[Signing] Flames sign Tkachuk (3 yrs, $7 mil AAV)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Buff

It's depressing how a contract that was signed only a couple hours ago can cause fans to have such panic for 3 or 4 years from now.

Just be happy that the band is back together. Is that too much to ask? I guess so.

There's nothing wrong with looking ahead and being concerned about the ability to keep a good team together. Part of me looks at that but the other half is happy this is done so the team can start the season without distractions. I'm perfectly fine to see what this season and the next two bring because you never know in 3/4 years maybe some of these players aren't part of the solution anyway and if they are then trying to keep them will be a good problem to have.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I think Brad tried to prepare us for him bringing back pretty much the same roster.

He talked frequently about how they finished in the regular season. He warned about throwing the baby out with the bath water. He talked about how someone was going to win the Stanley Cup and that team won't bring back the same roster. (To downplay how much roster turnover the Flames were going to have?)

I think he was just being honest. Given the personnel quality, age and the big step taken last year it seemed like a really good bet that Treliving would keep the roster largely intact.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think he was just being honest. Given the personnel quality, age and the big step taken last year it seemed like a really good bet that Treliving would keep the roster largely intact.

Really the only two dysfunctional parts of the roster were moved, Smith and Neal.

[868904]

It's later than the Flames wanted but it is what it is.

And really, Game 1 of the regular season is basically still training camp for the Calgary Flames. They always lose anyways so it's just basically just another preseason game for Tkachuk. So he will get at least two game before the REAL season starts.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I said he would get.more because of taxes ect. in the other thread and everyone got mad at me.

Point's deal is a massive bargain...less than a mil more than Boeser

TBF I said your tax point was good. And I wasn’t mad. But I think Boeser and Point’s deals are pretty fair.

[transplant99]

Its not a good deal and its not a bad deal.

Its just...a deal.

He really did as well as he could on a couple fronts though, particularly with the 9M QO at the end that, as discussed, can walk him right ito UFA if he chooses not to re-up before that.

BT did well in getting the AAV to a point he could retain everyone on the team and not lose depth to fit one guy in.

Now its put up or shut up time for the whole lot of them.

Expectations from most are extremely high, let's see how they respond.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

No, it guarantees that he will have the leverage to become a UFA in 4 years time, the minimum time period. It doesn't necessarily mean he's going to leave.

Even players who intend to stay were they are at like to have the leverage of becoming UFA's. Stamkos wanted to stay in Tampa, but became a UFA anyway.

I understand that. This was in response to posters joke (?) he would sign in Arizona.

[sureLoss]

2 pm presser

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
Just touched base with Tkachuk as his plane was taking off out of Toronto. He's obviously jacked to be heading to Calgary for a press conference around 2 p.m. Treliving will speak then too. Big day for this franchise.

[Fire]

I think it's a bit too high on a 3 year deal, but it still allows them to keep everyone. Hopefully they can win a cup in the next 3 years because it will be tough to keep the team together after that.

Hopefully Tkachuk doesn't start the season too slowly.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I can't say I love this deal. It is a bit higher for a bridge than I thought, and a bridge was something that I was really hoping the Flames would avoid. With that being said, I guess it is to be expected when you factor in the environment that these young RFAs are finding (thanks Dubas and Chiarreli!), plus in Tkachuk's case he has the experience of his dad as well. This is going to be a tough renegotiation after this contract ends, and gives Tkachuk a tonne of leverage. However, you cross that bridge when it comes, and things could look drastically different by then - the whole contract landscape might have changed, Tkachuk could have up and down years/injuries, Flames might be competing or rebuilding... No use worrying about what is going to happen in 3 and 4 years down the road right now.


What we all know for sure is that this team is built to win in the next 3 seasons. This team is better with Tkachuk in the lineup than not. This contract allows the Flames to retain both Brodie and Frolik, and even Jankowski who I am eager to see without a Neal or a Brouwer (and who is an excellent PK'er). The best pieces of the team from last year are back, the worst pieces are gone.


Flames this season are slightly more talented, they are definitely tougher and harder to play against, and they are probably quicker as well overall, especially depending on if any PTOs get signed. Can't wait to see this season unfold - I expect a great season out of this group, and I am glad Tkachuk has some training camp left to work on his skating legs and rust a bit before the season starts.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think he was just being honest. Given the personnel quality, age and the big step taken last year it seemed like a really good bet that Treliving would keep the roster largely intact.

That's true but I know there is a group of people here who wanted heads to roll that were just setting themselves up for disappointment

[delayedreflex]

I wonder if Tkachuk wouldn't budge on making sure he would be the highest paid Flame per year currently on the team - it seems like with Point signing $6.75M/yr for 3 years, Treliving would have had good justification to get him under that - I actually think this deal is OK and that Point took a discount, but it still surprises me given the order in which these contracts were signed. Ultimately, the $0.25M/yr likely will be fairly inconsequential to the team, but symbolically making Tkachuk higher paid than Gio and Gaudreau means something - hopefully Tkachuk is ready to take on an even bigger leadership role moving forward then.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

That's true but I know there is a group of people here who wanted heads to roll that were just setting themselves up for disappointment

I think a lot of the desire to see change comes at Peters's level and not Trelivings. Things like having three Selke style players all on one line, is where I personally would like to see a change. Last year, minus Tkachuk, the entire top six were Selkes. I would be great if Bennett and someone like Dube could crack that, and add some speed and sandpaper to the top of the lineup.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I said he would get.more because of taxes ect. in the other thread and everyone got mad at me.

Point's deal is a massive bargain...less than a mil more than Boeser

I think the Scorpion raised the tax issue as well but many posters dismissed it as being relevant only in the case of UFAs.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I think a lot of the desire to see change comes at Peters's level and not Trelivings. Things like having three Selke style players all on one line, is where I personally would like to see a change. Last year, minus Tkachuk, the entire top six were Selkes. I would be great if Bennett and someone like Dube could crack that, and add some speed and sandpaper to the top of the lineup.

Lady Byng players?

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1176899336472428550

[topfiverecords]

Good thing this deal came down early because the morning show guys couldn’t get 15 mins in without running out of things to talk about.

[bettercallbettman]

Nice. Let’s play hockey.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't really see Point as a player to gauge Tkachuk by. Tkachuk is really the most unique RFA out of this bunch.


Without looking, I would guess he plays the toughest minutes with the least favourable zone starts. Right? He also plays with a certain grit to his game, and is often an impact player even without touching the stats sheet. I don't know where you start in quantifying that in terms of dollars, but being higher than Point doesn't really surprise me. It wouldn't surprise me being lower than him either - that's just how difficult I think putting a 'number' on a unique player like Tkachuk is, at least in relation to other RFAs who probably don't do the kind of heavy lifting that Tkachuk does.


Was hoping for a longer-term deal, or at least a bit less money on a shorter deal, but this deal still allows the Flames to keep their team intact for the season. I am happy with that.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Lady Byng players?

That makes more sense, I was scratching my head too.