Heading into his second visit to Calgary as an ex-Flame, Tkachuk has managed only five goals and 21 points in 30 games, well back of his pace the past couple of seasons
The raw numbers are hard to ignore as Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk readies to face his former team at the Saddledome.
While the Calgary Flames and their faithful are handwringing about Jonathan Huberdeau’s lack of offensive touch, Tkachuk heads into a clash against his former squad with only five goals and 21 points in 30 games.
For a player who is coming off consecutive seasons with at least 40 goals and 100 points, it’s an alarmingly underwhelming total.
Tkachuk could lean on it being a case of a slow recovery from the fractured sternum he suffered during last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, but insists that is not an issue.
“I’m feeling pretty good, all things considered,” he said after Monday’s morning skate. “I’m way better now than in the second half of the playoffs last year. I’m just trying to build my game. Obviously, offensively it hasn’t been there for me but my team has been around me, and that’s what’s so great about our team, the buy-in.
“I’m not going to give up what we’re trying to build here and cheat. That’s not the way it works," he added.
Matthew Tkachuk, a defence-first player? That may seem a bit far-fetched, but Panthers coach Paul Maurice insists that’s the case.
“He’s playing a better brand of hockey quality defensively right now for us than he did, easily, than he did at this point last year,” Maurice said. “He’s a better player right now. I’m pretty sure Sam Reinhart is our leading scorer, and after that I can’t even tell you those numbers.”
That may seem an excuse when talking about a player who was near the top of the league offensively the previous two seasons yet is now outside the top 100, and Maurice acknowledged that sentiment, but he is adamant about that sentiment.
“Why would I believe that if I’m in Calgary, and that’s the coach talking?” he said. “At no point in this season has he cheated a route, has he shown any sign he’s changed who he is. He’s out there and playing his butt off. What else is there? We’re not in first place but we’re OK, and we like our game, like the way w’re playing. He’s gonna get hot at some point and people will say he’s back, but I’ll say he’s never really gone.”
Besides, a return to the city where he spent the first six seasons of his career, and knowing full well the fans will be on his case for how his tenure ended, may just be the catalyst to spark Tkachuk’s offensive game.
For his part, he has a treasure trove of memories from his time in the Stampede City, on and off ice.
Especially on the ice.
“It’s really hard to beat Johnny’s Game 7 goal,” he recalled of Johnny Gaudreau’s series-clincher to beat the Dallas Stars in the spring of 2022 when asked if any stood out. “That was probably one of the most amazing nights.”