Tkachuk likes team’s ‘new vibe and energy’
In his first year at the Calgary Flames’ training camp, Matthew Tkachuk was in survival mode, constantly trying to prove himself.
Last fall as a sophomore and legitimate NHL forward, the 20-year-old was ready to take a step forward — as a player and from a team perspective. This year?
“It’s all focused on how can I help get our team back to the playoffs, and ultimately, go far and accomplish something special with this group,” Tkachuk said. “I hope everyone else has that mentality, because I think that thinking about ourselves, deep down you always want to play well and help your team win, but this year in particular, you have to focus solely on the team.”
The 2018-19 edition of the Flames is a completely renovated roster which GM Brad Treliving kicked off with the hiring of new head coach Bill Peters, continued with trading away Dougie Hamilton, acquiring ‘The Real Deal’ James Neal, and inking potential roster additions.
Tkachuk reported to Wednesday’s ‘voluntary’ fitness testing with a clean bill of health. He had suffered a season-ending concussion on March 11 after tripping over a falling Mathew Barzal and colliding with the boards during a 5-2 home loss to the New York Islanders.
He has no lingering symptoms, though, other than a hunger left over from missing the last half of the 2018 season as the Flames missed the NHL playoffs and finished 20th overall.
But what was clear is Tkachuk’s optimism as he peers at this year’s list of new additions.
“I like the forwards we brought in,” Tkachuk said. “I think there are a lot of options. There are a lot of guys you can find chemistry with early in camp. This camp we have sets up for an opportunity to get to know your new teammates, new coaches and everything.
“What excites me is the new vibe and energy.”
Included in that new vibe is a new relationship with Peters.
Tkachuk met with the Flames boss several times over the summer, including a visit Peters took to Toronto to visit the 6-foot-2, 202-pound forward in person.
There has been off-season chatter from Peters about line combinations for this coming season. With the departure of Micheal Ferland, who had played on the right side with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan for the better part of two seasons, there’s a gaping hole that needs to be filled.
Tkachuk indicated he practised in the off-season with the option to play his off-wing in mind.
“I think I worked a little bit more on catching my passes on my backhand side or on my off-wing coming down the wing on three-ontwos,” Tkachuk said.
Tkachuk faces an expiring contract at the end of the 2018-19 season. He said he wants to keep conversations strictly business — on-ice business, that is.
"I’m not really going to talk about that stuff during this year,” Tkachuk said. “I feel like it’s just in the way . ... I know that there was (talk) if something doesn’t get figured out this summer, we’ll wait until next summer. That’s fine.”
While the Flames rookies report on Thursday for their physicals and fitness testing and hit the ice this weekend, the veterans will be skating in informal sessions before leaving for China next Tuesday.
And while they won’t officially begin training camp until the team arrives in Shenzhen, and won’t actually play a game until Sept. 15, Tkachuk says it’s already started.
“It’s not like you’re just bringing in guys that may or may not play,” Tkachuk said. “We’re bringing in two top-nine forwards, a topfour (defenceman) and a full new coaching staff. You don’t really know who you’re going to end up playing with or what the lines are going to be or the pairings”