Matthew Tkachuk's 2022 trade is back under the microscope for the Flames after Elliotte Friedman revealed Carolina's rejected offer.
Calgary ultimately chose Florida's package of Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a lottery-protected first-round pick. At the time, the return offered proven NHL talent.
The alternative looks far more painful today. Friedman said Carolina was offering Martin Necas, Alexander Nikishin, the Jake Gardiner contract and either 1 or 2 first-round picks.
That package would have given Calgary two younger pieces whose value has climbed sharply since the Tkachuk deal was completed.
Necas just produced 38 goals and 100 points in 78 games. He has developed into exactly the type of high-end offensive piece Calgary hoped it was getting with Huberdeau.
Huberdeau arrived after a 115-point season, then received an 8-year contract carrying a $10,500,000 cap hit. His first two Calgary seasons produced 107 points combined.
Last season made the contrast even harsher. Huberdeau finished with 10 goals and 25 points in 50 games, while Necas reached the 100-point mark.
“When Matthew was traded to Florida at the end it was Florida and Carolina. Carolina's package was [Martin] Necas, [Alexander] Nikishin, I think the Flames had to take Jake Gardiner's money and one or two firsts were part of it.” - Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts Podcast
Matthew Tkachuk blockbuster the Flames rejected revealed by Elliotte Friedman
Nikishin strengthens the argument for the Hurricanes package. He averaged 18 minutes during the regular season and remained part of Carolina's blue line during its championship run.
Calgary couldn't have known exactly what Necas or Nikishin would become. That matters when judging a decision made 4 years ago rather than pretending their development was guaranteed.
“The Flames of course could not have known what Necas and Nikishin would develop into down the line, but it's hard to imagine they wouldn't be in a better position today had they chosen to take the Hurricanes offer.” - Jonathan Larivee, HockeyFeed
The Florida package also brought Weegar, who became a valuable piece for the Flames. This wasn't a trade where Calgary received nothing useful.
But Schwindt played only 4 games for the organization, and Huberdeau was supposed to be the centerpiece capable of replacing a major portion of Tkachuk's offense.
“Necas is coming off of a spectacular season in which he had 38 goals and 62 assists for a total of 100 points over just 78 games last season. Looking like at 27 years old he could be what the Flames had hoped Huberdeau would be for them.” - Jonathan Larivee, HockeyFeed
The Carolina proposal offered a different path: younger talent, significant draft capital and a temporary salary obligation in Gardiner's contract.
In hindsight, that path looks increasingly attractive. Necas would give Huska an elite offensive weapon today, while Nikishin could have become another long-term building block.
The Tkachuk trade already changed Calgary's direction once. Friedman's revelation now leaves Flames fans with a much tougher question: did Calgary choose immediate certainty when Carolina was offering the better future?
Source : The trade the Calgary Flames should have accepted for Matthew Tkachuk.
Should Calgary have accepted Carolina's offer for Matthew Tkachuk?
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