Johnny Gaudreau has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. A trade involving Matthew Tkachuk appears imminent. The Calgary Flames have lost one really great hockey player and seem primed to lose another one, dismantling the best line in hockey last season.
The departures of Gaudreau and Tkachuk will have a serious on-ice impact. How much worse are the Flames without these two players?
Ice time
(Unless otherwise noted, the data cited is from Natural Stat Trick).
Gaudreau and Tkachuk played almost exclusively together last season. They played on the first line at even strength with Elias Lindholm, and on the first power play unit primarily with Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Tyler Toffoli.