The Flames filed for club-elected salary arbitration with restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk on Monday, another sign that things are going downhill fast in Calgary. It feels like a trade could take place soon with fans making bets on where Tkachuk could land.

On Tuesday, St. Louis insider Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic revealed there was a significant offer made to the Flames for Tkachuk by the Blues, “a package of Jordan Kyrou, Torey Krug, and a first-round draft pick”, but Calgary refused. The constant trade chatter has prompted Hailey Salvian and Sean Gentille of The Athletic to dress a list of potential destinations for Tkachuk, and while many make sense and are expected like the Blues, the Nashville Predators and the New Jersey Devils, one stood out to many.

The insiders point out that the Detroit Red Wings could become a front-runner for Tkachuk’s services:

“The Red Wings are in a good spot; they have the cap space and roster construction (22 out of 23 spots filled) that would allow them to accommodate Tkachuk immediately, and a prospect pool more than good enough to net him in the first place. They’re short on established, young NHL players with remaining years of team control — that they’d be interested in trading, at least.”

They wonder if a package of Tyler Bertuzzi (2023 UFA, $4.75 million AAV) or Jakub Vrana (UFA 2024, $5.25 million AAV), younger pros like defenseman Filip Hronek (RFA 2024, $4.4 million) or Filip Zadina (22 years old, RFA) and some combo of picks and prospects other than Simon Edvinsson and 2022 No. 8 overall pick Marco Kasper could make it happen.

It would also depend if Tkachuk has interest in signing long-term in Detroit.

Tkachuk is coming off a three-year, $21-million deal with the Flames and is currently a restricted free agent. On Sunday, he was not one of the 23 players who elected arbitration. He took part in all 82 games for the Calgary Flames last season, scoring 42 goals and registering 104 points. He also registered 10 points in 12 games during the Stanley Cup playoffs, where the Flames were eliminated in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers.

Here’s something Tkachuk might like in Detroit: “he’d be the biggest star on the Detroit Red Wings. Something to keep in mind.”

So, should the Red Wings have a go at him?