TSN Article - Flames’ Tkachuk unconcerned about growing reputation

[FanIn80]

In any normal season, Matthew Tkachuk might be in the conversation for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

Gimme a break.

[shotinthebacklund]

Tkachuck is developing the reputation hes intending to develop. Develop a rep now and let it carry you for years based solely on opponents memory of what you did once. I firmly believe next year this kid will be a penalty magnet while taking much fewer.

[djsFlames]

Already a wrecking ball assist machine below the hashmarks and particularly behind the net. If he can work on putting the puck in the net more (and we know he can) then we're looking at a 60 point bulldog that's going to get under the skin of opposing teams. What an asset to have.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by FBI

Yeah Bennett-Backlund-Frolik would be pretty sweet too..

I can't decide if I have patience for Bennett to struggle for awhile but become a good center or to bring Janko up and get Bennett back on the wing..

Some players are just better as wingers. Mikael Granlund being the poster boy for that this season. Right now I have a feeling that Bennett is one of those players.

[Huntingwhale]

The fact that he plays like a 28 year old veteran, and he's only 19 is just awesome. I remember wanting so bad to get Jesse PullyourRV at the draft and Tkachuk was the consolation prize. Oilers fans can gloat that we laughed at them for taking Draisatl before Bennett, but now we can laugh that they took JP before Tkachuk. And definitely point fingers and laugh at the Canucks.

Locke is right in that he's the type of player I was hoping Bennett would/will become. And to a certain extent Ferland. I remember Ferland was scouted as a #### disturber, but you don't see much of that in him other then his physical play. Tkachuk is just a turd demon and I can easily see why other teams will/do hate him. He's such a jerk. But he's OUR jerk. Finally we have an ####### jerk on our team.

It's going to be a sad day when he inevitably has some kind of slump like Monahan, JG or Bennett had recently and everyone turns on him...Just kidding, he's awesome! High end skill, with a jerk face playing style and his Father mentoring him. Just...awesome!!

[t0rrent98]

There's also another article which states that we may have our very own pest like Brad Marchand in Matthew Tkachuk. Edmonton has a hate on for this guy already which is great news.
Rookie forward may soon dethrone Brad Marchand as most hated player in the NHL.

Five months into his career, Tkachuk is already a reviled figure in Edmonton - not the first Flame to be held in that regard - but he is beginning to be mentioned in the same breath as Brad Marchand in other markets.

[FanIn80]

I'm ok with him dethroning Marchand. "Most-hated 30-goal scorer in the league" is a title I think both Tkachuk and Flames fans could get used to.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He really has fantastic skill and vision. Some of the plays he's made this season are the type you see from veteran stars as he looks mature beyond his years. You rarely ever see him make minor league moves and try and deke through multiple defenders like Gadreau and Bennett at times are guilty of. I think we can now see why he was getting a lot of buzz going into the draft as there's a lot to like about what he brings to the table. Once players like he and Bennett hit their primes this team should hopefully be in a good place.

This is my impression as well. He has shown so much in just his first season. Not just high IQ, but the skill and ability to create and finish. The tips in front of the net. The vision and passing ability (from behind the net; also his primary assist to Frolik against Pittsburgh was a thing of beauty).

He can also play a simple game -- instead of trying to dangle through someone, he'll just flip it into the corner and bang away, grind along the boards, be a pest before and after the whistle.

He's also not a defensive liability; playing with Backlund and Frolik certainly help, but it's not like he's turning the puck over constantly or bringing the line down. He's as much of a contributor as the other two.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Already a wrecking ball assist machine below the hashmarks and particularly behind the net. If he can work on putting the puck in the net more (and we know he can) then we're looking at a 60 point bulldog that's going to get under the skin of opposing teams. What an asset to have.

Why limit him to 60? With the way he's playing in his first year I think 60 is a pretty low projection at this point.

[Strange Brew]

He really has been a revelation. I have heard the Flames (maybe Conroy?) say they are still working with him on his skating and that's the one he can still focus on improving. Could you imagine a quicker, feisty, wrecking ball with his hands? Pretty exciting to have a player of this calibre on the team.

[drewtastic]

Matthew Tkachuk is not afraid to stand in front of the opposition net.

I like that.

[FudsMcDuff]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

... turd demon...

Probably doesn't mean what I think it means...

[Beninho]

If he can improve his skating by not even that much he is gonna be a legit star. He thinks the game 2-3 plays ahead which is a quality only a select group of NHLers posses. Always in the right spot, rarely makes a mistake (and when he does he usually redeems himself by tracking back hard). His game is so well rounded for a 19 year old it's quite awesome to see. A PF with high IQ and high end skill is rare and we are lucky to have him especially at pick 6.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Already a wrecking ball assist machine below the hashmarks and particularly behind the net. If he can work on putting the puck in the net more (and we know he can) then we're looking at a 60 point bulldog that's going to get under the skin of opposing teams. What an asset to have.

Wouldn't be shocked if he hits 70pts multiple times to be honest. It all depends on how he can improve some weaknesses like his skating but all the other attributes are there to be a 70pt player. Considering he is having the season he has while playing on our shutdown line and constantly playing against tough opposition and starting out in his own end, the fact he's already put up 34 pts as a rookie is amazing. Not to mention he has this arrogance about him and just seems to be such a confident player, he knows he's good and playing in the NHL has not phased him one bit. I love it

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

He really has been a revelation. I have heard the Flames (maybe Conroy?) say they are still working with him on his skating and that's the one he can still focus on improving. Could you imagine a quicker, feisty, wrecking ball with his hands? Pretty exciting to have a player of this calibre on the team.

It's good that the team and him know that's his biggest weakness. From all reports its seems like he eats sleeps and breathes hockey. I have no reason to think he won't improve his skating with the tools he has available.

[Anduril]

It's been a while since the Flames have had the "hate to play" against type of guy. His rough pest attitude will be a joy to watch for the rest of his time in Flames silks.

[Yrebmi]

Saw on Facebook and thought I'd drop it here

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by FudsMcDuff

Probably doesn't mean what I think it means...

I bet it does (!)

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

Saw on Facebook and thought I'd drop it here

Best PF in team history with hopefully the next . Really cool pic.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by beninho

best player in team history with hopefully the next . Really cool pic.

fyp.