Connect with us

Calgary Flames

Flames Filing for Arbitration With Tkachuk Delays Inevitable Trade

The Calgary Flames filed for team arbitration with Matthew Tkachuk, but that will likely only delay an inevitable trade.

The Calgary Flames have either taken one step closer to signing Matthew Tkachuk to a long-term deal or one step closer to chasing him out the door for good. On Monday, the team filed for arbitration with the player in an attempt to have more time to negotiate with him and block any outside attempts at an offer sheet from other teams. The downside of this move is that, while it buys the team some time, it suggests a trade is the most likely outcome.

By electing arbitration, the Flames are setting a deadline of somewhere between July 27 and Aug. 11, depending on the date the hearing is scheduled. They have until then to figure out something else. Unfortunately, multiple outlets that cover the team closely are suggesting this is the first step towards an inevitable trade.

Related: Flames Facing Massive Decision With Matthew Tkachuk

Pat Steinberg writes, “The more you dive into Calgary’s decision to take Matthew Tkachuk to arbitration, it’s clear this is a move to buy time. Either to sign him long-term or to make a trade. Knowing how rarely this happens with players of Tkachuk’s calibre, a trade seems likely.” Eric Francis of Sportsnet writes, “Eight more years of Tkachuk in Calgary is what management has been trying to ensure for months.” He adds, “But given how much time they’ve already had to talk turkey, it doesn’t seem likely.”

If the two sides can’t come to an agreement on a long-term deal, a trade is likely. If an arbitration award is handed out, it’s a one-year deal and that walks Tkachuk to unrestricted free agency. Again, the Flames can’t afford to lose the player for no return, so a trade is likely. Neither side wants this trade situation hanging over them for the entire season, so a trade is likely to happen sooner than later.

Matthew Tkachuk Calgary Flames
Matthew Tkachuk Calgary Flames

Where will Tkachuk go? That’s an interesting question. The St. Louis Blues were rumored to be positioning themselves to eventually make a play for Tkachuk. Letting David Perron walk in free agency was just part of that positioning. The New York Islanders have done very little in free agency and some are wondering if Lou Lamoriello is looking to make a splash. The New Jersey Devils missed out on Johnny Gaudreau and have all sorts of cap space to work with.

Outside of the downside of potentially losing a player like Tkachuk if he’s traded, there’s the additional downside that the Flames will likely lose the trade. All Tkachuk has to do is to hint at the destination he’d like to wind up with and that rules out almost every other team and their desire to trade for him. The Flames probably need to get a solid player back, otherwise, why turn down the option of getting multiple picks in an offer sheet deal? And, the trade has a shelf life. The longer it takes to get it done, the smaller the potential return.

This is not good news for Calgary at all. The only good news they got this weekend was that forward Andrew Mangiapane let it be known on the Eric Francis Show he’s open to a long-term extension with the Flames regardless of what Tkachuk decides to do.

Next: Some Maple Leafs Fans Love Kicking William Nylander Around

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: Path to Canucks and Miller Working Out a Contract Extension

  2. Pingback: Path to Canucks and Miller Working Out a Contract Extension – Hockey 1 on 1

Leave a Reply

More News

Discover more from NHL Trade Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading