The decision by Matthew Tkachuk to depart Calgary had been in the works for the better part of three years.
No, he wasn’t counting down the days until he could return to the United States, dreaming of the day when he could.
He gave everything he had to the Calgary Flames, a team and a city he cherished.
A city where he was loved in return
However, in his first interview since being transferred, Tkachuk admitted that when he signed his three-year bridge agreement in 2019, he understood that at the end of it, it would be time to depart.
By signing a new contract with the Flames, “I put myself in a position to sort of reevaluate my life and my career at this level, and I kind of came to the conclusion after the RFA period (July 13) that it was time to look elsewhere,” he said.
A lot of thought and planning went into it.” I departed for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, I wanted to re-evaluate my position, and after speaking with a few teams, I arrived to this conclusion………………………………………………….
After that conversation, I had no idea what I was going to do.”
“That’s when everything started to shift,” he said.
Grass was greener, the beach sandier, the air was warmer, and the state taxes were non-existent back then,
Because of his 104-point scoring average, the superstar believed he could go practically anyplace.
That’s why he moved quickly, making the toughest phone conversation of his life to tell the man who chose him sixth overall that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension with the team.
In a sign-and-trade agreement worth $76 million over eight years, he became a Florida Panther five days later.
Definitely a whirlwind.
As Tkachuk prepares to go to Florida on Sunday for a news conference announcing his candidacy, he says, “I’m sitting here, really emotional about my time there in Calgary.”
Both happy and sad, that’s how I feel right now. There is a wide range of opinions. I regret having to say goodbye to so many wonderful people in both the city and the company.
The way I did it feels correct to me. I pushed myself to the limit. I made every effort to get involved in the school community. A few weeks ago, I realized it was time to move on…. Nobody questioned or delayed the decision. I informed them immediately. As though you were slicing open a band-aid with a knife. It’s a lot of work.
There is no doubt that working together has benefited both of us, and I hope that people will appreciate me for that and for trying to help them in the same way they have tried to help me.
The decision by Matthew Tkachuk to depart Calgary had been in the works for the better part of three years.
No, he wasn’t counting down the days until he could return to the United States, dreaming of the day when he could.
He gave everything he had to the Calgary Flames, a team and a city he cherished.
A city where he was loved in return
However, in his first interview since being transferred, Tkachuk admitted that when he signed his three-year bridge agreement in 2019, he understood that at the end of it, it would be time to depart.
By signing a new contract with the Flames, “I put myself in a position to sort of reevaluate my life and my career at this level, and I kind of came to the conclusion after the RFA period (July 13) that it was time to look elsewhere,” he said.
A lot of thought and planning went into it.” I departed for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, I wanted to re-evaluate my position, and after speaking with a few teams, I arrived to this conclusion………………………………………………….
After that conversation, I had no idea what I was going to do.”
“That’s when everything started to shift,” he said.
Grass was greener, the beach sandier, the air was warmer, and the state taxes were non-existent back then,
Because of his 104-point scoring average, the superstar believed he could go practically anyplace.
That’s why he moved quickly, making the toughest phone conversation of his life to tell the man who chose him sixth overall that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension with the team.
In a sign-and-trade agreement worth $76 million over eight years, he became a Florida Panther five days later.
Definitely a whirlwind.
As Tkachuk prepares to go to Florida on Sunday for a news conference announcing his candidacy, he says, “I’m sitting here, really emotional about my time there in Calgary.”
Both happy and sad, that’s how I feel right now. There is a wide range of opinions. I regret having to say goodbye to so many wonderful people in both the city and the company.
The way I did it feels correct to me. I pushed myself to the limit. I made every effort to get involved in the school community. A few weeks ago, I realized it was time to move on…. Nobody questioned or delayed the decision. I informed them immediately. As though you were slicing open a band-aid with a knife. It’s a lot of work.
There is no doubt that working together has benefited both of us, and I hope that people will appreciate me for that and for trying to help them in the same way they have tried to help me.
After scoring against the Edmonton Oilers, Tkachuk celebrates. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) )
As you may guess, the phone conversation to Brad Treliving was very emotional.
It was the most difficult phone conversation Tkachuk, a 24-year-old ice hockey player, has ever had in his career. ‘There’s nothing that even comes close to it. It was an honest exchange of ideas. These were some of the most intense feelings I’ve ever had for me. In that respect, he was correct. It seemed as though the two of them were old buddies. We have a deep respect for each other.
“I wanted to make sure I worked with him and didn’t leave them out in the cold.
“It was a pleasure working with you. He did a fantastic job, I must say. The reason he’s one of the league’s most admired general managers is obvious. We got it done, and I think we’re both satisfied with the outcome.”
Despite the fact that Tkachuk has been adored in Calgary, Treliving’s four-piece haul for Tkachuk Friday single-handedly flipped the woe-is-me narrative.
Previously depleted of both, the city is now buzzing with anticipation and optimism.
It’s possible to lose two 100-point stars in a matter of weeks.
Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar and prospect Cole Schwindt, as well as a first-round draft pick, have turned the narrative around for the Flames. They can thank Tkachuk for that.
‘I think Tre admired me for talking to him straight away about it,’ said Tkachuk, who earlier in the day received plaudits from the GM. There were other options I could have taken, such as signing a one-year deal and putting them in a difficult position.
As soon as possible, I wanted to be honest with them, and being able to collaborate with them made that possible.”
Johnny Gaudreau’s last-minute announcement that he was leaving the team had nothing to do with it, he said.
He insisted that it had nothing to do with it. “It’s my job.” My primary motivation for signing my final contract was to (options). A longer contract and more money may have been offered, but I wanted to re-evaluate after a three-year bridge deal, and that’s what I did.” “
According to Tkachuk, he provided Treliving with a list of teams where he planned to sign a long-term contract in order to get the most bang for his buck. The list was narrowed down in a matter of minutes.
This all transpired in one day for Florida, which is why I decided to go with the Panthers in the end,” he stated, before justifying his decision to join the team.
There was something about the competition and how close they are as a team that drew me in, and I believe that I can contribute to their success.
All of the men are in their late 20s or early 30s…. The best part was the possibility of winning. Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach, the sun, and all of that, but the opportunity to win outweighs everything.”
Tkachuk spoke about his time in Calgary and the individuals who made it memorable during a 25-minute phone conversation from his home in St. Louis.
His time in Calgary was the most significant and rewarding of his life thus far, he added. As a 24-year-old young man, I’ve come a long way since I first stepped foot on campus as a teenager. And I’m happy of my ties with the people that helped me get there, as well as my accomplishment in that regard.
As a player, I’d like to think I’m one of those people who is a pleasure to work with, whether you’re a player or part of the rink’s staff such as trainers, coaches, managers, or members of the media. As a person, that’s what I want to be known for.
For me, it’s one of my favorite cities I’ve ever been to, and I’ve grown a lot there. The city has a plethora of appealing features.
“When I reflected on my draft day, I had no idea what Calgary was like…. As I prepare to depart, I’m hoping they’ll see me as a player of whom Albertans can be proud. In Calgary, at least, it’s not the residents from further north.
A special place in my heart will always belong to it.