Darryl Sutter Takes Shot at Matthew Tkachuk’s Lack of Leadership

One of the questions in Calgary this week — even though it doesn’t matter now because the player has been traded — surrounded the comments made by Darryl Sutter in regards to Matthew Tkachuk. Sutter was asked about the similarities between his former forward and current winger Tyler Toffoli and Sutter seemed to take a shot at Tkachuk with his response.

During the media avail, when he was asked if there were similarities between Thackuk and Toffoli he responded, “No.” He then added, “One guy’s won Stanley Cups, been a big part of long playoff runs.”

Darryl Sutter just absolutely destroyed Tkachuk in the media and showed no emotion doing it 😂

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— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) September 23, 2022

It’s an interesting response that has garnered a lot of attention and a mixed reaction from those who saw it. Some suggest the narrative that Sutter had issues with Tkachuk is simply media spin. Others are arguing there’s no way this can be taken out of context and that Sutter was, in fact, shooting on Tkachuk and his inability to play up to the speed and importance of playoff games.

This wouldn’t be the first time there were whispers of tension between the team, the coach, and Tkachuk. It wasn’t long ago that rumblings of issues between him and his teammates were real, following the night he flipped out on the bench because he didn’t get away with shooting a puck at Jake Muzzin of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tkachuk has also been questioned when it comes to his leadership and talk that he wanted to be a captain prior to his trade to Florida were out there. His level of compete was certainly in question when he failed to show up in any game but the first one against the Oilers in their 2022 playoff series. Obviously, if Sutter kept a mental note of any of these things, he’s not the type of coach that lets that slide.

It is fair to ask why Sutter felt the need to say anything at all? That answer remains unclear. It could be as simple as trying to compliment Toffoli. But, there could be some bitterness about the way Tkachuk left the Flames and it was only a bit of trade magic by GM Brad Treliving that has kept the Flames competitive coming into the season.

Next: Canucks Talks With Bo Horvat Hit Standstill, Trade Coming?