Matthew Tkachuk is on the move, and he's getting paid big bucks by his new team.
The star forward was traded by the Flames to the Panthers late Friday night in a four-player deal. The Panthers subsequently announced they had agreed to an eight-year contract extension with Tkachuk. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the average annual value of the deal is $9.5 million.
In exchange for Tkachuk, Calgary received forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, winger Cole Schwindt, and a conditional first-round pick (lottery-protected) in the 2025 NHL Draft. Florida will also receive a conditional fourth-round pick in the '25 draft.
Tkachuk was ticketed to leave Calgary after reportedly telling the team he would not sign a long-term extension. The team filed to take the 24-year-old restricted free agent to arbitration.
The trade adds to an already rough offseason for the Flames. They watched Johnny Gaudreau decline a long-term extension and instead sign with the Blue Jackets. Now, they've dealt Tkachuk. The Panthers, meanwhile, add Tkachuk to a team that is already defending the President's Trophy from last year and led the league in goals by 25 over second place.
What does Matthew Tkachuk bring to the Panthers?
Tkachuk is a unicorn in today's NHL, a throwback to a true power forward from hockey's past. He has all the tools of a dynamic, skilled goal scorer and playmaker. To highlight that skill, he has gone between the legs multiple times to light the lamp.
Yet, Tkachuk also loves to hit and muck it up with opponents, never shying away from a fight. He's a pest to play against and makes it worse when he's celebrating in front of the other team's net after getting on the score sheet.
And he got on the score sheet a lot last season. Tkachuk is coming off a 104-point campaign (42 goals, 62 assists) as he helped lead the Flames to the Pacific Division title.
What are the Flames getting in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk?
Calgary does pick up a high-scoring winger in Huberdeau, who led the NHL with 85 assists last season. The 29-year-old also tied a career high with 30 goals in Florida's league-leading attack. He has one year remaining on his contract with a $5.9 million cap hit.
Weegar, 28, is a veteran right-shot defenseman who contributed 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 2021-22. He averaged 23-plus minutes a night on the Florida blue line. Weegar is also in the last year of his deal, with a $3.25 million cap hit.
Schwindt, 21, is a lottery ticket. He made his NHL debut last season after being selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2019 draft.
