3 Trades New Jersey Devils Could Offer For Matthew Tkachuk
By Nick Villano
The rumor mill was swirling on Tuesday about the possibility that Matthew Tkachuk could be moved. What would the Calgary Flames need from the New Jersey Devils to make it happen?
The New Jersey Devils reportedly tried to make a play for Matthew Tkachuk before the 2022 NHL Draft. Reports say they dangled the second-overall pick to the Flames for Tkachuk, but it wasn’t enough. This was before the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes ended with him going to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and it appears things might be changing.
Devils’ social media was abuzz with Matthew Tkachuk trade proposals, so we decided to take a stab at it. Tkachuk is one of the most valuable forwards in the league right now. He had an elite season, and he’s one of the main reasons the Flames had the season they just had. Getting him won’t be cheap. It might be one of the most expensive trades of all time, but it still might not cost what some fans think.
The Devils haven’t really pulled the trigger on a trade like this in years. They haven’t given up a prospect or player before the season that really makes you get that lump in your throat since the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson deal. And that deal was still a no brainer. There have been no trades that make fans nervous. They have all been either buying low on a player or trying to recoup someone’s value. This is buying at the highest point for a player who’s also going to cost an arm and a leg. So, what will it take?
The Bratt Trade
Jesper Bratt looked like a superstar last season. He was one of the better play drivers at wing, and his ability to excel with all of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer is huge. He was the best line on the team every time. There is no way the Devils want to trade Bratt right now. However, they have to pay him coming off his best season by far. Would the Devils be thinking about the risk that comes with signing Bratt for $7 million per season and then thinking about the ensuing risk for Tkachuk? The risk for the latter is far less.
Still, Bratt has a ton of value. He’s 23 years old with a 73-point season under his belt. The Flames could easily use Bratt as a centerpiece to a rebuild. The Flames don’t want a terribly long rebuild, so getting this kind of player for Tkachuk would be hard to compete with.
Which other team in the negotiations could give up a player like this? If the Devils added an unprotected 2023 first-round pick to the deal, then it might move the needle enough. That has to be a part of any deal for Tkachuk. The Flames want draft capital in a crazy deal. The Devils would give him a phenomenal roster player, a future first and a past first. It seems like it might be something that could move the needle.