Tkachuk traded to Panthers by Flames for Huberdeau, Weegar

Matthew Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers by the Calgary Flames on Friday for forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

Tkachuk, who was a restricted free agent, agreed to an eight-year contract with Florida that takes the forward through the 2029-30 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Flames had filed for club-elected salary arbitration with Tkachuk, who had told them he did not want to sign a long-term contract with Calgary. His hearing was scheduled for Aug. 11.

"A lot went into it, a lot of thinking," Tkachuk said. "I came to this conclusion of what I wanted to do and go elsewhere probably about a week, week and a half ago, maybe, and kind of just from then, just figuring out where I wanted to go. I had a few teams that I was willing to go to, but a lot had to do with that on ice-off ice lifestyle, everything. I'm at a perfect place, exactly where I want to be right now in Florida. Ecstatic, excited to get down there. I'm going down in a couple of days and can't wait to see it all."

The Panthers won the Presidents' Trophy last season with the best regular-season record in the NHL (58-18-6). After winning a Stanley Cup Playoff series for the first time since 1996 with a six-game victory against the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference First Round, Florida was swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the best-of-7 second round.

"I chose the Florida Panthers, first and foremost, how great of a team they are and how great of a chance they have to win," Tkachuk said. "They've put themselves in a position the last few years to ultimately win (the Stanley Cup) and have come up short. Hopefully I'm the guy that can put them over the edge.

"On the ice it's one thing. Off the ice it's a great place to live, picturing myself there the next eight-plus years, hopefully the rest of my career. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in Florida."

The Flames also received forward prospect Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Panthers also received a conditional fourth-round pick in 2025.

"I want to thank Matthew. I have a strong relationship with Matthew," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Saturday. "We drafted him as an 18-year-old player. We saw him grow up in this organization. He's been a special guy to this organization. He made a decision to move on. I appreciate his honesty. I appreciate him coming to that decision. A week ago, this was not a plan that we had. We were not looking to move Matthew Tkachuk, but we were put in a situation we had to do the very best thing we could for the organization. He chose the path to go down and we had to facilitate as best we possibly could."

Treliving said he spoke to Tkachuk and his agent last weekend.

"At that time, they informed me that Matthew did not have an appetite and would not sign with the Calgary Flames long term," Treliving said. "He outlined the reasons for this. … Ultimately made the decision and informed us that being a Calgary Flame long term was not in his plans.

"Early on in the process when we felt we had an opportunity to look at the types of players and impact of players we were able to get a deal done with, which was Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and the future pick, that became, clearly, a path we tried to go down early in the process."

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Tkachuk had an NHL career-high 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 82 games last season. The 24-year-old led the Flames with 12 power-play goals and 29 power-play points. His 62 assists, 104 points, 75 even-strength points and 26 multipoint games each ranked second on Calgary, and his 17 multiassist games were tied for the fifth-most by a Flames player in one season in their history. Following the regular season, Tkachuk was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.

In 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games, he had 10 points (four goals, six assists), including his first NHL playoff hat trick in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Edmonton Oilers.

Selected by the Flames with the No. 6 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Tkachuk has 382 points (152 goals, 230 assists) in 431 regular-season games and 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 27 playoff games.

"Matthew is a tenacious, physical competitor who possesses a tremendously unique skill set," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "He is a consistent elite offensive contributor and has emerged as one of the most complete and dynamic young players in the National Hockey League. We are thrilled to be able to add a generational talent to our lineup."

Huberdeau had an NHL career-high 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) in 80 games last season, when he led the NHL in assists and tied then-Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau for second in scoring. The 29-year-old helped the Panthers win the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in their history and had five points (one goal, four assists) in 10 playoff games.

Selected by the Panthers with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Huberdeau has 613 points (198 goals, 415 assists) in 671 regular-season games and 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 26 playoff games.

"Late on a Friday night, you don't think you're going to get a call but we did and I think it's part of the hockey business," Huberdeau said Monday. "Obviously, me and 'Weegs' had a great time in Florida. I was there for a really long time, that's where I got drafted. It was a big shock for me and my family. I think obviously going through the weekend, I've thought about everything. it's part of life. Now we have to go forward and I'm excited to be a Flame, excited to meet the guys and get going."

That excitement is matched by the Flames general manager.

"I think we've got an elite player that we've returned in Huberdeau," Treliving said. "Second in the League in scoring. Has been a top player throughout his career in the League. He's one of the premier forwards in the League, not only what he does, the ability to make other players around him better. He's dynamic. He's competitive. We added a premier forward to our team."

Huberdeau has one season remaining on a six-year, $35.4 million ($5.9 million average annual value) he signed with Florida on Sept. 7, 2016. He can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

"Yeah, obviously it's a really good team," Huberdeau said. "I'm excited to join these guys. They want to win. It's not a rebuild, this team is good. They love their guys, but we're coming in and we're going to try and help them get to the next level. Me and Weegs are in this League to win the Cup. There's a really good squad already there and we're going to go and help them."

Weegar had 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 80 regular-season games last season and one assist in 10 playoff games. The 28-year-old has 121 points (27 goals, 94 assists) in 306 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 20 playoff games, all with the Panthers. He has one season remaining on a three-year contract he signed with Florida on Nov. 6, 2020.

"I guess for both of us, it was a bit of a shock," Weegar said Monday. "I get that part of the hockey business but 11 o'clock at night on a Friday was unexpected. We got drafted there, we have a lot of emotional ties there and they treated us well. It was a little emotional but through the weekend you get more excited. Flames fans have treated us to good responses. I'm excited to join the team here, a solid team, and make a good push for the Cup. It's going to be exciting."

Treliving said the Flames have high hopes for Weegar.

"We believe he's a top-pairing defenseman," Treliving said. "To me, he's just really just at the prime of his career. Is a right-shot defenseman. … We think this guy makes our team a lot better today. ... We look at him as a top-end defensemen, one of the top defensemen in the League, quite frankly.

"We're certainly aware of the circumstances around both players contractually. We're going to be speaking to their agents. I have at the time this trade took place. But a lot's happened in the last 24 hours. We'll let everyone take a deep breath and we'll continue to move forward here."

Schwindt, selected by Florida in the third round (No. 81) of the 2019 NHL Draft, made his League debut Dec. 16, 2021. The 21-year-old has no points in three NHL games for the Panthers.

"On behalf of the entire Florida Panthers organization, we would like to thank Jonathan and MacKenzie for their immense contributions to the Florida Panthers, both on and off the ice, during their tenures in South Florida," Zito said. "They have both blossomed into exceptional athletes and people. Their contributions as players and people made an indelible mark on our franchise and we wish them both continued success in their future."

Tkachuk is the second top forward to leave the Flames this offseason; Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13. Calgary (50-21-11) won the Pacific Division but lost in five games to the Oilers in the second round.

"At the end of the day, the players make decisions," Treliving said. "You always reflect back on how you go through a process. I feel very, very comfortable that the ownership of this organization, the management team here did everything possible to have [Tkachuk and Gaudreau] sign and stay. They chose, they didn't want to. Not a lot you can do about that so you move forward."

NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers and independent correspondent Aaron Vickers contributed to this report