1st-rounder Tkachuk to start season with Flames

First-round pick Matthew Tkachuk will start the regular season with the Calgary Flames, head coach Glen Gulutzan announced Thursday.

Tkachuk will have up to nine NHL games before a decision has to be made on the rest of his season.

The magic number, of course, is 10 - the number of appearances needed to lock a rookie into the first year of their entry-level contract.

Tkachuk was drafted sixth overall from the OHL's London Knights, for whom he recorded 30 goals and 77 assists in 57 games last season. He would return to London should the Flames ultimately decide he needs further development.

For the time being, however, he's a Flame, based on a very strong showing at training camp.

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