from Eric Francis of Sportsnet,

Less than a week after losing Johnny Gaudreau, the team now very much appears on the brink of having to part with Matthew Tkachuk.

That’s the most reasonable way to interpret news late Monday that the Flames have filed to take Tkachuk to salary arbitration.

The team certainly isn’t making a move like this to save money on his $9-million qualifying offer, as the 24-year-old restricted free agent is sure to make out like a bandit after his 42-goal, 104-point season.

He'll get a nice raise.

The club did it to prevent a one-year offer sheet, but moreso to buy time.

Optimists will suggest it’s time needed to try coming up with a long-term agreement with the star winger.

Realists will surmise it’s time required to trade the team’s second-best player to a team south side of the border.

Consider me a realist.

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