Matthew Tkachuk explains how he came to the decision to leave Calgary and why
After tons of speculation as to why star player Matthew Tkachuk wanted out of Calgary, we're finally hearing it straight from the horse's mouth. Tkachuk spoke with Sportsnet on Saturday and insisted there was no single reason why he decided to leave.
"I put myself in a position with the last deal I signed to kind of reevaluate my life and my career at this stage, and I kind of came to the conclusion after the RFA period (July 13) it was time to look elsewhere."
"There's a lot that went into it. There's no single reason why I left. At the end of the day, I wanted to re-evaluate where I'm at, and after talking to a few teams I did that, and kind of came down to that conclusion."
"I didn't know what my decision was going to be until that talking period."
"It all changed then."
"There's a lot that went into it. There's no single reason why I left. At the end of the day, I wanted to re-evaluate where I'm at, and after talking to a few teams I did that, and kind of came down to that conclusion."
"I didn't know what my decision was going to be until that talking period."
"It all changed then."
As for the city of Calgary and his time with the Flames, Tkachuk has nothing bad to say.
"I'm sitting here, very emotional about my time there in Calgary."
"I'm sad and happy. Very mixed...I'm sad I'm leaving so many great people in the city and the organization."
"I feel like I did it the right way. I played my hardest. I tried to be in the community as much as possible. I knew pretty recently it was time for a change....There was no second-guessing it or delaying it. I told them right away. It's like ripping a bandaid off right away. It's hard."
"I hope people can respect me for that, and for trying to help them out as much as they tried to help me out in this process, because I feel working together really did benefit both of us."
"I'm sad and happy. Very mixed...I'm sad I'm leaving so many great people in the city and the organization."
"I feel like I did it the right way. I played my hardest. I tried to be in the community as much as possible. I knew pretty recently it was time for a change....There was no second-guessing it or delaying it. I told them right away. It's like ripping a bandaid off right away. It's hard."
"I hope people can respect me for that, and for trying to help them out as much as they tried to help me out in this process, because I feel working together really did benefit both of us."
Tkachuk also praised Calgary GM Brad Treliving, adding telling him he wanted out was one of the hardest things he's ever had to do.
"I wanted to make sure I worked with him and not leave them dry."
"We worked together and it was really seamless. He did an unbelievable job. He's one of the most respected GMs in the league for a reason...We worked through it and I think we're both happy with how the results came."
"We worked together and it was really seamless. He did an unbelievable job. He's one of the most respected GMs in the league for a reason...We worked through it and I think we're both happy with how the results came."
As for landing with the Florida Panthers, Tkachuk said he couldn't be happier, adding they're a young team with a chance to win, and that's what made the feal attractive.
"I will always remember my time in Calgary as the most important and best years in my life to date. I'm leaving as a 24-year-old, young man and I went in as an 18-year-old kid. I'm proud of that and I'm proud of the relationships with people who helped me with that."
"If you're a trainer, coach, manager, fan, media or security at the rink, I just hope I can go down as one of the guys who is really fun and easy to work with. That's what I want to be remembered for."
"If you're a trainer, coach, manager, fan, media or security at the rink, I just hope I can go down as one of the guys who is really fun and easy to work with. That's what I want to be remembered for."
Source: Sportsnet.ca
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