There is a mutually admiration society in progress between Team USA hero Brady Tkachuk and the crazed fans of the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills.
Tkachuk is 2018 NHL Draft eligible. #BillsMafia and #SabresMafia want it to be known to Sabres GM Jason Botterill that they would want Tkachuk to be the first round draft choice of the Sabres come next June.
At 6'3" and 200 lbs. (and growing)Tkachuk is a linebacker on skates. Tkachuk is a power forward who can skate, score, hit, block shots, hold pucks, chuck the knucks, and make tape to tape passes.
Brady Tkachuk may very well end up being the NHL's next Keith Tkachuk or Eric Lindros.
The Tkachuks have deep roots in USA Hockey.
The Tkachuk family tree has roots that run through Buffalo, NY.
To this day, Papa Keith former Sabres defenseman and coach Teppo Numminen are great friends. The former Winnipeg and Phoenix teammates maintain a tight relationship today.
In February 2017, members of the Phoenix Coyotes inaugural 1996-97 team in the Valley of the Sun reunited Saturday before a Coyotes game and celebrated their 20th season in Arizona.
Keith Tkachuk, Brady and Matt's father, Teppo Numminen, Dallas Drake, Mike Gartner and Cliff Ronning were among those who descended on center ice for a ceremonial puck drop, clad in the original Kachina-style jerseys with Tkachuk and Numminen recognized as part of the Coyotes’ all-time starting six as voted on by the fans.
Jeremy Roenick, Shane Doan, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and goalie Mike Smith joined Tkachuk and Numminen as the franchise's all-time starting six players.
Numminen's home in Buffalo suburb Clarence, NY has been a frequent flown to destination during summer training travels for Matt and Brady. Matt played two seasons for the USNTDP. He also played one stellar season for the OHL London Knights. Brady also played for the USNTDP. Brady is currently a freshman at Jack Eichel's alma mater, Boston University.
The Tkachuks and Numminens often gather together when Keith was driving Matt and Brady to summer training and to tournaments.
Another Tkachuk connection to Buffalo is Brady's brother Matt, who was drafted 6th overall by the Calgary Flames at the 2016 NHL Draft. The Sabres selected 8th overall at that year. There was a very good chance that had Matt dropped to the 8 hole in that draft that then Buffalo GM Tim Murray would have grabbed the power forward at 8. Matt is a tough to play against winger, just like his "litttle" bro Brady and his old man. Calgary selected Matt at 6. Murray then chose snipe show Alex Nylander at #8.
Another Tkachuk connection to Buffalo is cousin Casey Fitzgerald was a third round draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres in 2016. Fitzgerald is the son of former NHLer Tom Fitzgerald, who is currently the AGM of teh New Jesrey Devils. Tom Fitzgerald and Sabres GM Jason Botterill are close friends and former management teammates with teh Pittsburgh penguins.
You see me working?
On Friday night, Brady and the young Americans fought themselves off the ropes and out of a 2-0 first period ditch and defeated Team Canada 4-3 in the shootout. When Tkachuk scored the shootout winner, the barn erupted and the sound of the crowd was deafening.
Over the course of the past ten days, Buffalo has fallen in love with Brady Tkachuk. The feeling is mutual. Tkachuk is close personal friends with Sabres 2017 first round pick Casey Mittelstadt and the face of the Sabres franchise, Jack Eichel.
Check out the header on Tkachuk's Instagram:
It reads:
"BillsMafia House Parking"
Tkachuk wants to play in Buffalo with Mittelstadt and Eichel. Talk about a vulgar display of power! Damn! An all-USA power trio of Tkachuk-Eichel-Mittelstadt would be one of the most feared lines in the NHL.
It's not improbable for the Sabres to grab Tkachuk with their 2018 first round draft choice. Jason Botterill's Sabres enter today's NHL action in 30th place overall with only 10 wins and 28 points. If the Sabres lose the NHL Draft Lottery and lose out on selecting Swedish wizard-defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, they can select Tkachuk, who will no doubt be a top five pick at the 2018 NHL Draft.
#BillsMafia want Tkachuk. He wants #BillsMafia.
Casey Mittelstadt, the leading scorer at the WJCs, is campaigning hard for Brady Tkachuk to join #BillsMafia.
USA forward Max Jones is also a #BillsMafia devotee. Jones was a London Knight rock star. Jones scored 161 points in 121 career games at London. He knows Buffalo well. Jones was the first round draft choice of the Anaheim Ducks in 2016.
Botterill has some urgent business to do with his soon-to-be unrestricted free agent power forward Evander Kane before the February 28 NHL trade deadline. Botterill would be wise to trade Kane to Anaheim for a pack of asssets that includes Max Jones and the Ducks' 2018 first round draft choice. Jones is a 6'3" 210 lb. poer winger.
Could you imagine a Buffalo top six forward group that includes Eichel, Mittelstadt, Tkachuk and Jones? Sick, man.