Pals, the Calgary Flames have made a few first-round selections in their day that just didn’t pan out. But recently, drafting has gotten better. And while he’s recently left the organization and there may be some hurt feelings regarding his departure, let’s make one thing clear: Matthew Tkachuk was a really good Flame.
He’s #27 on our countdown.
Player, 2016-22 The eldest son of longtime NHLer Keith Tkachuk, Matthew was born in the Phoenix area but raised in the St. Louis area. He came up through local minor hockey, played his 17-year-old year with the US National Development Program, then jumped to the Ontario Hockey League to play his draft year with the powerhouse London Knights.