As fans of the NHL, we often complain that the league’s trades are rather uninventive, as everyone cautiously holds onto their players tightly and avoids doing anything that could get them in trouble if it doesn’t work out.
We can now put those objections on hold, because the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers dropped a genuine blockbuster for us to chew on this weekend. The Matthew Tkachuk sweepstakes are over, as he’s been traded to Florida for a package that’s highlighted by Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, but also includes Cole Schwindt and a first-round pick. Regardless of your rooting interests, this is the perfect trade. There’s so many moving parts to try and wrap your head around, and they’re actually significant ones that figure to make a real difference.
So let’s try and get a better handle on it by taking a closer look at all of the considerations involved, ranging from what both sides are getting from their shiny new toys, to why they were each willing to make the type of seismic move that this surely qualifies as.
