving he wouldn't sign an extension but what we do know is Tkachuk held Thors hammer and Treliving gave it to him, it was dumb period.
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Sure, but you’re conflating two things. The bridge deal is not the reason Tkachuk left. Did Treliving know he handed Tkachuk the hammer, as you put it, yes I bet he did. Say what you will but he’s not stupid. Treliving would have known the risk but he didn’t know about global pandemic, the Muzzin fiasco, or how things would play out between the player and a HOF (likely) coach.
Tkachuk leaving, I’d bet, had to do with a number of things including but not limited to his contractual status,, geography, age, relationships with the coach and teammates, and the growing advantage teams, tax free and otherwise, have in the US.
Had the Flames and Tkachuk signed that 8x8.5, who knows what happens, but I don’t think it’s a gaurantee he’s still a Flame today.
…or is it any gaurantee that the Flames are in a better position and legitimate cup contenders today? Bear in mind, that team had their heads handed to them by an Oilers team that was worse then than it is today.