[News] With the 2016 6th OA pick Flames select LW Matthew Tkachuk

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I wonder if the flames are updating the logo on the helmets, usually its the Flames wordmark.

Retros confirmed.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

He can, but highly unlikely. He is slow as molasses. he just isn't fast enough. I watched him a few times last season and man is he slow. Was getting beat a lot one on one.

He looked a lot faster this year in development camp but skating is something he can work on and get better at. You can't learn to be so tall. Chara was considered a bust because of his skating when he was a prospect too. Hunter at least looks like a better skater than Chara did at his age.

[djsFlames]

Looks like a north american Backlund.

[AC]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Love the #19 on him, looks great.

Yep #19 is a franchise number. Glad we have someone appropriate wearing it now.

[djsFlames]

Also like a slightly shorter Colborne with a different facial structure entirely.

[greentree]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

19.
Arnie Brown, Morris Stefaniw, Ed Kea, Paul Henderson, Bob Gould, Carl Mokosak, Bruce Eakin, Tim Hunter, Todd Harkins, David Haas, Vesa Viitakoski, Chris O'Sullivan, Oleg Saprykin, Chuck Kobasew, Wayne Primeau, Fredrik Modin, Blair Jones, David Jones

Wow...did not know he once played for the (Atlanta) Flames, until you brought it up. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...y.php?pid=2236

"Henderson has scored for Canada!"

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by greentree

Wow...did not know he once played for the (Atlanta) Flames, until you brought it up. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...y.php?pid=2236

"Henderson has scored for Canada!"

Neither did I. Thanks for that.

[Bingo]

I remember being a kid and looking at the Flames "fact book" in their first season in Calgary and seeing him in the "in the system" section with other farmhands.

"Why wouldn't they bring this guy up dad? He's that guy that scored for Canada!"

[Phaneufenstein]

McRae sees Tkachuk as an impact player in the NHL

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home

This is old, but didn't see it posted.
Basil McRae compares Matthew to a more skilled Holmstrom

“In my mind,’’ reckons McRae, “Matthew’s a more skilled (Tomas) Holmstrom. Holmstrom, if you remember, was able to play with Detroit’s best players - Yzerman, Zetterberg - yet excelled in those dirty areas that are so vital to winning or losing games.

“Matthew has a better playmaking ability than Holmstrom but they share a mindset.

“Everyone may have wanted to kill Holmstrom but at the end of the way he won Stanley Cups, agitated and scored 25 to 30 goals every year. I can see Matthew being a lot like that.

“Matthew,’’ says the London Knights’ GM and part-owner admiringly, “is one of those guys, whether you want to be in the war or not, he pulls you into it.

“That’s just his nature.

“He doesn’t abide bystanders.

“He isn’t just ‘this’ type of player, or ‘that’ type of player.

“You can say he’s a ‘skill’ guy and you’d be right. But there’s also a willingness to go to the dirty places, work the boards, take the hit behind the net or in front, tip-ins, screens ...

“One night you can say he’s an agitator, getting under the skin of the top guys. The next night, he’s a playmaker. Then a goal scorer. He’s not afraid to chirp back. To fight when need be.

“Good size. Very mature kid.

“Will he be an impact player at the NHL level?

“Absolutely.”

[Firebot]

It's kinda crazy to think that we have Gaudreau who has already hit top 6 in scoring in the NHL at 23, Monahan as a bonafide 30 goal and #1 centre at 21, TJ Brodie as a potential Norris candidate at 26, Hamilton with 46 points as a defenceman at 23.

We still have 20 year old Bennett and an 18 year old Tkachuk that can reach top line / all star material. Most will hit their prime around the same time.

[GranteedEV]

Imagine if Tkachuk hits Iginla levels.

[MissTeeks]

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Imagine if Tkachuk hits Iginla levels.

[DiracSpike]

I love that Tkachuk and Bennett seem to be similar in that they have the right blend of good attitudes and skill, along with being gritty chirpy mother bleepers.

[cam_wmh]

Fire in his eyes, and kinda hard, don't make sense Rog.

[Samonadreau]

I was sorta writing Tkachuk off to be sent back to junior this year but I'm second guessing that lately Can't wait to see this kid this weekend.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

I was sorta writing Tkachuk off to be sent back to junior this year but I'm second guessing that lately Can't wait to see this kid this weekend.

I think he'll have some competition. He's got to beat out Shinkaruk, Poirer, Klimchuck and Pollock, all of whom have more experience than Tkachuk. Even Mangiapane has more experience and arguably and an equal comparison of skill level (ie, high end talent)

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I think he'll have some competition. He's got to beat out Shinkaruk, Poirer, Klimchuck and Pollock, all of whom have more experience than Tkachuk. Even Mangiapane has more experience and arguably and an equal comparison of skill level (ie, high end talent)

Thing about most of those guys though is they can go to Stockton whereas for Tkachuk it's either the big club or back to Junior which may give him a tie-breaker.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I think he'll have some competition. He's got to beat out Shinkaruk, Poirer, Klimchuck and Pollock, all of whom have more experience than Tkachuk. Even Mangiapane has more experience and arguably and an equal comparison of skill level (ie, high end talent)

Flames need size on the wing in the top 6. I don't see smaller players or lesser players like Pollack beating him out. Tkachuk is not a lock but a favourite to make the team out of camp

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Thing about most of those guys though is they can go to Stockton whereas for Tkachuk it's either the big club or back to Junior which may give him a tie-breaker.

I wouldn't say so. His ELC slides a year if he's sent down and he was a rookie last year in the OHL, playing with two of the best players in the league. He has a lot to prove in the OHL next year, while the Flames a) don't have anything to lose sending him down and b) see what they have with their players on the brink of busting, like Poirer, Hamilton, Pollock, and Klimchuck

I say Tkachuck is way at a disadvantage. Even if he plays better than all these guys, fitness levels and conditioning is different due to the schedule. It's a hard life for a 17/18 year old too