People here are falling into that trap of trying to devalue their own player because they want him signed at a great price for the good of the team.
Sure some of the UFA guys or about to be UFA guys will take less to stay where they are if they believe that team is close, or their family really doesn't want to move or their house they are building is almost done...whatever the reason.
Matthew Tkachuk is 21 years old. He doesnt have those kind of pressures/restraints on him. Of course he may very well absolutely love playing in Calgary and doesnt want to leave. He also is about to make a major life altering financial decision. He isnt going to accept less...just because. Whether you think Draisaitl or Nylander or Matthews or any of the other high profile RFA's are worth what they are getting is irrelevant. Those are the contracts that Don Meehan and crew will be using as a starting point in negotiations.
Tkachuk measures up to all of them to varying degrees. Expecting him to leave 1, 2 or 3 million dollars A YEAR on the table is pure folly. He has earned what he will get by way of his play and his potential moving forward. Guys in this league get paid, for the large part, on production. He has been very productive. They also get paid on intangibles. He has those in spades as well. It's the way the league works now.
If all that applies to MT, (why wouldnt it?) then expecting him to agree to something in the 7M area seems preposterous.
Everyone would love to see the young man sign for 8 years at 6 million per...but that is fantasy at best and moreso delusion.
I would be stunned if he comes in at anything less than 8+ on a deal of 5 or more years. Again, why would he when there are recedents all over the league that should see him earning more?
If he signs a 3 year deal, then OK we could see him at 6.5 or something but that then really risks what he costs beyond those 3 years. That could easily cost the club 2 million per year on the next contract.
21 years old, one of the best players on the team already with room to grow...you dont lowball those guys. You pay them.
I see a 6 year deal at 8.5ish as a landing spot the more I look at it.
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