Montreal Canadiens: Matthew Tkachuk Rumours and Possible Trade Scenario

You’ve probably heard it or seen it by now, apparently, Matthew Tkachuk wants out of Calgary, and of course, I’m here to discuss how well he’d fit in with the Montreal Canadiens and what some possible trade scenarios would be.

I will start by saying that I am a Tkachuk fan, so yes, this article is biased and if you don’t like him then you probably won’t agree with wanting him on the Canadiens.

I also don’t want the Canadiens to give away too much, so yes, I’m double biased, but we all are sometimes, right?

However, I just want to say, could you imagine a line with Tkachuk and Brendan Gallagher? That would be a dream, no, actually it’d be a nightmare. It would be hell on earth, and I’d absolutely love to see it happen.

Just like Corey Perry and Gallagher, Tkachuk is the kind of player you love to have on your side but hate playing against, and he would be a great addition for the Canadiens, especially considering they need another good left-wing, with Tomas Tatar probably not re-signing with them.

Tkachuk was drafted sixth overall in 2016 by the Calgary Flames. He’s 23 years old, 6’2, and 202 lbs, and still has one more year to go in his current three-year $21 million contract (annual average salary of $7 million).

In 56 games this season, Tkachuk had 16 goals and 27 assists for a total of 43 points, which averages at 0.77 points per game. That also includes a rough patch he had, so he can definitely do much better and did better last season. And if he does leave the Calgary Flames to go to a team he feels he belongs more with, I’m sure we can see those numbers go even higher.

The Flames also changed head coaches this season, and it was obvious that Tkachuk struggled for a while under Darryl Sutter.

The only deal that could work would have to be a big one, and that’s the best I can come up with without giving away too much:

I would hate for the Canadiens to trade Jesperi Kotkaniemi. He’s developing well, has scored nine goals in his playoff career so far (at 20 years old), and has so much more ahead of him, but Tkachuk is also worth a lot, so Montreal would have to give away one of their young guys.

But, for Jonathan Drouin, nothing is certain. But if he is healthy by the start of next season and is looking to be traded by then, he would be a good asset to the Flames, and a good deal with this trade (for both sides, in my opinion).

However, I know the likelihood of Tkachuk coming to Montreal is very low if the Canadiens are not willing to give up more than my trade scenario. And, if that’s the only option to have Tkachuk on the Canadiens, they will have to do without him in their lineup, and without a line from hell.

They already have a great team that has made it to the Stanley Cup Semifinals this season, and who knows what they’ll be able to achieve in the next few years – with or without Tkachuk.