CALGARY, AB - MAY 15: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Calgary Flames speaks to media after the Flames defeated the Dallas Stars during the overtime period of Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 15, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Some fans were a little stunned by the return that Calgary Flames star forward Matthew Tkachuk was able to fetch.
Just a few days ago, it was reported that the 24-year-old informed the Flames that he won’t be signing a new contract with the team.
It did not take long after that for Tkachuk to get moved – but how quickly he was traded and the haul the Flames got was a bit shocking.
The Florida Panthers late Friday night completed a deal that sent the Flames all-star forward Jonathan Huberdeau, first-pairing defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, a conditional 2025 first-round pick and prospect Cole Schwindt.
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Here are some of the top reactions by some of the fans and members of the media.
In addition to the trade, Tkachuk signed an eight-year contract worth $76 million with the Panthers, which comes with an average annual value (AAV) of $9.5 million
Tkachuk told Sportsnet that he decided that Calgary wasn’t the place he wanted his future to be after the restricted free agency period on July 13.
“There’s a lot that went into it,” Tkachuk said.
“There’s no single reason why I left At the end of the day, I wanted to re-evaluate where I’m at, and after talking to a few teams I did that, and kind of came down to that conclusion. I didn’t know what my decision was going to be until that talking period. It all changed then.”
The move comes a week after the Flames lost another star winger in Johnny Gaudreau to the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency.
Next up, it’ll be interesting to see if the Flames will re-sign Huberdeau, who is scheduled to be a free agent.
Huberdeau, who will turn 30-years-old when his next contract kicks in, is an elite playmaker who is coming off a 115-point season.
Also, it’ll be interesting to see how both teams benefit from the deal.
We know that Tkachuk is a more valuable asset than Huberdeau but how will the Panthers be affected after losing star center Claude Giroux in free agency and their first-pairing defenseman?
The changes will make the Flames and the Panthers teams to watch for the upcoming 2022-2023 regular season.
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