NHL Notebook: Matthew Tkachuk’s production in 2024 Stanley Cup Finals has been disappointing for Panthers
10 days ago
In the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk was one of the most talked about players throughout the club’s incredible run. Regarding this year’s Stanley Cup Final, the forward has shown a rather underwhelming effort.
In Flordia’s 20 playoff games last season, Tkachuk recorded 11 goals and 24 points and a plus-12 rating, with four of those 11 markers being game-winners.
However, Tkachuk’s performance has taken a different turn in the current playoff run. In 21 games, he has accumulated 20 points, a commendable number, yet, the difference lies in his goal-scoring ability. With only five goals in the playoffs, he is struggling to maintain his usual consistency as a game-changing player.
Tkachuk has been unable to find the back of the net since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers. The forward has recorded only four assists and has been minus-three in nine games since, which includes a lone assist so far in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, despite the Panthers leading the series 3-1.
In the latest episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed Tkachuk’s efforts and his current standing regarding Conn Smythe voting.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Who are you maybe looking at and going ‘That’s a disappointing effort so far?’Frank Seravalli: Matthew Tkachuk. The effort’s not disappointing, but certainly the production is. It’s amazing that as we cast [Conn Smythe Trophy] ballots in Game 4… I don’t know who was on the list, but I can’t even remember Matthew Tkachuk being in the conversation. If someone had told you that heading into the playoffs, the Florida Panthers would have a chance to sweep the Stanley Cup Final and Matthew Tkachuk isn’t one of Florida’s Conn-Smythe candidates, I think you’d have been floored…… He still has 20 points in 21 playoff games… It’s not as if he’s been on a milk carton. It’s just that if you were to rank the most impactful Florida Panthers to this point in the postseason… You’d probably go something like [Aleksander Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Gustav Forsling, Carter Verhaeghe]. What that means is it’s opportunity. This is prime time for Matthew Tkachuk to cause chaos, to do everything that he does so well as the guy that drags this team into the fight on a nightly basis.
Will Nikita Zadorov test free agency or remain in Vancouver?
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov is one of the most significant topics of conversation moving into free agency this summer. Still, the question remains whether the blueliner will test the waters of free agency or remain in Vancouver.
The interest in Zadorov saw a massive rise throughout the latter half of the season and in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
On the recent episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk chimed in on the latest rumours about a Zadorov extension.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Some rumblings over the weekend so let’s start out in Vancouver with talks about a Nikita Zadorov extension. Smoke, fire or false alarm?Frank Seravalli: Smoke. I don’t think it’s fire just yet because the Zadorov camp is pretty confident they can get a nice deal on the open market. However, I do think the Canucks are working multiple angles at once. You heard Rick Tocchet talk about Zadorov and his impact throughout the playoffs, he talked about how he was a breath of fresh in the locker room, talked about his physicality, and obviously the size is something he is a big believer in considering how much Myers and Zadorov played.Frank Seravalli: So he’s a believer in all of these things and I would think that weighs heavily on Allvn and Rutherford. I don’t think they were all that close in the first go around at this but if they continue to talk and try and find a solution, because there is a bit of a game of chicken here, you better be darn sure whatever you think you can get on the open market is exactly what it is.
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