Matthew Tkachuk is reportedly available and here's how Kyle Dubas can bring him to Toronto
By now, news of Matthew Tkachuk being forced into salary arbitration by the Calgary Flames is making its way around social media, with Sportsnet's Eric Francis suggesting what we already know - which is that Tkachuk's time in Calgary is coming to an end. Now it's just a matter of when it happens.
In terms of where the potential fits for Tkachuk are, I'd imagine there are 31 fits for a player of his caliber. Per Evolving Wild, Matthew Tkachuk was ranked 4th on their GAR model last year, behind only Auston Matthews, Cale Makar and Connor McDavid. If a player with that type of game-breaking ability becomes available, you put in a call - even if it complicates what your previous plans might have been. Plans change and players like Tkachuk don't hit the trade block very often.
As far as the Leafs go, Tkachuk is close friends with both Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, so it makes far too much sense for the Leafs to want to bring Tkachuk to Toronto, though you'll never hear Kyle Dubas state that to the public, at least not before a deal is done. And if a deal doesn't get done, we'll likely never know whether or not the Leafs pursued a Tkachuk deal.
Aside from the friendship dynamic there with Matthews and Marner, there would be something in this for Calgary as well. Now, obviously, I have to preface this by stating that the deal would DEFINITELY NOT be 1-for-1, but the Flames may have an interest in bringing in Calgary-born William Nylander. But, given the fact that the Leafs would have to part with a lot more than William Nylander in any deal involving a player of Tkachuk's caliber, what would a potential deal look like between the Leafs and the Flames, centered around Tkachuk for Nylander?
We know a first round pick would be involved. A 1st rounder is almost a staple in any deal involving a top player. In addition, the Flames are going to want a blue chip, grade A prospect. Matthew Knies would be the logical ask from the Flames, but since he's probably an untouchable for the Leafs, they may have to settle for Nick Robertson or Topi Niemela, both of whom are certainly grade A prospects.
This is where it gets tricky. If the Leafs are parting with an 80-point player, a 1st round pick and a blue chip prospect, how much more would they be comfortable parting with for potentially one year of Matthew Tkachuk? Assuming an extension was on the table for Tkachuk, it would make sense to part with more, but for possibly just one year, I'd imagine the Leafs wouldn't offer more than maybe a conditional pick, with the condition being that the Flames only receive the pick if Tkachuk re-signs with the Leafs.
So, in the end, the deal we have constructed looks like this:
TOR receives: Matthew Tkachuk
CGY receives: William Nylander, Nick Robertson (or Topi Niemela), a 1st round pick (2023) and a conditional 1st round pick (2024)*
*The Flames will receive Toronto's 2024 1st round pick if Matthew Tkachuk signs an extension/re-signs with the Leafs next summer.
Obviously, there is no indication at this point that the Leafs are ACTUALLY in on any deal for Matthew Tkachuk, but if he did wind up on the block and if the Leafs did bid on him and win the bid, I'd imagine this package is something like what you'd see coming back the other way.
It's also important to note that if the Leafs acquired Matthew Tkachuk with Nylander going the other way, they'd have to make a subsequent move to clear Alexander Kerfoot's $3.5M to make space for Tkachuk's $9M+ salary.
Personally, I'd love to see a Leafs team with both Jake Muzzin and Matthew Tkachuk on it at the same time. Wouldn't that be something?
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 19 | 1382 ANSWERS Matthew Tkachuk is reportedly available and here's how Kyle Dubas can bring him to Toronto Would you like to see Matthew Tkachuk in a Leafs jersey, even if it meant giving up Nylander +++? | ||
| 100% | 1023 | 74 % |
| No, he wouldn't be a fit | 105 | 7.6 % |
| Not if we're dealing Nylander | 100 | 7.2 % |
| Trade anyone other than 16 and 34! | 154 | 11.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
