Blues Positioning Themselves to Acquire Matthew Tkachuk [Report]

While all eyes are on what decision Johnny Gaudreau will make in free agency, Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean said people may be focused on the wrong Calgary Flames player. They think the bigger focus should be on Matthew Tkachuk.

While speaking about the NHL Draft and the fallout that will lead into free agency, Kypreos and MacLean discussed the Calgary Flames and their situation with Gaudreau and Tkachuk during the latest episode of Real Kyper and Bourne podcast. Tkachuk is a pending RFA who is one year away from unrestricted free agency. His decision may be tied to what Gaudreau will do, then again, Tkachuk may already know which way he’s leaning and Gaudreau sticking around merely puts a checkmark on the plus side of the ledger. If Gaudreau leaves, Kypreos suggests that Tkachuk will eek closer to exit, with one foot possibly already out the door. “This is a really tense time for Calgary,” he noted.

MacLean doubled down and said, “Don’t think for one minute the St. Louis Blues aren’t doing everything in their power to position themselves to be in the mix for Tkachuk.” He added, ”That seems like one of the most obvious things going on in the back rooms.”

The Blues have had rumored interest in Tkachuk for some time and speculation is that Tkachuk has eyes on the Blues. St. Louis is thinking about trading Vladimir Tarasenko — who hasn’t rescinded his trade request — and there are questions about whether they re-sign David Perron. There’s been chatter of late that the Blues might be making defenseman Torey Krug available. Moving those two players alone would free up $14 million and not signing Perron keeps them commitment-free with a spot for another winger.

The one thing the Blues need to be concerned about are contracts for Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas. Both are pending RFAs at the end of the 2022-23 season and where the organization goes with those two deals could dramatically affect the kind of money they have to give Tkachuk, assuming the Blues don’t make other trades.

Is this a deal that happens next summer? Or, if Gaudreau leaves and the Flames are told that Tkachuk isn’t far behind, could Calgary move both players right away and get the best possible return they can to replace two of their big stars and top-line players?

Next: NHL Trade Talk Podcast – Episode 3: Breaking Down the NHL Draft Trades