Matthew Tkachuk signs with Flames
Sixth pick of 2016 NHL Draft helped junior team win Memorial Cup last season
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Left wing Matthew Tkachuk, the sixth pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
Tkachuk, the son of United States Hockey Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk, helped London of the Ontario Hockey League win the Memorial Cup last season. He had five goals in four games, including the overtime goal in the championship game. He was fifth in the OHL with 107 points in 57 games, and had a league-best 20 goals in 18 OHL playoff games.
"It's definitely something that I've been looking forward to my whole entire life," Tkachuk said. "Just to sign your first NHL contract, it's unbelievable. It's so crazy it's happening so fast now. It's a good step, and a step in the right direction. It's a step forward. Now I focus on training camp."
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward was No. 2 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters for the 2016 draft.
"It's a part of the process for us," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. "We think he's going to be a real good player. He needs a lot of work, like they all do, and he'll put the work in in the summer and we'll go from there.
"The good thing about Matthew is he understands. This is not the finish line by any stretch. This is just the starting point. But to get him signed, that's a good thing. Onward and upward."