The 19-year-old Calgary Flames forward’s playing style shows striking similarities to the Ducks veteran.
Matthew Tkachuk has been quite a pleasant surprise for the Calgary Flames this season. His sneaky skill, elite hockey sense, and strength is quite remarkable considering he is still only 19 years old. While many players possess these traits on the ice, very few excel at them the way Tkachuk does. In my eyes, the man who is best at it is the man currently facing Tkachuk and the Flames in the playoffs right now, Ryan Kesler.
The more I watch these two play, the more I realize they are very similar. In so many ways.
Getting under your opponent’s skin is an art form. One that Kesler has mastered with experience and that Tkachuk is in the midst of learning. This is the most obvious comparable between the two; Considering both have entire fan-bases with a burning anger towards them. Like I said, the only difference is the experience, which Kesler has and Tkachuk doesn’t. Yet.
Calgary Flames
This experience creates a savviness towards not crossing the fine-line that is violence in the NHL (or at least not letting the officials see you do it). A prime example of this would be Tkachuk’s elbow on Drew Doughty last month. A healthy knock that landed him a 2-game suspension. Now I have seen Kesler lay some pretty nasty licks in his career, but get this, he has never been suspended.
This probably comes as a shock to the entire city of Calgary, Edmonton, LA, San Jose and whatever other team he has angered over the years. But that truly is a cunning, clever display of irritation on the ice by Kesler without ever getting caught. Gotta give credit where credit is due, right?
But it’s not just getting in the opposing team’s head that Kesler excels in. He had the 2nd most points in the regular season on an incredibly talented Ducks team with 22 goals and 36 assists and led them in penalty minutes with 83. He has silky hands, fantastic hockey sense, makes a living protecting the puck along the boards and behind the net and isn’t afraid to chirp and scrum it up in the crease. Remind you of anyone?
That’s right. It’s exactly what Matthew Tkachuk has been doing all season for the Flames. And he’ll be doing for many years to come. Tkachuk led the Flames in penalty minutes with 105, was 5th on the team in scoring with 48 points and had 35 assists to Kesler’s 36. Their playing styles are essentially identical. They both love to protect and cycle the puck in the offensive zone, use their hockey sense and sneaky good hands, and drive the other team crazy.
Now, Kesler may have the advantage of 12 more years in the NHL than Tkachuk. But they play so similarly that once Tkachuk learns the little details of how to perfect his playing-style, he will be on par with #17 and may even be able to beat fire with fire.
Ryan Kesler has always been one of those guys that you hate to play against. But would love to have on your team. And Matthew Tkachuk’s play as a youngster sure mirrors the play of the veteran Ducks forward. So Flames fans, I think it’s safe to say we’ve finally got our own Ryan Kesler.
Next: Discipline, Offence Key to Turnaround
With any luck, Tkachuk will outshine Kesler in this series and the master will get schooled.