Yesterday, Sportsnet analyst Shane O’Brien released shocking news on the Steve Kouleas Powerplay podcast. He mentioned that NHL Star and one of the Calgary Flames Alternate Captains Matthew Tkachuk might want out of Calgary. This adds yet another big name to the pool that is available this offseason for Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher to try and acquire to retool the team.
With the Flyers already linked to the Flames for the past couple of seasons due to hometown golden boy Johnny Gaudreau playing for them, the front office and fans should be no stranger to the Calgary organization.
Tkachuk brings exactly what the Flyers were missing last season. A hard-hitting, pest-like, aggressive wing who can score goals at a high level. And with them having many high-level prospects and plenty of draft picks, a trade for Tkachuk makes perfect sense for the Flyers to try and pursue. Here are 3 realistic trade packages for Matt Tkachuk.
1) Say goodbye to the Travises
In this trade, Calgary gets a return that makes sense. With a less than adequate blue line, young d-man Travis Sanheim would help them on the back end. Travis Konecny would immediately fill the hole left by Tkachuk and fill the pest role as well. And the first round pick would be added because of the high level that Tkachuk plays at.
The Flyers don’t get worse, the Flames improve slightly, and a line next season of Tkachuk-Couturier-Farabee sounds like heaven on earth.
2) The Flyers finally get Gaudreau
This trade again makes sense for both sides. The Flames on the blue line are below adequate and young stud Cam York will give their fans something to be excited about. Joel Farabee coming off the best season of his career (even though it was his second season) would fit perfectly into the Flames first or second line along with Konecny. And the two draft picks to help acquire the two stars for the Flyers.
With the Flyers now able to have any combination of Giroux, Tkachuk, Couturier, Allison, Gaudreau, and Hayes to mix and match on the first 2 lines, they immediately get better compared to last season.
3) 2022 Matt Niskanen?
As many fans know, the Flyers desperately needed help on the blue line this season. With Mark Giordano on the last year of his contract and at the age of 37, it would be foolish for the Flames to not try and get a package done for him, especially during a rebuilding period for the franchise. Partnering him next to Provorov would make it easier for him to settle down with a solidified partner this year and refind himself after a down season.
Again any package that involves Tkachuk must start with Travis Konecny, leaving Gostisbehere to fill in for Giordano for the next couple of seasons. Adding in project Nolan Patrick would help as the Flames could correctly develop this boom or bust prospect. And adding a mid first-round pick to continue the rebuild is another vital piece to this trade that would balance it out from being too one sided.