Quote:
Originally Posted by browna
Yes, Tkachuk's last deal basically played out as they all thought it would, where he leaves the season before before finishing out his deal. Both sides knew that how it was going to play out at that signing, and certianly before those Dallas playoff series if not sooner (IMO, when he wasn't given the extension that was tied to the captaincy, before the last season here, that was the final straw)so BT could have had discussions with potential teams for trades long before the trade was consummated.
Tkachuk's situation smelt like roses to some because of the way he acted, directly opposite to the back and forth the JG thing that had just played out. It was business like only because it was all agreed to basically by both sides before, and MT wanted no part of being here with the Flames or Calgary, no matter what.
JG however grappled with the stress of the unknown with a first baby months away, and the options that his agent was assumed to working on for previous years, not transpiring either, and the legacy he could've had here was also important.
So MT had no desire to be here at all, but looked better at the end because he planned his exit years ago, where a big part of hockey JG wanted to stay, even after he declined the Flames last offer, but husband and father JG felt the obligation to family for other locations.
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I disagree. Things were not set in stone with Tkachuk. Tkachuk may have been keeping his options open, but Tkachuk also signed that 3 year deal in order to maximize his contract for the next deal. They way Tkachuk had it planned, had he signed with the Flames, he would have received the most possible years being paid at his peak.
A few things happened that made Tkachuk decide to leave:
1. Gaudreau leaving. Tkachuk wasn't going to stick around on what appeared to be a sinking ship.
2. The awful atmosphere on the team. Losses and Sutter hockey. Tkachuk is not a Sutter guy. He'd wrestled the team away from Giordano and now he was back to square one with Sutter favoring the hard working vets over his younger flashier style of play.
3. Related to the above, Tkachuk wanted to be the center of attention. He wanted to be captain. He wanted to be the future of the team. He did not want to be a cog in the Sutter system.
4. Covid. Tkachuk's list of teams was all states with virtually no Covid restrictions. He was looking for low tax but also freedom states, after 2 years of being unable to cross the border and do F-all. Tkachuk wants to be able to travel to big American sports cities. Tkachuk has been sited frequently at Heat and Marlin games locally and in attendance around St. Louis events.
If things go differently, Tkachuk may have re-signed. Nothing was set.
