Matthew Tkachuk and the 9 games

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Pinder had a good point, who's better on the farm?

I'm sure given a chance, a number of players. Sorry, Tkachuk has been underwhelming in his performance. I don't see what anyone is so excited about. He is everything I thought he would be when he drafted, a work in progress. His skating needs work, he needs to get stronger based on the game he's trying to play, and he needs to learn to make plays quicker. He's on par with an AHL player IMO and is not ready for the NHL. He needs further development, just like Draisatl did with Edmonton.

This is where I find Flames fans to be most hypocritical. If this were the Oilers playing a guy like Tkachuk we would be up their ass about rushing a prospect and putting his future at risk. Tkachuk is not making a case for staying up. He isn't scoring and he isn't a physical force. He's just okay, and that isn't enough. Not when you consider the long term ramifications of keeping him up and how it affects his long term status. I find it quite ironic when the team practices this tough love and commitment to over-baking other players. Just a very bizarre decision so far. If he were scoring or contributing by standing out with his physical play, I'd say maybe. But he's not doing anything that Brandon Bolig couldn't do.

I'd rather see what Hunter Shinkaruk, Morgan Klimchuk, or Mark Jankowski can accomplish at this point, and push Tkachuk's contract off another year. Based on the salary structure that Treliving has put together we are going to need these high performers on their entry level contracts to support the high paid players when it matters most. Now is not Tkachuk's time. Send him back to junior.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Klimchuck deserves a shot soon

How?

3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points

4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points

One of those was done in 55 games and one was done in 5 games.

All these people preaching to send Tkachuk down as we don't want to rush anyone, yet Klimchuk has one good week, his first since junior, and people are falling all over themselves to get him up here.

Tkachuk is already, and always will be, a better player than Klimchuk. I like what Klimchuk is doing this year, but it is 5 games, coming off a year where he looked like a first round BUST.

[Poe969]

I think Tkachuck will be better than Klimchuck but right now I don't know. Tkachuck is good but hasn't been special at all. He isn't doing anything that really stands out to say he's a top 6 player yet and I think he has it in him but he still needs work. Bringing up someone else is smart IMO because maybe there is someone who is ready and just needs a shot to make it.

The Flames aren't contending this year with or without Tkachuck, this isn't about his contract, it's about his development. He just isn't ready.

[Alpine Fisher]

He needs to gain some weight and work on his shot.
Mitch Marner is ready for the NHL. Chucky is not.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I think Tkachuck will be better than Klimchuck but right now I don't know. Tkachuck is good but hasn't been special at all. He isn't doing anything that really stands out to say he's a top 6 player yet and I think he has it in him but he still needs work. Bringing up someone else is smart IMO because maybe there is someone who is ready and just needs a shot to make it.

The Flames aren't contending this year with or without Tkachuck, this isn't about his contract, it's about his development. He just isn't ready.

I don't know which Tkachuk you have been watching. I feel very differently about his game. He is already the most physical winger on our roster. He has been just as dangerous as anyone on the wing not named Frolik, Gaudreau. Sure he may not be 100% top 6 material yet. He has been playing more of a middle 6 role anyways, which is more than acceptable to bring a rookie along. His offence, physical game are more than NHL ready. His game away from the puck and in the d zone will only improve. I don't see his weaknesses improving greatly dominating every shift in the o zone in Juniour. This is where he will develop best IMO.

[Poe969]

Saying he's been one of the best wingers is like saying he's the tallest midget. He has more potential than what he's showing, at least I hope so. He's supposed to be a top 6 (if not a first line) player and he's not playing up to par, it's that simple. Playing in the NHL and getting beat isn't going to develop his game, just look at the oilers players. If he goes down and dominates, it should build confidence and let him work on the things he needs to work on. He just isn't ready for the NHL and keeping him here because he's been "ok" just doesn't make sense IMO.

[icarus]

I would be more inclined to send him down were it not for the fact he has won the CHL's biggest prize. Chasing a repeat may not be as motivating for him, especially after a demotion. I would keep him up but it's a close call for me.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Saying he's been one of the best wingers is like saying he's the tallest midget. He has more potential than what he's showing, at least I hope so. He's supposed to be a top 6 (if not a first line) player and he's not playing up to par, it's that simple. Playing in the NHL and getting beat isn't going to develop his game, just look at the oilers players. If he goes down and dominates, it should build confidence and let him work on the things he needs to work on. He just isn't ready for the NHL and keeping him here because he's been "ok" just doesn't make sense IMO.

List of wingers on the Flames roster that have been better than Tkachuk this season.

1. Frolik
2. Gaudreau (maybe)
3. ......nope that's it

[timbit]

Originally Posted by zukes

List of wingers on the Flames roster that have been better than Tkachuk this season.

1. Frolik
2. Gaudreau (maybe)
3. ......nope that's it

Brouwer?

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm not sure I want to send him down to the OHL. When you have a NHL ready kid and you send him back to play with teens, good for the ego and confidence maybe, but entirely bad in terms of the game will slow down again and he could develop bad habits. Sending him back to the burgers and fries for lunch pizza for dinner minimum conditioning compared to the NHL to me is a bad idea.

[Poe969]

again, he's been the a top 3 winger on bad team. In some games, Wideman has been the best defender...does that mean he's really good or that everyone else is bad?

He has been one of our best but he's still not good enough.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Poe969

again, he's been the a top 3 winger on bad team. In some games, Wideman has been the best defender...does that mean he's really good or that everyone else is bad?

He has been one of our best but he's still not good enough.

Again, nobody in the world is suggesting you only make the NHL once you have nothing left to learn or no room left to grow.

He's good enough to play in the NHL.

[Classic_Sniper]

I'm in favor of keeping Tkachuk till at least the halfway point of the season to save that year of UFA status ala Draisaitl. If we're still in the playoff hunt, he stays and if we're out of it, send him back to London and let him play the World Junior Hockey Championships. He has elements to his game that the rest of the players don't have and he's playing on a line right now that's shutting down top lines and being productive at the same time. London is not going to teach him that at the same level.

I think the kid has proven a sufficient amount at the junior level. He played a full season with the Knights, a WJHC, a full playoffs along with scoring the game winner at the Memorial Cup. His role right now at the NHL level will teach him more than anything else st the moment.

[shadowlord]

Send him back to junior. The Flames aren't winning with him in the lineup (not his fault), so might as well try a call up from Stockton.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[GGG]

Originally Posted by renny

I don't think that more marinating is a bad thing, look at franchises like Detroit who always make keep their guys down for a long time. They seem to be alright at developing talent.

Are they?

Remove Datsuk and Zetterberg who they were able to exploit through being ahead on international scounting and I don't believe that the Detroit philosophy of wait is any better than any other org.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by GGG

Are they?

Remove Datsuk and Zetterberg who they were able to exploit through being ahead on international scounting and I don't believe that the Detroit philosophy of wait is any better than any other org.

Um... Just on the current roster. Tatar, Nyquist, Athanasiou, Sproul, Shehan, Helm all spent atleast 2 seasons on their AHL team. Then there were guys like Hudler. Those are all guys who were marinated and came in and made impacts.

Mind you I still think Tkachuk is ready. I'm just pointing out that Detroit is fairly good at taking their time with prospect and developing them properly.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by New Era

I'm sure given a chance, a number of players. Sorry, Tkachuk has been underwhelming in his performance. I don't see what anyone is so excited about. He is everything I thought he would be when he drafted, a work in progress. His skating needs work, he needs to get stronger based on the game he's trying to play, and he needs to learn to make plays quicker. He's on par with an AHL player IMO and is not ready for the NHL. He needs further development, just like Draisatl did with Edmonton.

This is where I find Flames fans to be most hypocritical. If this were the Oilers playing a guy like Tkachuk we would be up their ass about rushing a prospect and putting his future at risk. Tkachuk is not making a case for staying up. He isn't scoring and he isn't a physical force. He's just okay, and that isn't enough. Not when you consider the long term ramifications of keeping him up and how it affects his long term status. I find it quite ironic when the team practices this tough love and commitment to over-baking other players. Just a very bizarre decision so far. If he were scoring or contributing by standing out with his physical play, I'd say maybe. But he's not doing anything that Brandon Bolig couldn't do.

I'd rather see what Hunter Shinkaruk, Morgan Klimchuk, or Mark Jankowski can accomplish at this point, and push Tkachuk's contract off another year. Based on the salary structure that Treliving has put together we are going to need these high performers on their entry level contracts to support the high paid players when it matters most. Now is not Tkachuk's time. Send him back to junior.

Really?! Bollig?!?! 4 points a season Bollig?!? I'll have what you're drinking

[polak]

Still don't know how playing in the OHL is going to be better for his development. Has anyone provided any reason besides "let him be the guy" or whatever?

What can the OHL teach him that NHL coaches can't? Again he hasn't hurt the team and I'd say he's been better than most of the players so it's not a case of him not being able to keep up.

[The Professor]

My guess is that he stays.

[cam_wmh]

I really want him to spend time in the AHL. Have there been exceptions to that underage rule in the past?