Matthew Tkachuk
The Calgary Flames have a dynamic young left wing in Matthew Tkachuk and recently there have been some rumblings that the sixth overall pick in the 2016 Entry Draft may want out of Calgary. If he does, there will be plenty of suitors for his services.
One bright side to acquiring Tkachuk is that he has just one year left on a three-year, $21 million contract, but it carries an obvious $7 million cap hit. The 23-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona scored 16 goals and had 27 assists in 56 games for a Flames team near the bottom of the Canadian Division standings last season. He also had four goals and 11 assists on the power play.
Calgary has said that they do not plan on moving Tkachuk, but if an offer comes along that gets the Flames thinking, who’s to say they would not consider it?
Adding him to the Bruins as a middle-six forward is something that could make them even that tougher. The thinking here is that Hall re-signs with Boston and either Nick Ritchie or Jake DeBrusk will settle in on the third-line left wing. If Hall does not re-sign, then expect Sweeney to fill that open roster spot on a much cheaper contract than Tkachuk’s.
These three players would be good editions to a Boston team intending on being a factor next season going after a championship. However, locking up money into some of their contracts does allow the Bruins to flexibility to sign more pressing needs. Money would have to go back in any deal and I’m not sure the Bruins have the assets to pull that off. Buyer beware with these contracts despite the talent each player has.