*Photo from NJ.com*
Woah. That's all I have to say for this blockbuster, just woah. The Florida Panthers have acquired LW Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional 2025 4th round draft pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for LW Jonathan Huberdeau, D MacKenzie Weegar, C Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first round draft pick, according to both teams.
The trade comes as Tkachuk was an RFA, and after the Flames filed for club elected arbitration with Tkachuk, he informed the Flames he would not sign with them long term. He gets his wish in this sign and trade to the Panthers. Tkachuk agreed to an 8 year, $76 million deal with a $9.5 million AAV with the Flames as part of the trade, which the Panthers are now on the hook for.
Panthers GM Bill Zito said of Tkachuk that "Matthew is a tenacious, physical competitor who possesses a tremendously unique skillset. He is a consistent elite offensive contributor and has emerged as one of the most complete and dynamic young players in the National Hockey League. We are thrilled to be able to add a generational talent to our lineup."
Last season in Calgary, Tkachuk had a breakout season, tallying 42 goals and 62 assists, with a sterling +57 plus/minus rating in 17:54 of ice time in 82 regular season games. He added 4 goals and 6 assists in 12 playoff games last postseason.
In 6 NHL seasons, all with the Flames, Tkachuk has career numbers of 152 goals and 230 assists, averaging 17:16 of ice time per game while posting a +85 plus/minus rating in 431 games. In the playoffs, Tkachuk has 7 goals and 8 assists in 27 playoff games as a former first round pick.
Coming back to the Flames is Huberdeau, who was chosen with the 3rd overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. He is on the final season of a 6 year, $35.4 million deal signed by the Panthers, which has a modified no trade clause and a $5.9 million AAV this season. He will be a pending UFA at the end of the 2022-2023 season.
Last season with the Panthers, Huberdeau had a big season, potting 30 goals and doling out 85 assists, posting a +35 plus/minus rating in 19:25 of ice time for the Panthers, who won the Presidents Trophy. He added one goal and 4 assists in 10 playoff games.
The other big piece of the return for the Flames is Weegar, a strong two way defenseman who was paired with Aaron Ekblad in Florida. Like Huberdeau, Weegar is also on the final year of his deal, a 3 year, $9.75 million deal. Weegar has zero trade protections and a $3.25 million AAV. He is also slated to be a UFA at the end of the season.
Last season, the right shot D ended the regular season with 8 goals and 36 assists, averaging 23:22 of ice time per game while posting a +40 plus/minus rating in 80 regular season games. In the playoffs, Weegar put up just one point, an assist, in 10 games.
The other part of the return is Schwindt, who was a 3rd round pick by the Panthers in the 2019 NHL Draft. Schwindt, a center, made his NHL debut on December 16, 2021, and had no points with a -4 plus/minus in 3 NHL games.
Zito said of parting ways with Huberdeau and Weegar that "On behalf of the entire Florida Panthers organization, we would like to thank Jonathan and MacKenzie for their immense contributions to the Florida Panthers, both on and off the ice, during their tenures in South Florida. They have both blossomed into exceptional athletes and people. Their contributions as players and people made an indelible mark on our franchise and we wish them both continued success in their future."
The departure of Tkachuk makes him the second big profile Flames forward to leave this offseason after Johnny Gaudreau signed in Columbus. Tkachuk and Huberdeau will likely join the top lines of their respective teams, with Weegar likely hopping on Calgary's top defense pair.
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