Latest: NHL Trade Grade: Who won the Matthew Tkachuk move, Flames or Panthers?

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Matthew Tkachuk was signed by the Florida Panthers. The Flames received a sizable windfall from the deal. So, who came out on top in this deal?

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The NHL has its share of trades that leave fans in a state of stunned disbelief. The Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers delivered just that.

It was announced earlier this week that Matthew Tkachuk would not be returning to the Calgary Flames. According to The Athletic, Jeremy Rutherford and Hailey Salvian, the Panthers were one of the teams on his list of teams he would approve of a trade to.

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The Panthers were able to acquire Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick from the Flames in exchange for forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round draft pick from the Flames, as expected.

Tkachuk received an eight-year contract worth $9.5 million each year, which is significant.

In every sense of the term, it’s a blockbuster transaction. But who came out on top in the deal?

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Trade rating for the Panthers
The Panthers deserve credit for making a bold move. Show that you are serious about winning the Stanley Cup.

Claude Giroux, the former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, was acquired during the trade deadline of the previous season. The Tampa Bay Lightning swept them in the second round, which was unfortunate for them. During the offseason, they hired Paul Maurice to take over as head coach.

Tkachuk, 24, is now on board after having just completed his best season to date. For the first time in his career, the Winger appeared in every one of the team’s regular-season contests and finished with 42 goals and 62 assists, good for a career high in points.

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On top of all that, a contract extension that will keep him in Sunrise, Florida through the summer of 2030 was quickly reached.

Despite the fact that they were able to acquire a player like Tkachuk, who is capable of racking up points and getting under the skin of opponents, this transaction was not a success.

I got a B.

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Trade quality flamingoes
Brad Treliving, the team’s general manager, surprised everyone this summer by pulling off a major coup.

Johnny Gaudreau left the squad because he wanted to be closer to his family, and this is the team that couldn’t keep him. Gaudreau inked a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets soon after. That’s when they discover that Tkachuk had no intention of signing a contract extension. The Flames are in a precarious position right now.

The Panthers, on the other hand, made them an offer.

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Huberdeau has not scored more than 60 points in any of the last four seasons, making him one of the league’s most consistent scorers. Huberdeau, on the other hand, had a stellar season in which he scored 30 goals and assisted on 85 more than any other season in his career. Huberdeau came in fifth place for the Hart Trophy.

Weegar was a key member of Florida’s top defensive pairing. For the first time in his career, an ex-seventh-round draft pick of the Panthers in 2013 produced eight goals, 36 assists and a plus/minus rating of 40.

Most exciting about this trade are the additions of these two players. With Schwindt and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2025 to boot, the deal is even sweeter. On paper, this move looks great, but there’s a snag: both Huberdeau and Weegar are up for grabs in the offseason. Calgary will have to figure out how to lock in both Huberdeau and Weegar for the foreeseeable future.

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Even with the upcoming contract difficulties, the Flames come out on top in this deal.

A+

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