Eyes moved to Tkachuk and his contract situation once it was announced Gaudreau would join the Blue Jackets last Thursday. Tkachuk is a restricted free agent and was even listed as a possible top offer sheet candidate, but could become an unrestricted free agent as early as the summer of 2023. Tkachuk had until Friday to sign his $9 million qualifying offer, but the Flames took away that option Monday by filing for arbitration. This brings us to the present day where Tkachuk reportedly isn’t interested in staying in Calgary long term. A trade is likely to happen before his arbitration date, which will be scheduled between July 27 and Aug. 11. Now that Tkachuk’s desires are known, questions for the Flames will shift to whether the club needs to rebuild or retool.
Why did the Flames elect to take Tkachuk to arbitration?
The team said, via tweet, that going to arbitration gives Calgary “the opportunity to continue to work with (Tkachuk’s) representatives towards a contractual resolution while removing the possibility of an offer sheet.” It essentially would have given the Flames more time to negotiate a long-term deal with him, or possibly find a trade partner for him before the arbitration period if it got to that point. We provided an in-depth explainer about why the Flames would elect to go to arbitration with the 24-year-old.
What will the Flames’ plan be post-Tkachuk?
If the Flames do trade Tkachuk, a lot will depend upon what they can harvest for his rights in return. Even a year away from unrestricted free agency, he should command a significant package, something along the lines of what the Buffalo Sabres were able to extract for Jack Eichel. Presumably, Tkachuk’s preferred destination would be his hometown of St. Louis, a team that would need to move out a significant salary in order to pay Tkachuk whatever he will eventually command (a salary of $9 million per season is the starting point).
Calgary always tries to stay in win-now mode, so they’d likely take on Vladimir Tarasenko’s money, as long as the Blues also included a young producing NHLer such as Jordan Kyrou, and maybe a prospect along the lines of Jake Neighbours. The Blues have a lot of money committed to their defense corps, but it’s hard to imagine the Flames taking on a Torey Krug because he’s too pricey and it’s not an urgent area of need at the moment.
The other strategy for Calgary — and again, keeping in mind the issue of trying to retain players in a Canadian market — is that they might try to get players in return that are under their control for longer periods of time. That’s what suddenly would make the New Jersey Devils contenders too.
The Devils tried to sign Gaudreau. Tkachuk, his former linemate, would be a nice consolation prize. The Devils’ pool of high-end young talent would include at least one or two players still in the entry-level system that would be under team control for two years or more. As long as the Flames have Jacob Markstrom in goal, Sutter behind the bench, and Murray Edwards as the controlling interest in the ownership group, there will be limited interest in a scorched-earth rebuild.
How big of an impact does Tkachuk have on the Flames?
Losing Johnny Gaudreau already stings for the Calgary Flames. Losing Matthew Tkachuk in the same summer might as well be the nail in the coffin for the team’s aspirations for Cup contention. The Flames may still be in the playoff mix thanks to their depth, but their star power will have completely evaporated.
Tkachuk is a unicorn in this league, an extremely rare mix of skill and snarl, finesse and grit, scoring and passing, offence and defence. He really can do it all and is currently in the prime of his career as one of the league’s most valuable players. This is a guy who scored 42 goals and 104 points last year while driving play to an elite degree at both ends of the ice. Tkachuk is a superstar.
Tkachuk projects to stay at such a high level for quite some time. Over the next seven seasons, he’s expected to be worth 26 wins. The only question about his impact moving forward is how he’ll manage without his elite linemate, Gaudreau. Calgary’s already reeling from that so losing both of their game-changing wingers would be absolutely devastating — especially because they don’t have any other wingers who measure anywhere near this pair.
Why would Tkachuk want out of Calgary?
It is probably a combination of things, but it would unquestionably start with Gaudreau’s departure as a free agent last week. Tkachuk spent most of the early part of his career playing left wing on the second line, mostly alongside Mikael Backlund, because Gaudreau played left wing on the first line, mostly alongside Sean Monahan.
Last season, almost from start to finish, coach Sutter shifted Tkachuk to right wing on the top line, employing the theory of putting all the scoring eggs in one basket. It worked. Largely because Gaudreau created so many openings with his speed and vision, Tkachuk had a career year, and many analysts deemed that top line, centered by Elias Lindholm, as the best line in the NHL. Without Gaudreau there, the appetite to play in Calgary long term would be greatly diminished.
Then there is the Canadian quandary: More and more, it seems teams such as Calgary end up on a players’ no-trade list, which is concerning. Partly, that might be a function of playing in an older building. Partly that may be the scrutiny of playing in a Canadian market. Partly, that might be the fear of playing for a demanding, old-school coach such as Sutter. But once a player adds up all the pros and cons of playing in Calgary, they may just decide that they’d rather be somewhere else.
So, which teams might be interested in Tkachuk?
We looked at seven possible options that could work with Tkachuk. The St. Louis Blues are an obvious destination considering it’s where he grew up and where his father, Keith, spent nine years as an NHLer. Teams like the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils were also listed as options.
If the Blues are the preferred destination, how could they make a trade work?
It wouldn’t be easy. The Blues are currently over the $82.5 million salary cap, so the addition of Tkachuk would have to be a dollar-for-dollar deal. That means the Blues would have to move enough players to fit in Tkachuk’s salary, which will be at least $9 million. The player probably most coveted by Calgary would be Kyrou, but his salary is just $2.8 million in 2022-23, so it’ll take more than that. Could it include Krug? Tarasenko? Both of those players have no-trade clauses. Blues GM Doug Armstrong would have to get creative, but if Tkachuk says he wants to play in his hometown of St. Louis, the club will do everything it can to make it work.
(Answers compiled by Hailey Salvian, Jeremy Rutherford, Eric Duhatschek, Shayna Goldman and Dom Luszczyszyn)
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
