The New Jersey Devils were in the Matthew Tkachuk talks for a long time, but they didn’t end up pulling the trigger on a trade. The Florida Panthers came out of left field and gave the Calgary Flames an offer the Devils couldn’t match.
Right before the NHL Draft, the New Jersey Devils reportedly offered the Calgary Flames the second overall pick for Matthew Tkachuk. The Flames said no, but the team was trying to see if Johnny Gaudreau would re-sign so they could run it back. It didn’t seem like the Flames had any interest in rebuilding. After being one of the best teams in the Western Conference last season, they didn’t want to blow it up.
Still, after Gaudreau surprisingly signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, it seemed inevitable that some regression was at hand. Then, we learned that Tkachuk informed them he wouldn’t sign long-term. It seemed like a rebuild was coming, and the Devils had everything a team might want in order to jump-start a rebuild. The Devils had all the motivation to trade for a star, and they have a plethora of amazing pieces to make the deal happen.
Then, we learned the Flames’ motivation. They don’t want any part of a rebuild. They want to compete again. So, they went to the Florida Panthers and got themselves a haul.
The Flames got two superstar pieces who are ready to compete right now. Jonathan Huberdeau finished the season fifth in Hart Trophy voting. He had 115 points, the same as Gaudreau had this season. It is a ridiculous piece to get in a deal like this. He just turned 29 years old, but he is on the last year of his deal paying him $5.9 million per season. This deal does not come with an extension, unlike Tkachuk who signed for eight years and $9.5 million per season.
It’s one thing if that was all the Flames got in return. Instead, they also got MacKenzie Weegar. He’s a really good defenseman that came out of nowhere to be really good for Florida. He’s definitely going to find himself in the top four in Calgary for a long time.
On top of all that, the Flames also got prospect Cole Schwindt (who is alright) and a first-round pick in 2025.
What could the Devils have done to match that? This is a Hart Trophy candidate. The ask likely started with Nico Hischier, and it would grow from there. The Devils just couldn’t do that. They aren’t in a position to deal that much talent for one player. Matthew Tkachuk is one of the best players in the league. The Devils needed to give up the present and the future, and it likely just keeps them in the same position. Good for the Panthers.