Brad Treliving remains optimistic about re-signing Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk

Over the past week or so there’s been chatter about the future of Johnny Gaudreau, a current Calgary Flame and potential unrestricted free agent on July 13. That chatter has escalated into chatter regarding the future of Matthew Tkachuk, another current Flame and a pending restricted free agent. Speaking to the media after the draft concluded, general manager Brad Treliving emphasized that he’s focused on getting both gentlemen re-signed to new deals.

“Our whole focus has been about getting these guys signed,” said Treliving. “Like I said the other day, we’ll continue to do that – in Johnny’s case up until we can’t. But we remain optimistic. They’re important players. That’s what we’re going to focus the next few days on.”

Treliving was asked multiple times about Gaudreau, as you would expect when the Flames don’t yet have the NHL’s second-leading scorer from this past season under contract for 2022-23. Treliving remained upbeat and positive about the process.

“I think both sides are focused on trying to get a deal,” said Treliving. “This isn’t the first player that’s gone four or five days before free agency. And he won’t be the last. I think it’s real genuine on both sides that we’re working to try to get a deal done.”

Treliving can read calendars and he alluded to the time pressure. But as he has in the past – usually regarding things like salary arbitration cases – he noted that the looming deadline should force a decision.

“Deadlines push decisions. We’re creeping up on one,” said Treliving. “But I genuinely think everybody’s heart’s in the right place. We want to get the player signed and I think he wants to be in Calgary. But they’re big decisions, they’re life decisions. He’s earned this opportunity to, if he doesn’t sign with us, to look at the market in however long it is, so I think that’s something he’s got to consider. For us, it’s just trying to get our player signed and, like I said, we’ll keep working at it.”

(Stick-taps to FlamesTV for posting the scrum video.)

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