Tough blow to Matthew Tkachuk in Florida…

Matthew Tkachuk wanted to be traded to the Florida Panthers and his wish came true earlier this summer when the Calgary Flames pulled the blockbuster trade that sent him south in return for star forward Jonathan Huberdeau and top-pairing defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. He then signed an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually.

However, what might have been a second wish did not come true for Tkachuk. The Panthers play their first game of the season against the New York Islanders on Thursday and Tkachuk won’t start on the first line with Aleksander Barkov.
Tkachuk, per Brian Costello of The Hockey News, is set to be on the second line with Sam Bennett and Rudolfs Balcers. As the reporter puts it: I wonder if he envisioned himself on the second line with Bennett and Balcers?

You have to imagine that Tkachuk was hoping to play on the top line, along with his new captain. However, a fan responded to Costello’s tweet with fact: Huberdeau, who recorded 115 points last season in Florida, didn’t play with Barkov last year, he was on the wing with Bennett and Anthony Duclair.

Tkachuk is a difference maker and there is no doubt that he will have a significant impact in Florida.

However, as the lineup gets put together ahead of the Panthers’ season opener, Tkachuk will be on the second line with all eyes on him.