The Calgary Flames Have Filed for Club-Elected Arbitration with RFA Matthew Tkachuk

With the deadline for player-elected arbitration closed as of 5pm yesterday (July 17), teams whose RFA's still require contracts have decisions to make: file for club-elected arbitration, work out a deal (which probably would have been done already if the two sides were close), or facilitate a trade. Key RFAs currently include Matthew Tkachuk (CGY), Pierre-Luc Dubois (WPG), & Patrik Laine (CBJ). Funny, Laine & Dubois have made about as much progress with their current clubs as their previous ones.

All three did NOT file for player-elected arbitration, which left them each susceptible to offer-sheets from opposing clubs. Naturally, those GMs can't be too content to leave their prized players free to be poached by the opposition.

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have filed for club-elected salary arbitration with RFA F Matthew Tkachuk:

In Layman's terms, the club & the player will reach a deal via a neutral arbitrator which both parties must accept; but the player has the ultimate say in the term of the deal (1 or 2 years). Club-elected arbitration also means that Tkachuk will no longer be able to receive/sign an offer sheet, but it does leave open the possibility of a trade.

And after Johnny Gaudreau took off for Columbus, many are wondering if a retool might be in store for the Flames, but it doesn't seem like GM Brad Treliving or (presumably) Head Coach Darryl Sutter are interested in that route. Even so, there are ~31 other teams who would seriously benefit from Tkachuk's services, so who's to say that Treliving won't receive an offer he can't refuse for the American power-forward?

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