I wish Tkachuk well.
Really the text book way you should handle a situation like this and everyone got a good result from it.
How remarkably simple it can be if you just conduct yourself with a little honestly and appreciation to the team which drafted you.
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Difference between Tkachuk and Gaudreau is he was able to make a decision. And by doing so, it worked out better for him and the club. He handled things professionally and had a clear vision of what he wanted.
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A reminder, JG burned 2 years of FA with his 2nd deal, MT took his second deal to the year before UFA (this season), forcing the Flames to make a decision a year early like this and him basically playing a season less than his contract was signed for.
A business deal at the time and this was the likely outcome they knew at the time back then, and even going into this season, maybe even if JG signed. As soon as JG moved on, any chance MT was staying here was done.
JG made a tough call because I do think he loved it here and had more of a tie to the city than MT ever did.
But yes, MT was a guy we would've hated if the Canucks took him. Good to have a character on the team that stirred stuff up on the ice and him and his family were great. Has the skills and abilities hopefully the attitude continues to mature. Best of luck to him in the East.
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Thanks for giving us the chance to get a great settlement in the divorce. But like any scorned lover I'm going to habour ill will for years and hope that you look on envious of our success from the absolute gutter. Hope Floridas success was flukey and short lived.
Tkachuk was my favorite player in the league up until a few days ago (when we learned he wasn't coming back). He was kind of destined to be so since half my family has the same last name and are entirely Oiler fans. I had the privilege of watching him score the Memorial Cup winning goal at the Centrium live, then seeing how the Flames stumbled into selecting him 6th overall while both the Oilers and Canucks flubbed their picks at 4 and 5.
Sending a newly minted retro Tkachuk Flames jersey pic to that half of the family will live in infamy as one of the favorite moments in my life.
He lived up to the hype in so many ways, and if it had worked out differently I still believe Matthew Tkachuk would have been a cornerstone piece you build around towards a Cup. The guy doesn't just like winning, he absolutely HATES losing. His dedication to the game, and the fact there are maybe 3 or 4 other players like him in the last 20 years is incredibly valuable. That's probably what the Panthers saw in him. Tkachuk is a unique talent.
All that considered, I'm flabbergasted by the return. Shining up my glasses as rosy as I can make them, even I understand that Huberdeau is the better player right now, and is likely to be regarded as the better player over time. Scoring Weeger, a regarded prospect, and a future 1st round pick is a stunning return.
Tkachuk put the Flames in the unenviable position of trading him, but I can't recall a player in this organization also doing business in the same fashion where the organization has the opportunity to maximize a return. It really hurts to see him leave, but dear Xenu did he ever do it in the best way you can hope for.
Thank you, Matthew Tkachuk.
__________________ "It's a great day for hockey."
-'Badger' Bob Johnson (1931-1991)
"I see as much misery out of them moving to justify theirselves as them that set out to do harm." -Dr. Amos "Doc" Cochran
Not going to lie, if someone would have told me that people would have been praising Thacuk's exit and negotiation skills over Gadureau's three years ago, I would have called them crazy. Matt has always been about the money and he played his cards perfectly for the big paycheck, getting to be the face of the franchise and a perfect situation for him and his lifestyle... and I respect him for it. Well done. Thanks for everything Matty.
