Matthew Tkachuk, Does he make the team.

[skudr248]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

I completely agree with this statement. If Tkachuk forces the team to keep him up by showing that he can hang in the big leagues, great; if not, then send him back to junior. We're not winning the Cup this year (we may or may not make the playoffs), so there's not reason to burn a year of his ELC if he can continue to develop in the OHL.

Pfff...

YES WE ARE

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

He's been good, but not good enough to outweigh the benefits of plugging him in next year for three full years of an ELC. Toss him a bone for putting in good work and give him 4-5 NHL games at the beginning of the year.

Still a lot to learn being the leader of his jr team IMO

I'm not convinced that there is, actually. Tkachuk is a bit of a special case in that he has basically grown up in a NHL dressing room. He was skating with the Phoenix Coyotes before he was a teenager, and has basically been groomed under the spotlight. He is a REALLY impressive kid in all his interviews and carries himself extremely well both on and off ice as far as I can tell.

I really think he has outgrown the OHL—even though he is a year or two younger than many players in that league, he has miles and miles of valuable hockey experience on all of them.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

His size and weight weren't listed as he never took part in the pre-draft testing.

Everything I saw at the draft had 200+ lbs listed.

The Flames, immediately after the draft (around the time prospects reported in July) had him listed at 205.

Now, in training camp, they've amended it to 202.

Regardless, he isn't 185-190, and is by no means undersized compared to the forwards currently on our full-time roster.

[GioforPM]

I think he plays and puts the team to a really hard decision at 10 games.

[JohnnyTitan]

I agree that the Flames need to do what-ever is best for his development. And they will. Despite what Ricardow thinks, I think we have a patient management that would be fine holding off another year if that's what's needed.

However, to repeat something I heard Rob Kerr say a week or so ago -> he has a slight advantage because he's not just trying to make the team...but the team has already kinda-sorta carved out a spot for him.

So he's been around NHLers for years. He's 200 lbs. And he's not just auditioning for "Any" spot, he's trying to keep "His" spot.

It's fun to debate and I remember the same debate when Bennett was ready to return from shoulder surgery. The beauty of the way that turned out is we got to send him back AND we got him in the NHL. Awesome!

Anyhow -> I think there will be less debate after 6 or so regular season games. I think by then the majority of informed posters here will probably agree he should either stay up or get sent down. He's close enough to the line right now that we don't have to decide now...let's decide just before Halloween.

[GioforPM]

Lots of people were dead set against Monahan sticking past 10. It worked out pretty well.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I'm not convinced that there is, actually. Tkachuk is a bit of a special case in that he has basically grown up in a NHL dressing room. He was skating with the Phoenix Coyotes before he was a teenager, and has basically been groomed under the spotlight. He is a REALLY impressive kid in all his interviews and carries himself extremely well both on and off ice as far as I can tell.

I really think he has outgrown the OHL—even though he is a year or two younger than many players in that league, he has miles and miles of valuable hockey experience on all of them.

On top of all that he went out of his way to come to Calgary early and skate with the vets instead of just the rookies. I think he is definitely ahead of the curve in terms of rookies.

[GoJetsGo]

I think a lot will depend on the first few weeks of the season.

I think he's showed in the games thus far he deserves a look.

If he doesn't look out of place through 9 games and puts up some points I think he sticks.

[JohnnyTitan]

Let's put it this way...who does he have to be better than to earn a spot?
- Vey?
- Higgins?
- Chaisson?
- Bollig?
- Bouma?
- Hamilton (as a winger)?
- Ferland?
- Stajan (as a winger)?


I think he can bring more offense than most of this list. Physicality at least the same as most. Is he THAT slow and THAT irresponsible defensively?

This kinda flies in the face of what I just said though. Just because he's better than most of those guys does not mean it's best for his development to stay up. That's exactly what's already been decided with Janko. I guess we'll see with Chucky.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTitan

Let's put it this way...who does he have to be better than to earn a spot?
- Vey?
- Higgins?
- Chaisson?
- Bollig?
- Bouma?
- Hamilton (as a winger)?
- Ferland?
- Stajan (as a winger)?


I think he can bring more offense than most of this list. Physicality at least the same as most. Is he THAT slow and THAT irresponsible defensively?

This kinda flies in the face of what I just said though. Just because he's better than most of those guys does not mean it's best for his development to stay up. That's exactly what's already been decided with Janko. I guess we'll see with Chucky.

Each of Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett all started on the 3rd line while they got accustomed to the NHL. I see no reason why Tkachuk cannot do the same, especially considering he is better than everyone on that list right now. The same could not be said for Janko who is a center, and he's behind Backlund, Monahan, Bennett in the depth charts. We will see him this year, just not yet.

[JohnnyTitan]

Either way - excited to see the Three Tremors tomorrow. Heading to the game, they had better all be in the line-up!!!

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTitan

This kinda flies in the face of what I just said though. Just because he's better than most of those guys does not mean it's best for his development to stay up. That's exactly what's already been decided with Janko. I guess we'll see with Chucky.

The difference is Jankowski can play top two line minutes for an organizational coach in the minors while Tkachuk's only options are junior (where he's already dominated and won everything) or the NHL.

Staying up may be better for Tkachuk's development given his options. Meanwhile going down to the minors is arguably best for Jankowski's development. Different situations entirely.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTitan

This kinda flies in the face of what I just said though. Just because he's better than most of those guys does not mean it's best for his development to stay up. That's exactly what's already been decided with Janko. I guess we'll see with Chucky.

Monahan
Bennett
Backlund

is better center depth than

Gaudreau
Ferland
Bouma

is LW depth.

As simple as that. The best thing for both players is to play minutes, 15-20 a night against the highest level of competition we can afford.

Tkachuk will get his 15-20 minutes in the NHL.
Jankowski will not get 15-20 minutes behind Monahan, Bennett, Backlund.

If we have an injury at center, the best thing for Jankowski's development is then playing in the NHL in a top 9 role.

[polak]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Monahan
Bennett
Backlund

is better center depth than

Gaudreau
Ferland
Bouma

is LW depth.

As simple as that. The best thing for both players is to play minutes, 15-20 a night against the highest level of competition we can afford.

Tkachuk will get his 15-20 minutes in the NHL.
Jankowski will not get 15-20 minutes behind Monahan, Bennett, Backlund.

If we have an injury at center, the best thing for Jankowski's development is then playing in the NHL in a top 9 role.

I agree with this. Tkachuk has a spot that's his to lose. We'll see if he keeps it by game 9.

[Weitz]

I swear I read something on this site last year around this time stating that only something like 3 or 4 guys drafted in the last 5-10 years played 9 games and then were sent down?

I think most guys play less before being sent down or stick around.

Anyone know anything about this?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I swear I read something on this site last year around this time stating that only something like 3 or 4 guys drafted in the last 5-10 years played 9 games and then were sent down?

I think most guys play less before being sent down or stick around.

Anyone know anything about this?

I read that too. Can't remember where though

[MrMastodonFarm]

Anyone else read that but can't remember?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I swear I read something on this site last year around this time stating that only something like 3 or 4 guys drafted in the last 5-10 years played 9 games and then were sent down?

I think most guys play less before being sent down or stick around.

Anyone know anything about this?

That stat wouldn't include your precious Dr Dry though, so the list is longer.

[greentree]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

My biggest complaint with Tkachuk so far is that he is a pathological mouth guard chewer (worse than Johnny even). I wonder why he even bothers with one because it is never in his mouth?

Seeing guys do that thing with their mouth guards makes my skin crawl...there's something gross and disturbingly infantile about it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

That stat wouldn't include your precious Dr Dry though, so the list is longer.

Off topic, but has Dry Heaves played yet in the preseason?