Matthew Tkachuk came very close to ending up with a surprising team from the East
What a huge trade it was for Matthew Tkachuk last year, as the forward was traded to Florida in return for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and a first-round pick!
This trade took everyone by surprise, given the short time that passed between the 25-year-old player's trade request and the actual trade.
At the time, many thought that Florida had overpaid to acquire the American forward, as both he and Huberdeau had just finished a season with over 100 points each. However, it must be admitted that it was an excellent move for the Panthers.
A year later, Tkachuk is the cornerstone of the organization, being the offensive leader of the team, thanks to a second consecutive season with over 100 points. His impact in the playoffs is huge. He has 18 points, including seven goals, in 14 games, and two of his seven goals were overtime winners.
However, his fate could have been very different, as insider Pierre LeBrun reveals that the three possible destinations for the former Flames player were Florida, St. Louis, and Carolina.
As luck would have it, the Hurricanes are now battling against Tkachuk and the Panthers in the conference finals.
LeBrun believes that Carolina's offer included Martin Necas, among others. Although this trade could have been interesting for the Flames, they ultimately opted for the Panthers' offer, and it is understandable why.
Although Florida seems to have the upper hand in this major trade from last summer for the time being, there is still plenty of time for the Flames to turn the tide, especially now that Huberdeau is finally free from head coach Darryl Sutter.
Credit: HabsolumentFan
| POLL | ||
Who won the trade between Florida and Calgary, which notably included Tkachuk, Huberdeau, and Weegar? | ||
| Florida | 22 | 84.6 % |
| Calgary | 0 | 0 % |
| Too early to judge after one season | 4 | 15.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
