The Calgary Flames are expected to trade forward Matthew Tkachuk after he told the team he will not be signing a long-term renewal, an NHL source confirmed to ESPN.
The news was first reported by The Athletic.
Tkachuk, 24, has played all six NHL seasons with Calgary, which drafted him sixth overall in 2016. Known for his tenacious physical game as much as his offensive pop, Tkachuk had a dominant 2021-22 season, scoring 42 goals and 62 assists for 104 points in 82 games, all career highs.
The Flames filed a club-selected salary arbitration with Tkachuk on Monday ahead of the July 22 bid deadline. The team said it wanted to “continue to work with its representatives towards a contractual settlement” while ruling out the possibility of an offer sheet for the restricted free agent.
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Tkachuk had a salary of $9 million last season. He’s a season away from full agency.
It is expected that the Flames would try to take Tkachuk to one of his preferred destinations where he would then sign a long-term contract. It was speculated throughout his career that the St. Louis Blues would be one of those targets. Tkachuk grew up in St. Louis and his father, Keith, played for the blues.
The loss of Tkachuk would continue a devastating offseason for the Flames, who could be left without their top two scorers from last season.
Winger Johnny Gaudreau, last season’s top scorer with 115 points, told the team earlier this month he would not be returning to Calgary. He signed a seven-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on NHL Free Agency opening day last week.
Tkachuk was the second-leading scorer for the Flames, who won the Pacific Division last season before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.