The Daily Faceoff Show: Matthew Tkachuk wasn’t involved in Eichel trade discussions

The Golden Knights wound up being the team to trade for Jack Eichel, but, for a few minutes, it looked as though he would be headed to Calgary.

On Thursday’s edition of The Daily Faceoff Show, Frank Seravalli and Scott Burnside talked about why trading for Eichel didn’t make sense for the Flames right now, given their hot start and the fact he’s a few months away from playing. Seravalli also debunked the rumor that Matthew Tkachuk would have been part of the deal going from Calgary to Buffalo.

Seravalli: “There’s lots of buzz out there about Matthew Tkachuk potentially being involved in a Calgary Flames transaction for Jack Eichel. What did you make of seeing his name included in the rumor mill?”

Burnside: “I must admit, it did stop me in my tracks. My sense is that the veracity may have been lacking with that, especially with the way the Flames are off to such a terrific start.

It just seems that team is finally in sync. Matthew Tkachuk is such an important part of that, and, to me, it made no sense. Even though the idea of a franchise center like Jack Eichel coming in tandem with Sean Monahan and whatever that might have looked like, the give just seemed too exorbitant to me, especially to a team, again, that I think is finally realizing some pretty significant potential.

It’s been a rough couple of years in Calgary. But I think Matthew Tkachuk is a huge part of the core of that team, so, to me, it didn’t make any sense.”

Seravalli: “All of the intel that I’ve gathered suggests that Matthew Tkachuk was never involved in the conversation.

The Flames were looking at a potential Jack Eichel addition as giving up futures to add to the group that they already have, so I think you’re spot on in your analysis. Yes, trading for Jack Eichel would help, but at what expense given you’d have to pluck a really key piece off of your roster for the next three to four months while Jack Eichel waits to get healthy.

I don’t know how that helps the Flames in the short term. Maybe in the long-term, but I’d also argue, with all due respect to Jack Eichel as a game-changer, what the Golden Knights called him this morning, Matthew Tkachuk might be the better player in the deal.”

Here’s the full episode, with the Calgary talk beginning at 24:00…