[News] With the 2016 6th OA pick Flames select LW Matthew Tkachuk

[TheScorpion]

Tkachuk was pretty good at dev camp, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the big club, sample size aside.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

BTW it would be terrible asset management to send Tkachuk back to Junior if he's ready for the NHL. That's a slowed year of development for our top prospect and means more than sliding ELC's.

Drasaitl went back and it was the best thing for him. He absolutely tore up the CHL going back too. Lots of players get sent back

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

It's not about stern stuff. You're not just asking Tkachuck to go down to Juniors and play hockey, you're asking him to eat right, switch his habits, maybe try a new side, buy into a defensive role, spend more time in the gym, take less money (when that time comes), sign long term, etc.

Keeping a working and productive relationship is not done by insulting them or taking all hope away. You've obviously never managed workers

Yeah, and I don't baby anyone.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

38 in 75 actually.



55 in 79 actually.

Ah, I was thinking of his draft + 1 year.

But I don't know about 55?

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=170348

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Drasaitl went back and it was the best thing for him. He absolutely tore up the CHL going back too. Lots of players get sent back

He got sent back because the team was in last place in the league and it was an absolute toxic environment for him. If they were better and had him as a 3rd liner sheltered center it would have been a different story.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=170348

30 goals in 57 OHL RS games
20 goals in 18 OHL Playoff games
5 goals in 4 Memorial Cup games.

= 55 goals in 79 games

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Tkachuk was pretty good at dev camp, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the big club, sample size aside.

Mark Jankowski was easily the second best player in dev camp in 2013 behind Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan was completely unspectacular. I wouldn't put much stock in development camp performances in relation to being NHL ready.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Cole436

Mark Jankowski was easily the second best player in dev camp in 2013 and Sean Monahan was completely unspectacular. I wouldn't put much stock in development camp performances in relation to being NHL ready.

Well, of course. I'm just throwing out observations. Tkachuk is also a better prospect then Janko ever was.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Just because a prospect outplays the competition in training camp doesn't mean the best thing for his development is to play in the NHL. Hall, RNH, etc. outplayed the competition to make the Oilers. It was still bad management to keep them up.

I'm confident Treliving will do what's best for Tkachuk's development. The rebuild is still ongoing. No need to Oiler the kid.

I don't see how Taylor Hall would have been better off in junior after he was drafted. The Oilers "ruined" their young players due to the culture of losing that was acceptable for the last 6 years.

Tkachuk has the size, skill, and maturity to be in the mix for a spot. I think the Flames are in a good spot with Monahan-Gaudreau and Backlund-Frolik as pairs they can build their top 2 lines around. This could allow Bennett-Tkachuk to work together in a more sheltered role and ease them into tougher competition. There is a benefit in letting those players develop together

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

38 in 75 actually.



55 in 79 actually.

Owned.

Tkachuk as another level of prospect. Maybe a couple of levels up the scale from Poirier. Let's not compare late 1st to top 5 guys with the pedigree and scouting reports he had (Canucks opted for need over bpa and Tkachuk was most certainly top 5).

[sureLoss]

Tkachuk took the initiative to skate with NHL veterans:

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...-with-the-team

On Tuesday, while the rookies departed the ice to head to a workout, Tkachuk stayed for another 45 minutes and played five-on-five with veterans like Dennis Wideman, Deryk Engelland, Brandon Bollig and TJ Brodie. Also on the ice were Mason Raymond, Kris Russell and Jeff Schultz. The Memorial Cup champion showed no fear in battling to score on new Flames netminder Brian Elliott, who has 165 NHL wins under his belt.

Essentially, this is the first week back at school for everyone and Tkachuk appears to have no problems diving into this situation head first.

“Right now, it’s just a few older guys and some younger guys,” said Tkachuk, who was the lone player from the 2016 draft who stuck around until the very end of the ice time. “The only difference is the age separation. All of the guys are here for the same goal … that’s what is going to make this team so successful: buying in, whether you’re 32 or 18.”

To be clear, the decision to skate with the veteran-laced group was all on Tkachuk — the Flames did not initiate it, although they’re likely pleased he’s making the self-motivated effort.

“It was all up to me,” Tkachuk said. “I wanted to come early and get acclimated before rookie camp. Rookie camp starts Friday and I’ve been skating with good players all summer but here in Calgary, this is the team I want to be playing for.”

“I wasn’t really too nervous about the on-ice but you’re just coming into a new group,” Tkachuk said on Tuesday during informal skating sessions at WinSport’s facilities. “You’re meeting a whole new time and guys I’ve never met before. They’ve been unbelievable the first two days and I’m just getting acclimated to the city and, more importantly, teammates.”

The 18-year-old broke bread on Monday at lunch with Flames captain Mark Giordano, Matt Stajan, Lance Bouma, Brett Kulak, and Lance Bouma, who have all been skating informally at WinSport this week ahead of main camp which begins Sept. 22.

“Getting used to a new team and a new city is just something that comes with the territory of playing with a new team,” Tkachuk said. “It’s great to be in the city and see all the people around that are passionate about hockey.

“I didn’t know anybody … but I’m the youngest guy here and it’s nice to have the older players taking care of you and taking you under their wing and showing you around and making sure you feel at home.”

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Damn I'm no Text Critic but the mistakes in this article even made my head hurt.

Confirmed Calgary Herald has fired their entire editing department.

In other news, damn it sounds like Tkachuk has lived up to his promise. Said he was going to work his ass off this Summer to make the team.

[Enoch Root]

The kid sure seems to have a great attitude

[Five-hole]

Damn. Kid had lunch with Lance Bouma and Lance Bouma!

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Damn. Kid had lunch with Lance Bouma and Lance Bouma!

So did Johnny and Monny on Super Bowl day, in a sense.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

So did Johnny and Monny on Super Bowl day, in a sense.

I see what you did there...

[Reggie Dunlop]

Tkachuk is a warrior. You win with guys like that.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Damn. Kid had lunch with Lance Bouma and Lance Bouma!

And did so while meeting a whole new time!

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Damn. Kid had lunch with Lance Bouma and Lance Bouma!

Time for the concussion protocol?

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The kid sure seems to have a great attitude

He's not in awe of the process at all. Oh my God, I used 'the process'.