Matthew Tkachuk is the son of former NHL player Keith Tkachuk. He currently plays as a winger for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2013, Tkachuk was selected by the London Knights in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection draft. He played one season with the Knights, scoring 107 points in 57 games. In 2015-16, Tkachuk helped the Knights win the Memorial Cup, the OHL championship.
Matthew Tkachuk was one of the most highly-praised prospects leading up to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Ranked as the second-best North American skater, he was widely regarded as a "bona fide future star" with a combination of elite skills and physical attributes. The Calgary Flames selected Tkachuk sixth overall in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season and quickly became one of the Flames' top players. In his rookie season, Tkachuk scored 13 goals and 48 points in 76 games. Tkachuk continued to improve in his second season, scoring 29 goals and 49 points in 68 games. Matthew Tkachuk was named an alternate captain for the Calgary Flames before the 2018-19 season, alongside Mikael Backlund and Sean Monahan. He set a new career high in points that season, and recorded his first NHL hat-trick in a 6-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. On March 15, 2019, Tkachuk became the first player from his draft class to reach 100 career assists. Tkachuk has been named to the NHL All-Star Game twice (2020, 2023).
Tkachuk also played for the United States at the 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge and the 2015 IIHF World U18, winning the gold medal in both tournaments. Tkachuk has also played for the United States at the World Junior Championship. In 2016, he helped the United States win a bronze medal.
Flames - Matthew Tkachuk Trade
The Flames traded Tkachuk because he did not want to stay in Calgary long-term. Tkachuk was a restricted free agent, which meant that the Flames had the right to match any offer sheet he signed with another team. However, On July 20, 2022, Tkachuk informed the Flames that he would not re-sign with the team for a long-term contract, so the team decided to trade him in order to get something in return for him before he left for free in the offseason.
The Flames got Cole Schwindt, MacKenzie Weegar, Jonathan Huberdeau, and a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2025, in return for Tkachuk. Tkachuk signed an eight-year, $76 million contract with the Panthers prior to the trade.
Tkachuk had a breakout first season with the Panthers, scoring 109 points and finishing as a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league's most valuable player. He also helped lead the Panthers to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, scoring four goals including three game-winners against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The trade was widely seen as a necessary move for the Flames, who were facing the prospect of losing Tkachuk for nothing in free agency. The Flames got a good return for Tkachuk, but they lost one of their best players.
FAQs
A: The Flames traded Matthew Tkachuk because they knew he would leave in free agency, and they wanted to get something in return.
A: The Flames received Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, and MacKenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk.
A: Matthew Tkachuk has performed exceptionally well with the Florida Panthers. In his first season with the team, he had 109 points in 79 games, which was a career-high for him.
A: As of November 2023, Matthew Tkachuk has 491 points (192 goals, 299 assists) in 510 NHL games.
A: Yes, Matthew Tkachuk is the son of Keith Tkachuk, who played 18 seasons in the NHL.
