NHL: Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames - Source: Imagn — Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau were leaders in the Calgary Flames lineup till 2022 (Source: Imagn)

"It did not have anything to do with it": When Matthew Tkachuk addressed whether Johnny Gaudreau's abrupt exit impacted his decision to leave Calgary

Modified Dec 19, 2024 21:37 GMT

Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau had become a formidable duo during their days together at the Calgary Flames. Along with Elias Lindholm, the trio was the main offensive production line for the team.

After the end of the 2022 season, Tkachuk and Gaudreau's contract expired with the Flames. Gaudreau was an unrestricted free agent, and despite long negotiations between both parties, a new contract couldn't be drawn.

There was speculation that his close friend's departure would also sway Tkachuk away from Calgary. With rumors swirling around, the Flames quickly filed for club arbitration to lock up the winger. Matthew eventually stated in an exclusive with The Athletic that he wouldn't be staying in Calgary long-term, prompting the Flames to trade him to the Florida Panthers.

In September of that year, Tkachuk gave his reasoning about how his companion's decision didn't influence his in an exclusive with Sportsnet.

“It did not have anything to do with it,” Tkachuk said. “This is my career. I signed my last contract for the sole reason of (options). I could have taken a longer deal and more money, but I wanted to re-evaluate after a three-year bridge deal, and that’s what I did.”

Matthew Tkachuk's emotional goodbye to Johnny Gaudreau

Johnny Gaudreau or "Johnny Hockey," as fans in Calgary used to call him, died in August in a tragic accident alongside his brother, Matthew. The brothers were run over by a drunk truck driver in New Jersey on the eve of their sister's wedding.

Tributes poured in from all parts of the ice hockey community. In an interview with NHL, Matthew Tkachuk opened up about his feelings for his former teammate. His heartfelt message was a way to remember Gaudreau and everything he represented.

“Johnny is one of my favorite teammates I ever played with," he said. "But he was more than a teammate to me, he was such a great friend. It doesn’t matter if you knew them or played against them, or even if you have a sibling, everyone can relate to this. It has been terrible. You’ll always carry something around. He will always be with me."

The 2021-22 season would remain iconic for what both achieved. They set career highs for themselves with 115 points for Gaudreau and 104 for Tkachuk as they led the Flames to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoff. Unfortunately, they were beaten by the Edmonton Oilers.