Senators’ Brady Tkachuk on rumors he wants out of Ottawa: ‘It’s a lie’
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the 2024-25 season – but he wants to let the fanbase know he’s not going anywhere.
The Senators were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday evening, putting an end to their playoff run after last making the postseason in 2017. Still, the season was seen as a success as the club took serious steps forward, and look ready to contend in the long run.
And Tkachuks wants to stick around – he’s not interested in playing elsewhere.
“Obviously it’s a lie,” Tkachuk said during a media conference. “All those articles, stories… It’s just not true. But I think it’s on me if I let that bother me or take me off what I’m trying to do. Everyone knows that I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Seeing this fan base, this excitement, see how much they rallied around us, everybody’s waiting for it. Everybody wants to accomplish and win the Stanley Cup.”
Tkachuk has spent his entire seven-year career with the Senators since getting selected fourth overall in 2018. The 25-year-old just completed his fourth year of an eight-season contract with a cap hit of $8.205 million.
“I know we have a great group in here and I know we’re just going to get that much better and I know there’s going to be some amazing times, memories here down the road. I think with all that stuff, it’s obviously not true. I want to play here, I want to win here and I really believe in everybody in this organization and that everybody wants to win here. I think that’s what makes it fun, everybody has the same goal and wants to accomplish the same thing.”
It was the first playoff run of Tkachuk’s career. It was a season that also saw him play in the 4 Nations Face-Off – his first taste of best-on-best international competition. But being part of the playoffs was always a major goal for Tkachuk, who typically thrives in the spotlight.
“Just getting that taste (of the playoffs) and this whole experience of playing in front of this fan base and playoffs and even the regular season, but just the energy, the excitement, the atmosphere – this is the only way I can really describe it,” Tkachuk said. “It’s almost addicting to be able to play in front of that atmosphere,” Tkachuk said. “And it was truly the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in. And it was so special. And all the credit goes to the fans, this community, and just how special it was. Every morning, I couldn’t tell you how excited I was just to step out on the ice and see those rally towels and that just fire and excitement that the fans had and been waiting for a long eight years to be able to share that with them. It was so special.”
The 6-foot-4 American forward had four goals and seven points in six games, registering at least one point in every outing. The Sens trailed the series 3-0 at one point, but nearly forced Game 7 before Toronto closed the door in the final minutes of Game 6.
“I know we’re going to get better internally, and we’re just going to get better overall that when that time comes next year that we’re not just looking at being happy to be in playoffs,” Tkachuk said. “We want more.”
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