Calgary Flames Select Matthew Tkachuk #6 overall

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With the sixth pick in the 2016 NHL Draft the Calgary Flames have selected Matthew Tkachuk from London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League.

About Matthew Tkachuk

The son of longtime NHLer Keith Tkachuk, Matthew was born in Scottsdale, Arizona and came up through the St. Louis minor hockey system. He also worked his way through the U.S. National Team development system before jumping to the Ontario Hockey League this season, where he was an offensive leader on a powerhouse line alongside Arizona pick Christian Dvorak and Toronto prospect Mitch Marner.

Equal parts skill and grit, Tkachuk projects to be a power forward at the NHL level and is just as dangerous as an agitating presence as he is as a sniper.

Matthew Tkachuk On The Flames

Tkachuk fits in nicely with a young Flames team that has young forwards Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett, Johnny Gaudreau, Hunter Shinkaruk and talented blueliners like T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton. Add in their key veterans like Mikael Backlund, Mark Giordano and Michael Frolik and the Flames have a really solid group to build around.

The Flames also don’t necessarily need to rush Tkachuk to the NHL, as they have a decent amount of depth on their American Hockey League club on the wings that can jump up into the NHL next season. For a team that’s been criticized for not being overly tough to play against, Tkachuk is a great fit.