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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our choices for best player on the Calgary Flames
Todd Cordell
I think Johnny Gaudreau is the most talented, and explosive, player on Calgary. At this point, though, I’m not sure he’s the best. I have to give the slightest of edges to Matthew Tkachuk. He’s just too good across the board.
Tkachuk ranks 1st or 2nd on the Flames in Corsi For%, Expected Goals For%, and Scoring Chance For%, since the beginning of the 2018-19 season. He’s right up there in terms of goal differential as well. Tkachuk has served as an elite play driver despite the fact he faces off against opposing team’s top offensive players on a nightly basis.
Tkachuk is quite the threat offensively himself. No Flames player recorded more goals or Grade A chances from 2018-20.
As if the play driving, and production, wasn’t enough, Tkachuk also separates himself with an uncanny ability to draw penalties.
He ranks 4th in minors drawn over the last two seasons. Of the three players ahead of him, two – Brad Marchand and Brady Tkachuk – actually have a worse penalty differential because of how many minors they give back.
Tkachuk positively impacts the Flames in every way imaginable and, for that reason, he’s my No. 1.
Sean Malougney
I wasn't aware that Calgary had any good players but upon a closer investigation it appears as though they have a couple of above average guys.
A couple years ago Johnny Gaudreau would have been the clearcut answer due to his offensive prowess and creativity despite his diminutive stature. While Tkachuk is certainly establishing himself as an elite player, I'm hesitant to fully award him the best player on the Flames....yet.
One season ago, Gaudreau was a point off a 100 point season after having an 84 point season the year prior. If the full season happened this year, Gaudreau isn't on pace to crack the 70 point mark. Has Tkachuk taken over, or has Gaudreau simply had a poor year by his standards?
Gaudreau so far has proven to be the better 5 on 5 producer. Last season when Johnny scored 36 goals and Tkachuk scored 34, 30 of Gaudreau's goals were scored at even strength while only 23 of Tkachuk's were. The other 11 goals Tkachuk scored were on the powerplay. In fact, despite playing 171 more games than Tkachuk, Gaudreau only has 4 more PP goals but has more than double the PP assists (94 compared to 44).
This season Gaudreau is shooting at a similar career clip but isn't being rewarded. Only twice in his six season NHL career has his Sh% dipped below 10% which are his two seasons where he did not score at least 20 goals.
Tkachuk is a top notch player but when Gaudreau is at his best I think he is the better of the two. Calgary might not have a Draisaitl or a McDavid or a Nugent Hopkins or a Yamamoto on their team, but they can take solace in the fact that they have two players who make the top 150 forwards currently in the NHL list.....
Probably.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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