Matthew Tkachuk just revealed the two other teams where he almost got traded and it would have changed everything
During the Florida Panthers' improbable run to the Final last spring, it can be safely said that the team owes a huge debt to Matthew Tkachuk.
In 20 playoff games, the left winger accumulated 24 points and scored crucial goals, leading the Panthers to eliminate three powerhouses from the Eastern Conference: the Bruins, the Maple Leafs, and the Hurricanes.
Even though the team hit a wall in the final against the Golden Knights, Tkachuk's contribution was such that he's now considered one of the NHL's best left wingers. But as reported by Habsolumentfan.com, Panthers fans nearly missed seeing number 19 don the Florida jersey.
On his recent appearance on the Cam & Strick Podcast, Tkachuk reflected on the trade that brought him from the Calgary Flames to the Panthers in the summer of 2022.
It's remembered that the Panthers traded Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick to Calgary to secure Tkachuk's services.
But Tkachuk made a surprising revelation, stating that the St. Louis Blues and the Carolina Hurricanes were also in the running to get the robust forward, and the talented Martin Necas was part of the trade proposal.
It's recalled that Tkachuk had expressed his desire to leave Calgary, and it was ultimately the Panthers who won the derby. But imagine if he had ended up with the Hurricanes?
We're talking about one of the NHL's best teams. One wonders if the Canes could have gone further in the playoffs with Tkachuk on their roster and perhaps pursued the Stanley Cup...
Regardless, Tkachuk is now in Florida, and expectations are high for him to aim for a third consecutive season with at least 100 points.
| POLL | ||
Will Matthew Tkachuk achieve another 100-point season this year? | ||
| Yes | 159 | 57.6 % |
| No | 117 | 42.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
