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Calgary Flames sign Matthew Tkachuk to bargain deal for three years

By Ant Barberio |
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 11: Calgary Flames Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks at his stick after scoring a goal during the third period of Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs where the Calgary Flames hosted the Colorado Avalanche on April 11, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 11: Calgary Flames Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks at his stick after scoring a goal during the third period of Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs where the Calgary Flames hosted the Colorado Avalanche on April 11, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After a summer of drama, the Calgary Flames and Matthew Tkachuk have reunited. The restricted free agent forward has signed a three-year deal that could be a bargain.

Just as most expected, once Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs re-upped on a new contract, the restricted free agent dominoes have started off falling. Early Wednesday morning, Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk came off the board.

The Calgary Flames and Tkachuk, son of former NHL player Keith Tkachuk, agreed to terms on a three-year deal with an average annual value of $7 million. The three-year term could best be described as a bridge deal with an extra year, similar to Brock Boeser’s new pact with the Vancouver Canucks.

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While his services are secured for another three years, the Flames failed to lock up their most dynamic scorer not named Johnny Gaudreau to a long-term deal. Though, given their cap situation, a long-term deal wouldn’t have made sense.

Fellow restricted free agent star Marner committed to six more years in Toronto, while seemingly every other RFA elected for a shorter term. At the end of his deal at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 season, Tkachuk will still be a restricted free agent under Calgary’s control. In retrospect, Gaudreau signed a six-year extension back with the team in 2022.

Speaking of Gaudreau, Tkachuk will be making more than him. His $7 million cap hit makes him the highest-paid player on Calgary’s roster. The next highest-paid players, Gaudreau and Mark Giordano, are banking $250,000 less per season.

Considering Tkachuk’s considerable growth in offensive totals, it’s not to say the payday wasn’t rightfully earned. Tkachuk’s new payday is a more than 300% increase over the roughly $1,775,000 (including bonuses) he was earning on his entry-level deal.

Tkachuk’s younger brother Brady currently plays north of the border as well for the Ottawa Senators. He has two seasons remaining before he reaches the same restricted free agent status he brother had this past summer.

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The free-agent class of 2023 is shaping up to be a big one for the Calgary Flames, as both Gaudreau and Tkachuk will need new deals. While Tkachuk will remain a restricted free agent, Gaudreau will be free to test the waters and possibly leave Calgary behind him as an unrestricted free agent. If they want to keep both of them, Calgary’s checkbook is going to hurt that summer.

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