Matthew Tkachuk and the 9 games

[icecube]

Tkachuk couldn't be in better hands than with the London Knights as far as development in junior is concerned. I'm leaning towards the send him down option.

[kyuss275]

Other than $'s on ELC i don't see Tkachuk getting better development in junior. AHL would be perfect but not available. Think he learns more off of Backlund and Frolik than he would in JR.

I didn't care about the 9 games before and still don't. The 40th game is what matters to me. Keep him up , send him to World Jr's , and go from there.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Other than $'s on ELC i don't see Tkachuk getting better development in junior. AHL would be perfect but not available. Think he learns more off of Backlund and Frolik than he would in JR.

I didn't care about the 9 games before and still don't. The 40th game is what matters to me. Keep him up , send him to World Jr's , and go from there.

Would have to send him down before the juniors to save the UFA year as game 40 is January 4th and he would still be considered on the roster. Unless you sent him down during the tourney which doesn't seem likely.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Would have to send him down before the juniors to save the UFA year as game 40 is January 4th and he would still be considered on the roster. Unless you sent him down during the tourney which doesn't seem likely.

I thought he had to play 40 games? World Jr's starts mid december. Those games would not count. Granted i could be wrong about the 40 games played.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I thought he had to play 40 games? World Jr's starts mid december. Those games would not count. Granted i could be wrong about the 40 games played.

The 40 games cutoff is on the roster. The 9 game cutoff is games played.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

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

Nope. Junior leagues are still for profit leagues do not want to ruin their competitiveness, thus why they have this rule in place. Agreed that the A would be the best for him but it isn't allowed.

[jroc]

So game number 9 is done... Lets get a poll going!

[442scotty]

I think that he will learn more playing with players like backlund then he will in junior. If they put him on the 4th line he should be sent back....

[IgiTang]

Pretty quiet from the organization on this front today. Is that an indicator that he will likely stay?

If they were gonna send him down, they would have likely released something by now and just cut him, no?

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Pretty quiet from the organization on this front today. Is that an indicator that he will likely stay?

If they were gonna send him down, they would have likely released something by now and just cut him, no?

Well, he may be getting sent down, but perhaps they want him working for the next little while with Van Asten and have him provide Tkachuk with instructions, or have him work with a power-skating coach first and then get sent down, or simply just watch the next couple of games and learn a few things before getting sent down.

There really isn't a rush. I am sure by next game we will probably have the answer, as Gulutzan has to play him or not, and if he isn't playing him, I am sure there will be a lot of media questions.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Well, he may be getting sent down, but perhaps they want him working for the next little while with Van Asten and have him provide Tkachuk with instructions, or have him work with a power-skating coach first and then get sent down, or simply just watch the next couple of games and learn a few things before getting sent down.

There really isn't a rush. I am sure by next game we will probably have the answer, as Gulutzan has to play him or not, and if he isn't playing him, I am sure there will be a lot of media questions.

Perhaps you're right, but it's pretty irregular for clubs to keep players lingering around the club if they aren't keeping them.

All the coaching points you've suggested have likely already been brought to his attention.

[polak]

Originally Posted by icecube

Tkachuk couldn't be in better hands than with the London Knights as far as development in junior is concerned. I'm leaning towards the send him down option.

Working on developing what exactly?

Skating? You think he's better off learning how to skate at an NHL level in junior? Cause sure, speed might help his game but he's far from behind the NHL pace. At no point has he looked too slow for the NHL, he just doesn't look fast. It's not a weakness or a strength.

[Justin]

Originally Posted by polak

Working on developing what exactly?

Skating? You think he's better off learning how to skate at an NHL level in junior? Cause sure, speed might help his game but he's far from behind the NHL pace. At no point has he looked too slow for the NHL, he just doesn't look fast. It's not a weakness or a strength.

Hes in that awkward position where he's a perfect fit for some adjusting in the AHL.

[GioforPM]

I don't see Tkatchuk benefitting from being sent down. If they do it, it's entirely to stagger his ELC expiry IMO. Which isn't improper IMO, just what I see as the rationale.

Now if they do, they have to call up one of Jankowski, Klimchuk or Shinkaruk. Shinkaruk is the easiest choice I guess, because he has a little more experience. Jankowski hasn't played wing for a long time, so if he's up, I'd say give him the 4th line C and move Stajan over (or have him play wing with Backlund, moving Ferland up and Bouma down).

[Toonage]

Treliving has said on a few occasions that he doesn't care as much about the 10 game mark which told me, even back then, they plan on keeping him up a while longer. My guess is they see how competitive the team is come December and make their decision then if Tkachuk hasn't made it for them.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't see Tkatchuk benefitting from being sent down. If they do it, it's entirely to stagger his ELC expiry IMO. Which isn't improper IMO, just what I see as the rationale.

Now if they do, they have to call up one of Jankowski, Klimchuk or Shinkaruk. Shinkarul is the easiest choice I guess, because he has a little more experience. Jankowski hasn't played wing for a long time, so if he's up, I'd say give him the 4th line C and move Stajan over (or have him play wing with Backlund, moving Ferland up and Bouma down).

This is the kind of stuff that should have been dealt with in camp. I'm trying to be positive but I'm getting more and more frustrated with mgmt/coaching. This start has been really bad.

[Barnet Flame]

I think this season is going to be a car crash. Tkatchuck doesn't need to be a part of it and it will do him little good.

For that reason, I'd send him down.

[memphusk]

Keep him up. Let the kid play. He can probably teach some these bums something about playing the right way. He has all the tools and is putting it together. He will be a man amongst boys in junior wasting his time.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Keep him up. Let the kid play. He can probably teach some these bums something about playing the right way. He has all the tools and is putting it together. He will be a man amongst boys in junior wasting his time.

I think Tkachuck is a helluva player and Inlike his style but to call his type of game "the right way" is not at all accurate.

$#!t disturber hockey has never been confused with the way the game was meant to be played.

[memphusk]

Well in my eyes it's the right way is what I should say. I miss the days of paying the price in front of the net, finishing every check as hard as you could, and so on. The game has become so soft it's nice to see somebody act like a man out there.