Panthers trade for Matthew Tkachuk: Best memes, tweets from NHL fans

The Florida Panthers have won the Matthew Tkachuk sweepstakes, trading for the star winger with the Flames and leaving NHL fans stunned. 

It seemed like only a matter of “when” not “if” the Calgary Flames would trade star winger Matthew Tkachuk after the 24-year-old stated that he wanted out. And virtually every team in the NHL would appear interested in a young talent of that caliber.

While that was probably the case, it was the Florida Panthers who were able to get the deal done on Friday night, pulling off a blockbuster that vaults them firmly into Stanley Cup contention again heading into next season.

As reported by Elliotte Friedman, the Panthers traded for Tkachuk and signed him to an eight-year deal upon doing so.

In return, the Flames are getting a package headlined by Jonathan Huberdeau and a first-round pick.

Matthew Tkachuk trade details: Panthers give up Jonathan Huberdeau to Flames

The Panthers confirmed the trade on Twitter and via a press release, which gave the full details of the trade.

https://twitter.com/FlaPanthers/status/1550683370518200320

Spelled out, Florida is getting Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick while Calgary gets Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a lottery-protected pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

That’s the price of doing business to trade for a 24-year-old star. Meanwhile, the deal that Tkachuk is signing with Florida is an eight-year, $76 million pact, which averages out to $9.5 million per year.

NHL fans react to Panthers trading for Matthew Tkachuk

Naturally, this blockbuster trade — even if anticipated — left the NHL world and fans scrambling to collect their thoughts.

https://twitter.com/MatthewWords/status/1550684062565662720

https://twitter.com/JShataraTV/status/1550683377602371587

There seems to be some divisiveness about which team won the trade as the Flames did get quite a haul for Tkachuk. But in a blockbuster deal, Florida had to play a blockbuster price.

In actuality, it could be that both teams end up winners in this trade as the Panthers get younger and perhaps better while the Flames aren’t completely hamstrung moving forward while losing the 24-year-old. What a night for hockey!