Matthew Tkachuk admits to cooperating with the Flames to bring back the best return possible to Calgary

While it's very easy for us to sit back and think that the decision was an easy one for Tkachuk, the reality is that no big life decision is ever easy. They aren't any easier just because you're a professional hockey player. For Tkachuk, he was still losing something. A part of his identity and his home since 2016.

Having said that, even Tkachuk himself knew that something had to give. He and the Flames had just gone out in the 2nd round to divisional archrivals, the Edmonton Oilers, and then he had just watched one of his best friends and line mates exit the organization to pursue an opportunity elsewhere and a little closer to home.

As much as it does suck for Flames fans, Tkachuk wasn't going to dance around it and just quietly play one more season before departing as a free agent. He confirmed as much to Sportsnet's Eric Francis, admitting that once he knew it was time to part ways with the organization, he told GM Brad Treliving immediately and cooperated fully to try to get a contract done for a sign-and-trade that would allow his team to receive real assets so he wasn't just leaving them high and dry.

"I knew pretty recently it was time for a change. There was no second-guessing it or delaying it. I told them right away. I hope people can respect me for that, and for trying to help them out as much as they tried to help me out in this process."

I know Flames fans are probably pretty upset, having lost both Tkachuk and Gaudreau in the same summer. Hopefully bringing in another 115-point scorer in Jonathan Huberdeau and a legitimate top-4 defenseman in Weegar helps to soften the blow a bit. I'm sure if the Flames can re-sign one or both, the deal immediately becomes way more palatable.