Tkachuk, Zito give their perspectives on monster Florida Panthers trade

Bill Zito had doubts.

Last Wednesday, the Florida Panthers general manager was notified that the Calgary Flames were making star power forward Matthew Tkachuk available for trade in the prime of his career at age 24.

The Panthers were atop Tkachuk’s wish list.

“I got a call from Matt’s agent, and I didn’t think it was true,” Zito said at a press conference hosted by the Panthers on Monday afternoon. “But I called Calgary right away.”

It was true.

Tkachuk, an Arizona native coming off a career-high 42 goals and a career-high 62 assists, was indeed available.

After declining to sign a long-term deal with Calgary, Tkachuk put together a short list of teams he wanted to play for, and the other clubs were Nashville, St. Louis, Vegas and Dallas.

Zito and Panthers ownership had to quickly decide if they were going to be all in on Tkachuk, and – 48 hours later – the deal was done.

To get Tkachuk, the Panthers had to part with winger Jonathan Huberdeau, who scored 30 goals last season and led the NHL with 85 assists. Huberdeau, 29, was an All-Star in two of the past three years, and he had spent his entire career with the Panthers, since they drafted him third overall in 2011.

The Panthers’ also gave up defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, 28, who had also spent his entire career with Florida, since 2013. He is also coming off a career highs in goals (eight) and assists (36).

“It was a steep price,” Zito said. “But it was something we had to pursue.”

Tkachuk, whose gritty style promises to make the Panthers tougher to play against, is worth the investment, at least in the estimation of Zito.

The Panthers won the Presidents’ Cup last season, given to the team with the best regular-season record in the NHL.

But after getting swept in four games by the Tampa Bay Lightning in last season’s second round of the playoffs, Zito has made two monumental moves. First, he brought in a new coach, Paul Maurice, who replaces Andrew Brunette.

Then, Zito made the trade for Tkachuk, who was in New Jersey on Friday when the Flames and Panthers were concluding their talks. How the trade went down from Tkachuk’s perspective was nothing short of comical.

“I got a call on Friday from my uncle, who is the best agent in the world,” Tkachuk said of Craig Oster. “He said, ‘Keep your phone with you.’ So, of course, I went to the beach and left my phone at home.

“When I got back, I had a bunch of missed calls. So, I called my uncle, and he said, ‘We may have something (with the Panthers),’ and I was the happiest person ever.”

Oster told Tkachuk not to tell anyone until the deal was official.

“So, of course,” Tkachuk said, drawing more laughs, “I went to my parents’ hotel room and told them.”

Late Friday night, Tkachuk signed an eight-year, $76-million contract extension with the Panthers.

Losing Huberdeau – especially – hurts, but the Panthers got younger by five years in the exchange of forwards. Calgary, meanwhile, could well be looking to deal Huberdeau and Weegar – both of whom are unrestricted free agents following this season – at the trade deadline in a few months.

For his part, Tkachuk said he doesn’t feel pressure to replace Huberdeau.

“I’m a different type of player,” Tkachuk said. “I know Weegar is also an unbelievable player.

“But I bring different things. I’m here to win. The personal stuff, you can throw it out the door. I’m not comparing myself to anyone. I’m here to be on the last team standing.”

Tkachuk, who attended Monday’s press conference wearing a short-sleeves pullover, shorts and flip-flops, already seems comfortable in sunny South Florida.

And he feels his abrasive on-ice mentality will similarly be a perfect fit with Panthers center/captain Aleksander Barkov, who is a more mellow personality.

“I bring a certain swagger,” Tkachuk said. “It’s kind of how I live my life. It’s a confidence. It’s a good confidence. It’s not cockiness. I think it will help this team.

“The team at the other end of the state (Tampa Bay Lightning) has that (swagger). I have to help with that.

“I think that’s a reason why (this trade) is a perfect fit. I look at a guy like (Barkov). He looks like, from the outside, as one of the best captains in the league. He leads by example. He has that quiet confidence.

“I’m the other way. I’m not quiet. I think it will be beneficial for both of us.”