[News] Tkachuk Speaks to Media - Live Now

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

How's this for non-politics -- do you think Tkachuk was well liked in the dressing room in Calgary?

He's saying all the right things now (how excited he is to be in Florida, how its the perfect place for him etc), and while some of that is just for media, I bet there is some truth to it as well. Looking back, I don't remember seeing him in any photos with his teammates (like at Christmas parties, etc), and I'm not sure who else he would be that "tight" with as the single American guy, son of a millionaire, never played in the AHL with any of the other prospects coming up, etc.

I have a feeling he was tolerated but not buddies with anyone, and some actively resented how he’d drag them into scrums when nothing bad was really happening.

I remember once during the Gatorade Line days he got in on a scoring play and wanted the Gatorade squirt from Gaudreau. He got it but Gaudreau kinda looked like “no that’s OUR thing”.

[mile]

He went to Gaudreau's wedding


I think Gaudreau, Bennett, Rittich, and maybe Hanifin were his best friends. Probably friendly with the rest of the team but not too close. Most of his social media posts are of his family.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

How's this for non-politics -- do you think Tkachuk was well liked in the dressing room in Calgary?

He's saying all the right things now (how excited he is to be in Florida, how its the perfect place for him etc), and while some of that is just for media, I bet there is some truth to it as well. Looking back, I don't remember seeing him in any photos with his teammates (like at Christmas parties, etc), and I'm not sure who else he would be that "tight" with as the single American guy, son of a millionaire, never played in the AHL with any of the other prospects coming up, etc.

By all accounts, a huge community guy. Visited children's hospital and things like that.

In the locker room it's hard to say. He seems like a loud personality, and sometimes that rubs guys the wrong way.

[NOISIA]

Originally Posted by mile

He went to Gaudreau's wedding


I think Gaudreau, Bennett, Rittich, and maybe Hanifin were his best friends. Probably friendly with the rest of the team but not too close. Most of his social media posts are of his family.

Edit - Misread the post, thought it was about Johnny not Chucky.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by NOISIA

Edit - Misread the post, thought it was about Johnny not Chucky.

I would hope Johnny would go to his own wedding...

[cannon7]

I liked Tkachuk as a Flame, but kind of want him to fall flat on his face after watching that press conference. Yuck.

[Goriders]

The way I look at it you’re not going to be successful with people that don’t really want to be on your team.

Although it was a big gut shot losing both Johnny and Tkachuk. I think in the long run them leaving is probably for the best.

[blankall]

I think the dressing room was a lot more fractured than we thought. There was definitely a divide between the Giordano and some of the younger players, including Tkachuk. There may have been further divides amongst the younger players.

My guess is that when things were good, people got along well enough. When there was a bad run, they were at each other's throats.

[SuperMatt18]

I have it from a pretty clear source that Giordano was not a big fan of Tkachuk at all, felt like his talk in the media and actual actions behind the scenes were much different.

[BurningSteel]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I would hope Johnny would go to his own wedding...

Actually it was a very difficult decision. Literally took him to the 11th hour to decide.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Tkachuk is a hell of a player. I really do. I argued for him in his draft year and thought he was going to be a very good player, and I do not belong in the school of thought that his 42 goals and 104pts was just lightning in a bottle or made possible by Gaudreau's magic. That was synergy, and Tkachuk was very much a part of that. He is a consummate pro.


2 things I won't miss, however:


1) The whole "Bringing his teammates to war". Why? What advantage does it give your team having every game you play a war? Is it an advantage having a bunch of teams around the league circling the dates where they get to come to Calgary all angry and full of energy? If every team plays you harder than they play a lot of other teams, that makes your season more difficult.


2) I liked him and he is a special player - but I am glad that Calgary doesn't have a 'rat' now. Lots of players in Flames' history that I didn't like because of some antics. If he stayed, he would have ended up being the captain, but a captain should never be a rat IMO. His past season he was much less his usual self, and that was the most successful season of his career. I think he is going to try and prove himself in Florida.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I liked Tkachuk as a Flame, but kind of want him to fall flat on his face after watching that press conference. Yuck.

Tkachuk has now potentially gutted two of the top teams from last year, and the season hasn't even started. Demanding lots of cash and only going to a few select cities is not how you go about winning.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Tkachuk is a hell of a player. I really do. I argued for him in his draft year and thought he was going to be a very good player, and I do not belong in the school of thought that his 42 goals and 104pts was just lightning in a bottle or made possible by Gaudreau's magic. That was synergy, and Tkachuk was very much a part of that. He is a consummate pro.


2 things I won't miss, however:


1) The whole "Bringing his teammates to war". Why? What advantage does it give your team having every game you play a war? Is it an advantage having a bunch of teams around the league circling the dates where they get to come to Calgary all angry and full of energy? If every team plays you harder than they play a lot of other teams, that makes your season more difficult.


2) I liked him and he is a special player - but I am glad that Calgary doesn't have a 'rat' now. Lots of players in Flames' history that I didn't like because of some antics. If he stayed, he would have ended up being the captain, but a captain should never be a rat IMO. His past season he was much less his usual self, and that was the most successful season of his career. I think he is going to try and prove himself in Florida.

I dunno, I'm the complete opposite. The things I will miss the most about not having Chucky is losing that "rat" element. I loved it when he pissed the other team off and got under their skin. The fact that my Oiler buddies absolutely loathe him makes it even sweeter as a Flames fan.

[UnitedFlames]

I won't miss this. For some reason, this really bugged me. Please the fact he floated through most of those Ottawa games.

[UnitedFlames]

double post

[NOISIA]

Originally Posted by blankall

I think the dressing room was a lot more fractured than we thought. There was definitely a divide between the Giordano and some of the younger players, including Tkachuk. There may have been further divides amongst the younger players.

My guess is that when things were good, people got along well enough. When there was a bad run, they were at each other's throats.

Gio was never a good captain.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I have it from a pretty clear source that Giordano was not a big fan of Tkachuk at all, felt like his talk in the media and actual actions behind the scenes were much different.

He's probably similar to Phaneuf in a player that teammates tolerate but don't particularly like. Ironically both Phaneuf and Tkachuk fancy themselves as leaders despite lacking ideal leadership qualities.

[mile]

Imagine a young Phaneuf and Tkachuk on the same team together.


It would be interesting to say the least.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by blankall

I think the dressing room was a lot more fractured than we thought. There was definitely a divide between the Giordano and some of the younger players, including Tkachuk. There may have been further divides amongst the younger players.

My guess is that when things were good, people got along well enough. When there was a bad run, they were at each other's throats.

I think you are right and the dressing room was fractured.

When they asked Gaudreau on Spittin Chicklets if he had called any of his teammates to tell them of his move he said....No half the team lives in Europe, Sweden anyways.

Thought that was a very interesting response.

[mile]

On Ryan Leslie's interview with Tkachuk on Instagram, he said he had (or was planning to have) 1-on-1 chats over Facetime with just about everyone on the team.