This has not been a good year for Matthew Tkachuk. He has struggled offensively and hasn’t been the regular driving force we’ve come to expect. So…is Tkachuk just having a down year? Or is this a concerning trend? Knowing he’s the team’s highest paid player and due a $9 million qualifying offer in just over a year, the Flames are hoping for option one. Let’s take a look at why there’s a good chance that’s exactly what happens.
This season
Even considering a 56-game schedule, this is the worst offensive season of Tkachuk’s career. He sits third in team scoring with 31 points in 48 games, but it’s his production at five-on-five that’s most concerning.