Mention Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk’s name and the following adjectives will be immediately heard: gritty, tough, fiery, skilled and irritating. He’s a part of one of the best lines in hockey, is becoming a deflection specialist, gets under everyone’s skin and had 20-plus goals this past season. So, what is it he cannot do? Well, be his team’s captain, that’s what. At least for now.
For now the “C” is worn by Flames defenseman Mark Giordano. No doubt, however, the lovable (and extremely disliked at the same time) 20-year-old is projecting as the next heir to the throne of Calgary’s captaincy. Tkachuk’s bursting onto the scene has nullified the notion that Sean Monahan was next in line for the team’s top leadership role. Monahan was made an alternate captain at the young age of 21, back in 2015-2016.