Crazy story of how close the Hurricanes came to trading for Matthew Tkachuk

It's hard to believe but 3 years ago today, July 22, 2022, the Calgary Flames traded superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in a blockbuster deal.

Tkachuk and a 4th round pick was traded for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round pick. At first blush, it appeared that the Flames pulled off a steal of a trade. But, of course, after three seasons with the Panthers, we know realize just how lopsided this deal was... but for the Panthers.

Tkachuk has two Stanley Cups in three seasons with the Panthers, while the Flames have struggled mightily since. Ouch.

Interestingly enough, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported today on the three year anniversary of the trade that Tkachuk very nearly ended up in Carolina.

"... just how close the Carolina Hurricanes were to acquiring Tkachuk. As that Friday was shaping up I can remember going back and forth with sources... and it was down to the wire between Florida and Carolina. I think there were varying points throughout that day that the Carolina Hurricanes thought they might be able to get it done with Tkachuk. And he ends up landing in Florida and he ends up changing his life and that franchise forever.

Yowza!

It's tough to say what the Hurricanes would have traded to the Flames, but considering that they valued Huberdeau and Weegar so strongly in the Panthers trade we an only assume that they'd be seeking similar counterparts on Carolina.

I doubt Sebastian Aho was ever in play, but would the Hurricanes have moved a player like Andrei Svechnikov? Or how about Seth Jarvis? Martin Necas was almost certainly involved, right? As for defenseman how about Jaccob Slavin?

Thoughts, Flames fans? If you could swap out Huberdeau and Weegar for Svechnikov and Slavin wouldn't you make that deal in a heartbeat? What's the NHL's policy on do-overs?