Buffalo Sabres: What would a trade for Tkachuk look like?

Last month, I wrote up on some trade scenarios regarding the Buffalo Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks. Now, it’s time to shift gears. 

The 24-year-old Matthew Tkachuk is entering the prime of his NHL career and it appears that a trade is imminent. And while I don’t believe Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams will make a move here, he does have the capital to make one if he goes in that direction.

And this past season was truly a breakout performance for Tkachuk, who logged an astounding 104 points and 42 goals, plus 62 assists this past season with the Calgary Flames. He also has shown sound defensive tendencies, recording nearly 600 career hits and 216 takeaways.

Tkachuk’s Second Team NHL All-Star honors and consideration for both the Hart and Selke Trophies solidify his standing in the NHL. So, now that his name is the latest in the rumor mill, how much would it cost Adams to bring him to Buffalo? Let’s find out.

The Matthew Tkachuk Situation is an ideal one for the Buffalo Sabres if they were to consider trading for the star winger

Tkachuk is an RFA and per The Hockey Writers, the Calgary Flames are filing arbitration, which keeps other teams from increasing the Flames projected offer sheet of $9 million. An offer The Hockey Writers stated Tkachuk was probably going to accept.

The thought was, had Tkachuk accepted the offer sheet, another team could have easily extended it, and logically, Tkachuk would have signed with an opposing team. This would have spelled doomsday for the Flames, as they already lost Johnny Gaudreau in free agency to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Of course, they got nothing out of Gaudreau, so, at most, they need to get something out of Tkachuk. While they still could have extended the offer sheet and traded him after he signed it, the Flames also realized he would be more attractive to the other 31 NHL teams if they filed arbitration before trading the unsigned star. This would allow his new team to sign Tkachuk to a long-term contract.

But, if Tkachuk’s situation goes to an arbitrator, it also means that a trade partner could not work out a long-term extension with the winger until January 2023. This also makes him less attractive because the possibility exists that a new team would not work out a long-term deal for Tkachuk.

The key is for Flames general manager Brad Treliving to trade Tkachuk before July 27th, when arbitration hearings begin. This would let a trade partner work out an extension for Tkachuk.

What would the Buffalo Sabres need to give up?

While a team filing arbitration doesn’t necessarily mean a player will be traded, many in the cyber universe believe otherwise, despite the Flames claiming it was only to resolve his contract situation without the need for an offer sheet.

So, assuming he will be traded and that the Buffalo Sabres would be interested, what would it take to trade for Tkachuk?

Last month, I was constantly looking at Victor Olofsson and Jacob Bryson as potential trading chips in the trade scenarios for three Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Now that they have signed, the Buffalo Sabres will not trade Olofsson or Bryson. In this scenario, the Sabres would need to trade high-end prospects plus draft picks to even have a chance at landing Tkachuk.

Here is my top trade scenario for Tkachuk:

Why draft picks and prospects?

Both Johnson and Portillo remain unsigned. And while I think Johnson will sign with the Buffalo Sabres, we also need to look at logistics. The Sabres already have a deep defensive rotation at the NHL level, plus Lawrence Pilut and Kale Clague, among others, in Rochester. This makes things fringe for Johnson.

I am almost certain Portillo will not sign. Plus, we saw at development camp last week just how rich the Sabres are in their prospect pool. This puts me at ease if Adams were to trade draft picks for Tkachuk, though I personally would hold onto them since I prefer building teams through the draft.

And evidently, so does Adams. But the unexpected can and will happen. However, you may be asking why the Flames, a contender last season, would trade Tkachuk for prospects and draft picks.

Good question. And my reasoning behind it is this: The Flames will most likely take a step back next season. As mentioned, they already lost Johnny Gaudreau, But the Flames also have three players besides Tkachuk likely heading to arbitration: Andrew Mangiapane, Oliver Kylington, and Matthew Phillips.