Matthew Tkachuk is no stranger to the Saddledome, but this visit has a different vibe. The former Calgary Flames winger is back in his old home rink as a Stanley Cup champion. At the same time, it’s impossible to navigate his old city without memories of his Flames bestie Johnny Gaudreau invoking feeling of loss.
Tkachuk helped lead the Florida Panthers to their first championship in franchise history last season, cementing his place among the NHL’s elite in his second season after orchestrating his trade away from the Flames.
The 27-year-old hockey unicorn dreamed of doing that with the Flames alongside Gaudreau before they both went their separate ways after the 2021-22 season.
Tragically, Gaudreau was killed this past summer in a cycling accident in New Jersey, a loss that deeply affected Tkachuk and the entire hockey world.
“I’ve been telling a lot of Johnny stories today,” Tkachuk told reporters in Calgary after the Panthers’ morning skate. “I just miss him so much.”
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The two spent six seasons together as linemates and close friends, forming one of the league’s most dynamic duos during their time with the Flames. Off the ice, they were practically inseparable, living a large part of their time together in the same building, enjoying their favorite local eateries and building a bond that extended far beyond hockey.
Tkachuk tuned into the recent tribute the Flames had for Gaudreau before their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Johnny’s team at the time of his passing.
“I thought they did an amazing job of honoring him, like teams have done all year,” Tkachuk said. “Dinner last night, we went to one of his favorite spots, Mercato. I used to go there with him all the time. It’s still crazy to think about. I miss him a lot.”
As Tkachuk steps onto the Saddledome ice again, he does it as a champion and one of the league’s hottest players. He was named the NHL’s first star of the week on Monday after putting on an offensive clinic. He scored five goals and six assists for an 11-point week.
That stretch highlighted his ability to take over games, as he factored in nearly every Florida goal in a trio of contests, including a dramatic comeback against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a five-point explosion against the Philadelphia Flyers, and a clutch two-goal outing in a win over the San Jose Sharks.
With 15 points in his last six games, Tkachuk is heating up, once again showing he can be one of the most dominant players in the league.
It will be interesting to see how Flames fans receive the Team USA selection on Saturday night. His first trip back featured plenty of boos because of the way he left — refusing to re-sign with the franchise that drafted him.
Either way, you can bet Tkachuk will be ready for it and motivated to remind them what they’re missing.
