Calgary Flames trade Matthew Tkachuk to Florida Panthers

The Calgary Flames have traded star winger Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2025 to the Florida Panthers in a blockbuster for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round pick in 2025.

Tkachuk agreed to an eight-year, $76-million contract extension, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has reported. The deal is for $1 million in salary per year, with the rest ($68 million) in bonuses.

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“Matthew is a tenacious, physical competitor who possesses a tremendously unique skillset,” Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said in a statement.

“He is a consistent elite offensive contributor and has emerged as one of the most complete and dynamic young players in the National Hockey League. We are thrilled to be able to add a generational talent to our lineup.”

Tkachuk told the Flames in the off-season he would not sign an extension with the club, setting the stage for the team to lose a second star this summer.

Earlier this month, unrestricted free agent Johnny Gaudreau opted to sign a seven-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Calgary filed for club-elected salary arbitration with Tkachuk in mid-July in order to eliminate the possibility of an offer sheet, a move the team said was part of a bid to buy time to work out a long-term deal. But news broke shortly afterward that Tkachuk wasn’t prepared to commit to the Flames.

The 24-year-old is coming off a three-year, $21-million deal with the Flames, who drafted Tkachuk sixth overall in 2016.

Tkachuk is coming off a career-best season, scoring 42 goals to go with 62 assists for 104 points in 82 games. The Flames ultimately fell in Round 2 to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs, where Tkachuk produced 10 points in 12 games.

In 431 games across seven seasons, all with Calgary, Tkachuk has 152 goals and 230 points — ranking second in his draft class with 382 points, behind only Auston Matthews.

Related articles: 

• Flames fans concerned for future following the likelihood of losing not one but two superstars this summer

• Tkachuk to be traded imminently after telling Flames he won’t sign an extension

• Calgary Flames file for arbitration with winger Matthew Tkachuk

Tkachuk now joins the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and co. on a stacked Panthers team coming off a Presidents’ Trophy season.

Despite the regular-season success, Florida has suffered consecutive sweeps to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the past two playoffs and is yet to reach the third round since 1996.

In Huberdeau, the Flames receive one of the top point producers in the NHL. Last season the 29-year-old winger registered 30 goals and 85 assists for 115 points — tied for second in the league with former Flame Gaudreau.

Weegar, a 28-year-old defenceman, posted career-highs across the board last season with eight goals, 36 assists and a plus-40 rating. By adding Weegar to their ranks, the Flames boast an even more impressive blue line with Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Oliver Kylington, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov likely rounding out the top-6.

Both Huberdeau and Weegar have one year remaining on their respective contracts before hitting unrestricted free agency. Huberdeau’s cap hit for next season is $5.9 million, while Weegar’s is $3.25 million.

Schwindt, 21, produced 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in 72 games for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers last season.