Calgary Flames: Five New Years resolutions for 2019

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CALGARY, AB – DECEMBER 29: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Calgary Flames skates against Alex Edler #23 of the Vancouver Canucks during an NHL game on December 29, 2018 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4. Keep Matthew Tkachuk happy

Matthew Tkachuk continues to prove season after season that the Calgary Flames got him for a steal with that sixth overall pick. With how that draft class is looking, he easily could have gone third overall, maybe even second, depending on how you view Patrik Laine.

Tkachuk’s ELC expires at the end of this season, so he will need to be re-signed. There have been some speculations (all fan-based, of course) that he may be the first player to break the “Giordano cap”. Currently, captain Mark Giordano gets paid $6.75 million AAV. When Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau were both re-signed, it was known that the Flames didn’t want to break that Giordano cap. Which is why Monahan gets less than Gio and Gaudreau gets the same amount. Which, unrelated, but it’s looking more like a steal every season.

With Tkachuk, this player is incredibly versatile and is rightfully deserving of that ‘A’ on his jersey this season. He has shown immense growth from his rookie season and isn’t making those dumb plays like he used to. Which is why Tkachuk may be deserving of breaking that Giordano cap and the Flames should do whatever they can to keep him happy and wanting to stay in Calgary.

Related Story. Nylander contract a positive for Tkachuk. light

If that means breaking the cap and giving him around $7 million, which is highly likely, I think the Flames should do it. It’s also good news that William Nylander signed at the amount that he did with the Toronto Maple Leafs because he’s had very similar numbers to Tkachuk through his ELC and he signed for roughly $6.9 million. So the Flames could also use that as leverage to keep it under the $7 million mark.

But no matter what must be done (as long as it’s reasonable), the Flames need to keep Tkachuk around.

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