'We're going to deal with it': Flames GM Treliving on losing Tkachuk, Gaudreau

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving is playing the hand he's been dealt.

Treliving spoke with media on Saturday, a day after the Flames sent star forward Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in a trade. The deal comes nine days after Johnny Gaudreau left Calgary as a free agent, signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Gaudreau led Calgary with 115 points last season and Tkachuk was second with 104.

"You can crawl over to the corner in the fetal position and suck your thumb or you can deal with it," said Treliving. "And what we've tried to do is deal with it. That's what we do.

Calgary got forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Cole Schwindt, defenceman MacKenzie Weegar and the Panthers' lottery-protected 2025 first-round selection in return for Tkachuk.

Treliving said he was forced to make the swap when Tkachuk's agent informed him last weekend that the 24-year-old winger would not agree to a long-term deal with the Flames. As part of that process, Calgary worked with Tkachuk's agent to file for salary arbitration on Monday in order to eliminate the possibility of another team extending an offer sheet to the restricted free agent.

Florida said on Friday that Tkachuk agreed to an eight-year deal after the trade was completed. According to numerous reports, the contract is for $76 million US.

Blocking the possibility of an offer sheet was a necessary step for Calgary to get a substantial return on Tkachuk in a trade, according to Treliving.

"We feel that this is, by a longshot, the very, very best deal that was available to us," said Treliving, who called it a challenging position to be in.

Huberdeau will certainly carry his weight on offence. He had a career-high 115 points last