The Maple Leafs Need a Player Like Matthew Tkachuk: Just Not Him

In a post written in The Hockey Writers by Kevin Armstrong yesterday, Armstrong noted that the Toronto Maple Leafs need a player like Matthew Tkachuk. Further Armstrong noted that, if the 23-year-old Tkachuk hopes to be traded, the Maple Leafs should aggressively pursue such a deal with the Calgary Flames. Finally, Armstrong checks every box the Maple Leafs are missing and offer Toronto something that they desperately need if the team is finally going to win a playoff round.

Armstrong’s my friend and Maple Leafs’ writing partner on The Hockey Writers. We agree on a number of points, but we just don’t agree that Tkachuk himself would be THE player the Maple Leafs would want.

First, Tkachuk is physical and gritty. Second, the Maple Leafs need a player or two like him. However, he also comes with some warts. And, for me, the bottom line is that I don’t think he’s the kind of physical grit the Maple Leafs need on the team. And, from my perspective, two games demonstrate why that’s my landing spot. 

Related: Don’t Be Shocked if Nick Foligno Re-Signs with the Maple Leafs – Cheap

Tkachuk: Game One vs. the Maple Leafs (January 24, 2021)

On January 24, 2021, during the first game of the two-game series between the Maple Leafs and the Flames, the Maple Leafs were ahead 3-2 and the Flames were pressing. Close to the end of the game, while he was making a save, Maple Leafs’ goalie Jack Campbell tweaked something. He was obviously hurt on the play and had a hard time rising to his feet. From what I could see, no Flames’ player was involved in that play; it was just a wonky move on Campbell’s part. That’s part of the game.

Not long after during a scrum in front of the Maple Leafs’ goalie, there was some of the usual bumping around. Suddenly Tkachuk landed, or was pushed, or jumped onto the middle of Campbell’s back pushing both knees downward into the goalie. Campbell stayed down for quite a while; however, he was able finish the last half-a-minute of the game. Campbell then was out for 14 games – almost two months – with his injury.

After the first game, when Tkachuk was questioned by the Calgary media about Campbell’s injury, he seemed to make light of the play. He claimed he was pushed. I have no reason to question what Tkachuk said, and it might be true.

But here’s the issue for me. As the video shows above, then Tkachuck doubled down on his innocence by claiming something like “poor me, I always get a bad rap.” He wondered aloud why questions about him trying to injure a player would even come out of people’s mouths: he called it a “classic move” for others to blame him when he was innocent.

What Tkachuk seemed to forget was his history of suspensions and his feuds with such people as Drew Doughty and Zack Kassian and his rule-breaking, butt-ending others with his stick, goading an opponent with a variety of illegal actions and then turtling and refusing to fight.

Given that history, how can Tkachuk not see that people would automatically move toward the fact that he might have acted with intent. He would have been better off being quiet.

Tkachuk: Game Two vs. the Maple Leafs (January 26, 2021)

But Tkachuk’s not a quiet kind of a guy, which became evident two days later and immediately after the second game of the two-game series with Toronto. During the next game, I kept looking for Wayne Simmonds to call out Tkachuk. He did not. Instead, Simmonds scored the first goal of the game. Tkachuk simply played the game, but wasn’t really much of a factor.

Just as the game ended with the Maple Leafs second win in a row against Calgary on the Flames’ home ice, defenseman Jake Muzzin made a savvy veteran play. He didn’t call on Tkachuk to meet any physical threat. Had that happened, it might have made Tkachuk look heroic.

Instead, Muzzin simply acknowledged that he’d been watching Tkachuk the entire game the Flames’ forward was on the ice. When the horn sounded, Muzzin flipped the puck into Thackuk’s lap as Tkachuk was kneeling on the ice. Sort of as in “By the way, here’s the game-winning puck – and, it’s yours. You deserve it.” 

Tkachuk “lost it.” He went after Muzzin, but Muzzin wouldn’t engage. Instead, Muzzin just laughed at him. Ironically, it was the kind of behavior Tkachuk is noted for and has pulled several times – most notably with the Edmonton Oilers’ Kassian. This time, there was no outlet to be had with any Maple Leafs’ player, so Thackuk left the ice and made his way to the dressing room. 

However, on his way there, he tore up the bench, trashed the hallway, and (although I didn’t see it) probably tore up the dressing room, too. His Flames’ teammates simply waited and watched until Tkachuk finished throwing his toys.

Related: Matthew Tkachuk to the Maple Leafs Rumors: Please Say No!

I Can’t Know If or Why Tkachuk Wants Out of Calgary, But … 

I have no idea if the rumors that Tkachuk wants out of Calgary are accurate or not. Furthermore, if they might be, I have no idea why he wants to move on. It might simply be because he wants to go home to St. Louis to play. If so, fair enough and I wish him good luck. Everyone, I believe, should be able to live where they want to live.

However, if I honestly ask myself the ruder question “Is there any chance that Matthew Tkachuk’s act might have worn thin with his Flames’ teammates?” I have to at least admit that answer might be “Yes.”

And, if that’s the case, does the Maple Leafs’ organization really want this youngster around when they’re trying to build a team-first mentality? I know what my answer would be.