[News] Tkachuk makes opening day roster - Page 6 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ashasx · 10-17-2016, 10:32 AM

I think his physical game looks fine for the NHL. It's his skating that can use the most work. I think he's best suited to work on that in the OHL, and London has the best system in the CHL.

Badgers Nose · 10-17-2016, 10:33 AM

I forget he has to go back to the OHL. Would be better to get him in the AHL. Bumner.

Buff · 10-17-2016, 10:34 AM

Tkachuk hasn't looked bad to me. Just because he was drafted in the top 10 doesn't mean he is going to be a star right out of the gate. Just because Sean Monahan looked better in his first 9 games doesn't mean Tkachuk should do the same. When you are trying to evaluate a rookie and whether or not he should be on the team, you should not consider any other players. Focus on what Tkachuk is doing and how he is developing and if he is helping or hindering the team.

GranteedEV · 10-17-2016, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Offensively he needs to adjust to the speed of NHL, this will require more than 3 games.

Tbqh offensively he just needs to adjust to NHL goaltenders. He leads the team in individual high danger scoring chances per minute so far:

bubbsy · 10-17-2016, 10:41 AM

Tkachuk has looked ok, even really good at times. I am still in favour of sending him down, however.

His game is primarily built around grit, but with the hands/skill to do stuff once that grit gets him the puck in tight. He's still just an 18 year old, who is developing physically. I'd prefer he go down, continue his skill development, lead the Knights this year, all while he continues to grow physically.

Another year before he enters the NHL would do wonders for him, as it allows him time to grow, which will help him transition more into the NHL player he's got the potential to be.

The flames having/not having a better option is a poor reason to justify him staying up. What the team does with tkachuk must be based on what is best for his development, not how it helps this year's standings. I also think there are guys in the AHL who can come up and provide some decent options on the wing, of equal or slightly less output.

polak · 10-17-2016, 10:49 AM

He's 6'1 and almost 200 lbs.

I don't think his size is holding him back at all and there's no guarantee that he has any growing left to do. He's not going to learn anything playing against kids when he can already hold his own in NHL. The only reason you send him down is if he's struggling which he is not.

Fire · 10-17-2016, 10:52 AM

Tkachuk has been fine, but if I had to make a decision right now I would send him back to junior for one more season. Though they should give him at least 3 more games before making a decision.

kyuss275 · 10-17-2016, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

He's 6'1 and almost 200 lbs.

I don't think his size is holding him back at all and there's no guarantee that he has any growing left to do. He's not going to learn anything playing against kids when he can already hold his own in NHL. The only reason you send him down is if he's struggling which he is not.

Pretty much this. I don't see him learning anything going back to junior. If he was allowed to go to the ahl , then that would be a perfect spot, but he is not. We will see over the next handful of games, but if he keeps it up i think he should stay.

MarkGio · 10-17-2016, 10:53 AM

For sure he should be sent back. It's not he's a game breaker for the Flames season in terms of making the playoffs or not, and it's not like it's all that good for him to play with the Flames losing all these games when he can play a leadership role in the OHL.

It would be dumb to continue to lose games and to keep this kid up during which.

MarkGio · 10-17-2016, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

He's 6'1 and almost 200 lbs.

I don't think his size is holding him back at all and there's no guarantee that he has any growing left to do. He's not going to learn anything playing against kids when he can already hold his own in NHL. The only reason you send him down is if he's struggling which he is not.

Right now he plays a support role. If he went back he would be THE GUY on his team and put their entire season on his back, especially with the departures of Dvorak and Marner.

Hockey is hockey. If you assume he has nothing left to learn than you assume he's never going to be any better? You think he's going to be a 70pt player this year and stay that way? Every player follows a progression of learning. This is especially true for an 18 year old

kyuss275 · 10-17-2016, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGio

For sure he should be sent back. It's not he's a game breaker for the Flames season in terms of making the playoffs or not, and it's not like it's all that good for him to play with the Flames losing all these games when he can play a leadership role in the OHL.

It would be dumb to continue to lose games and to keep this kid up during which.

Sounds like you have given up on the season and think flames will be bottom 3 team.

zukes · 10-17-2016, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codynw

If Tkachuk goes back to junior, is he eligible for the AHL in 2017-18? Or does he have to go back to junior again?

Junior again, like Marner in Toronto this year, or Dvorak for Arizona last year.

Textcritic · 10-17-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I think there is a lot Tkachuk can still learn playing in the OHL. He won't have Dvorak or Marner this season, so he'll have to learn to be a little less reliant on elite linemates. He would have a big role for that team.

I don't subscribe to this oft used argument for sending Tkachuk back to the OHL. I think it is commonly valid for players who are undersized at the time of the draft, European players in the CHL who are also undertaking significant cultural adjustments, and players who characteristically lack maturity or have not asserted themselves already as dominant players both on and off the ice.

Tkachuk is different. He already has the physical components to play at the NHL level, and he has already spent his entire life basically learning in a NHL locker room. He played a "big role" with the London Knights all last year, and I don't see how asking him to go back and repeat the same experience with other players on the same team will serve any real useful purpose in his development. To my eye he has shown flashes of being a driver on the same line with Bennett and Brouwer at the NHL level, and has already attracted the attention of an opposing team. In other words, he looks useful, not at all out of place, and potentially impactful in a short period of time.

In short, I think he should stay, and do not see any good reason for sending him back to juniour.

Nandric · 10-17-2016, 11:07 AM

Playing against OHL players does not a NHL player make. If he was struggling physically in the NHL because he was to small or not mature enough, sure, there is a valid reason to send him down. But if its adjusting to the speed, timing, quality of players, going to the OHL just puts him against inferiors players and you don't become a better player by doing that.

Textcritic · 10-17-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGio

...Hockey is hockey. If you assume he has nothing left to learn than you assume he's never going to be any better? You think he's going to be a 70pt player this year and stay that way? Every player follows a progression of learning. This is especially true for an 18 year old

Wrong. I have nothing left to learn at the university undergraduate level, but I am still learning all the time. Saying Tkachuk has nothing left to learn in the OHL does not in any way concede that he is a finished product and as good a player as he will be in the NHL. What it means is that his development is best served playing in the best league in the world because he is ready to play at that level. Honestly, he looks ready to play in the NHL.

belsarius · 10-17-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Right now he plays a support role. If he went back he would be THE GUY on his team and put their entire season on his back, especially with the departures of Dvorak and Marner.

Hockey is hockey. If you assume he has nothing left to learn than you assume he's never going to be any better? You think he's going to be a 70pt player this year and stay that way? Every player follows a progression of learning. This is especially true for an 18 year old

Hockey isn't hockey and having nothing left to learn at a lower tier doesn't mean they don't have anything left to learn. Playing against boys will let him dominate (hopefully), have a good time and gain confidence. But skill wise it does next to nothing compared to the next level. This is of course assuming he has the skills to compete on a basic level in the NHL, which I think everyone agrees he can.

The progression of any skill-set is enhanced by reasonable difficulty. You wouldn't expect a 6 year old to ride moto-cross but keeping their training wheels on when they obviously have the skills, doesn't help them progress as much as taking a couple falls without them. Maybe the next 6 games will tell a different story, but based on pre-season and his first 3 games the time for training wheels is over and if he wants to progress he needs to compete against a better class of players, something he won't get in junior.

If anything they could send him to the World Juniors to compete against the best of his age group, but day to day in Jr is like playing checkers when you are preparing for chess.

Racki · 10-17-2016, 11:19 AM

It's probably a bit knee jerk on my part but I say, send him back down and let's see if he can be dominant without Dvorak and Marner. I think this team needs to remove itself from some bad contracts before we really make a run. This is not going to be our year it would seem so why waste a year of his entry level contract?

automaton 3 · 10-17-2016, 11:21 AM

Imo his size and skills are already NHL caliber. What he needs to further develop is NHL-level coaching and experience.

getbak · 10-17-2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codynw

If Tkachuk goes back to junior, is he eligible for the AHL in 2017-18? Or does he have to go back to junior again?

Yes, he could play in the AHL next season. He has a December birthday and will turn 20 next year.

If I were a betting man, though, I'd put money on him never playing an AHL game.

jayswin · 10-17-2016, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racki

It's probably a bit knee jerk on my part but I say, send him back down and let's see if he can be dominant without Dvorak and Marner. I think this team needs to remove itself from some bad contracts before we really make a run. This is not going to be our year it would seem so why waste a year of his entry level contract?

Almost everything on CP posted since Wednesday has been knee jerk. It's crazy.