Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[Micklebot]

Jason York called out his play on his podcast, specifically his engagement and carelessness in the neutral zone. As a former player, if he thought it was injury related, I doubt he’d have singled him out.

If a player struggles with the velocity on their shot or something, maybe you can chalk that up to injury. But not moving your feet in the neutral zone and straight leg coasting on line changes? Don’t think that’s the result of an upper body injury from a few weeks ago.

The guy needs to be better. Just like Ullmark. And many others.

No excuses for plain as day lazy play.

People called out Stu last year for his production, turns out he had an injury from game 4. There are countless stories about players underperforming, getting criticized by the media, only for it to be revealed there was an underlying health issue that played into it, York isn't going to be in the know for all the medical issues players have and if he doesn't know why wouldn't he comment on his play?

Whether it's a shoulder, ribs, a bad back, a hip flexor, whatever, these types of injuries can linger and affect your play just enough to make a big difference, while not being enough to keep you out.

Sure, he needs to play better, sometimes you have temporary health limitations that get in the way, when there is a sudden change in how someone is playing following an injury, that's usually a pretty good indicator that it might be a factor. The alternative is Pinto, a guy who never used to take shifts off, suddenly forgot how to play hockey and is taking shifts off.

 

[Micklebot]

Define getting puck control. Do you mean when it's on a Sens player's stick, they are supposed to pass it stick-to-stick to some forward waiting in the neutral zone? Great in theory but not what I'm seeing most games. The Sens player rarely passes it stick-to-stick, the F usually bobbles or loses the puck or the pass goes right to an opposing player. Then the opposing team waltzes into the Sens D zone, Sens scramble for a period of time, then get scored on.

Didn't a lot of posters say they should play as a 5 man unit? What you're describing doesn't sound like that. Also, if that is the coach's strategy, shouldn't he adjust the game plan if it's not working most of the time?

The idea is that by having typically the weakside winger leave the zone it pushes the D back, this opens up more room in the DZ to start the breakout similar to how 4v4 has more room. They aren't always looking for a stretch pass to the winger, but having that option makes the D spread out more. This means that the 4 men who are low might be able to build up speed on the breakout more easily. If the D doens't push back to cover that winger, you can chip the puck to open space in the NZ and have your winger chase it down.

This strategy isn't unique to Ottawa, its done across the league. Playing as a 5 man unit just means everyone is playing a role in the play, it means what you are doing is done for a purpose, this play does follow that mentality, you create the space for the other guys by forcing the defense to react and that supports the breakout.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Interesting that of the current top 6 on this team, he has the 2nd lowest shooting % at 12.6%, only G is lower at 12.2%. Josh is # 2 with 20.5%, Stu is # 3 with 19.6%. Unreal that the lowest paid player in that top 6 (Gaudette) is tied with Brayden Point for 1st place in the league with a shooting % of 36.4.

So a higher than the NHL average,
higher than his career average, ya seems good for a volume shooter from anywhere.

 

[BankStreetParade]

People called out Stu last year for his production, turns out he had an injury from game 4. There are countless stories about players underperforming, getting criticized by the media, only for it to be revealed there was an underlying health issue that played into it, York isn't going to be in the know for all the medical issues players have and if he doesn't know why wouldn't he comment on his play?

Whether it's a shoulder, ribs, a bad back, a hip flexor, whatever, these types of injuries can linger and affect your play just enough to make a big difference, while not being enough to keep you out.

Sure, he needs to play better, sometimes you have temporary health limitations that get in the way, when there is a sudden change in how someone is playing following an injury, that's usually a pretty good indicator that it might be a factor. The alternative is Pinto, a guy who never used to take shifts off, suddenly forgot how to play hockey and is taking shifts off.

If he has an injury that's causing him to play this way, he should sit out. Like, how is his play helping the team? He's not such a special talent that even at, say, 75% he's going to be beneficial to your chances of winning.

 

[Knave]

So a higher than the NHL average,
higher than his career average, ya seems good for a volume shooter from anywhere.

This will likely be the best season of his career in terms of regular season point production.

Lets see if he can maintain it for the remaining 58 games.

Something to cheer for given this team hasn't shown the mental fortitude or leadership to compete for a playoff spot.

 

[Micklebot]

If he has an injury that's causing him to play this way, he should sit out. Like, how is his play helping the team? He's not such a special talent that even at, say, 75% he's going to be beneficial to your chances of winning.

Well, what is the alternative to Pinto? Is calling up MacEwen or someone in his place actually better?

You don't have to be a special talent, you just need to be better than the next man up. There's also cap implications to consider. Right now, we have the LTIR from Zub so we can afford a callup to give Pinto some extra time. When he initially came back though, we were tight to the cap.

 

[DueDiligence]

Yes, most star players have a whole bunch of powerplay goals. I'm not sure most star players have such a wide gap in the rankings where they're about to drop out of the top 100 even strength goalscorers while being 2nd on the powerplay.

Tkachuk was tied for 19th in even strength goals in the NHL last season and 30th the season before.
Try again.

 

[DueDiligence]

I don't consider a 12.6 shooting % elite goal scoring but that's just me. Now Gaudette tied for 1st place in the leagure at 34.6%, that's elite.

As for intensity, I do agree he really brings it when the team brings it, but he's usually just as flat as everyone else when they don't.

34.6 % is not elite it's lucky. He wont sustain that over the season.
And Brady only is intense when the team is???? Complete nonsense.

 

[Knave]

Tkachuk was tied for 19th in even strength goals in the NHL last season and 30th the season before.
Try again.

What is there to try again?

Last year he took 100 more shots than everyone he was tied with to achieve the same thing. The story of Brady Tkachuk's career is being a low percentage volume shooter on a team that does not make the playoffs.

Last year he was 4th in number of shots taken. 21st in goals.

He takes shots like he's Auston Matthews and scores like he's Nazem Kadri.

Do people really not see the issue with a low percentage shooter taking that many shots?

 

[BankStreetParade]

Well, what is the alternative to Pinto? Is calling up MacEwen or someone in his place actually better?

You don't have to be a special talent, you just need to be better than the next man up. There's also cap implications to consider. Right now, we have the LTIR from Zub so we can afford a callup to give Pinto some extra time. When he initially came back though, we were tight to the cap.

He's playing below replacement level so the alternative, naturally, is a replacement level player. Hopefully the time off gets him as close to 100% as possible because this version of him stinks to high hell.

 

[OccidentalSoothsayer]

Can't trade Brady might end up 32nd instead of 29th...

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Well, what is the alternative to Pinto? Is calling up MacEwen or someone in his place actually better?

You don't have to be a special talent, you just need to be better than the next man up. There's also cap implications to consider. Right now, we have the LTIR from Zub so we can afford a callup to give Pinto some extra time. When he initially came back though, we were tight to the cap.

+1 Agree

 

[Micklebot]

He's playing below replacement level so the alternative, naturally, is a replacement level player. Hopefully the time off gets him as close to 100% as possible because this version of him stinks to high hell.

Maybe, I'm not sure MacEwen for example, would be any better though.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Brady is clear as day going to go to a franchise that doesn't have our "growing pains" and it will be like Mark Stone in Vegas where most people don't even remember that he played for Ottawa.

I don't think Ottawa should keep him beyond his NMC, unless the offers are terrible, or we somehow turn it around this season. It's an unfortunate situation where the timing just isn't right. Similar to when Mark Stone became a UFA at the start of the Melnyk sell off.

 

[bicboi64]

Well, what is the alternative to Pinto? Is calling up MacEwen or someone in his place actually better?

You don't have to be a special talent, you just need to be better than the next man up. There's also cap implications to consider. Right now, we have the LTIR from Zub so we can afford a callup to give Pinto some extra time. When he initially came back though, we were tight to the cap.

I was going to say Ostapchuk and go sign Katchouk to get the Chuk line up and running

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Brady is clear as day going to go to a franchise that doesn't have our "growing pains" and it will be like Mark Stone in Vegas where most people don't even remember that he played for Ottawa.

I don't think Ottawa should keep him beyond his NMC, unless the offers are terrible, or we somehow turn it around this season. It's an unfortunate situation where the timing just isn't right. Similar to when Mark Stone became a UFA at the start of the Melnyk sell off.

Aka a team where he is not a captain probably not even an assistant and where he is only asked to be the 5th or 6th best player on the roster.

 

[Micklebot]

Aka a team where he is not a captain probably not even an assistant and where he is only asked to be the 5th or 6th best player on the roster.

Lol, how many teams is he the 5th or 6th best player on?

Vegas? Nope
Jets? Nope
Wild? no
NJD? no
TBL? no
...

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Aka a team where he is not a captain probably not even an assistant and where he is only asked to be the 5th or 6th best player on the roster.

You're wild. Some of what you say has some validity, but you've waded in to irrationality and clear bias way to much on this subject for the criticism to be taken seriously.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Tkachuk was tied for 19th in even strength goals in the NHL last season and 30th the season before.
Try again.

Imagine facts, vs he’s bad..

 

[DackellDuck]

People called out Stu last year for his production, turns out he had an injury from game 4. There are countless stories about players underperforming, getting criticized by the media, only for it to be revealed there was an underlying health issue that played into it, York isn't going to be in the know for all the medical issues players have and if he doesn't know why wouldn't he comment on his play?

Whether it's a shoulder, ribs, a bad back, a hip flexor, whatever, these types of injuries can linger and affect your play just enough to make a big difference, while not being enough to keep you out.

Sure, he needs to play better, sometimes you have temporary health limitations that get in the way, when there is a sudden change in how someone is playing following an injury, that's usually a pretty good indicator that it might be a factor. The alternative is Pinto, a guy who never used to take shifts off, suddenly forgot how to play hockey and is taking shifts off.

Stützle wasn’t cheating on effort. His shot was off and he couldn’t score.

Pinto is cheating on effort. He’s playing lazy. If he’s too hurt to move his feet in the neutral zone he shouldn’t be playing.

Excuses and excuses out of you for all these guys as the losses pile up.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Lol, how many teams is he the 5th or 6th best player on?

Vegas? Nope
Jets? Nope
Wild? no
NJD? no
TBL? no
...

Eichel
Stone
Theodore
Pietrangelo

and then you have guys like Karlsson, Hanifin, Barbashev who wouldn't be far off Brady.


Kucherov
Hagel
Point
Hedman
Vasi
Guentzel

 

[Micklebot]

Eichel
Stone
Theodore
Pietrangelo

and then you have guys like Karlsson, Hanifin, Barbashev who wouldn't be far off Brady.


Kucherov
Hagel
Point
Hedman
Vasi
Guentzel

I mean, you're wrong, but at least you stick to your crazy guns.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I mean, you're wrong, but at least you stick to your crazy guns.

what's so wrong about that? almost every player on those lists is better two way than Brady.

but i was called crazy when i said Brady wasn't close to Matthew so idk.

and fine if i said 4th/5th best is that better? still doesn't change the point. Brady is slotted too high in Ottawa in terms of importance and leadership.

 

[umma gumma]

what's so wrong about that? almost every player on those lists is better two way than Brady.

but i was called crazy when i said Brady wasn't close to Matthew so idk.

and fine if i said 4th/5th best is that better? still doesn't change the point. Brady is slotted too high in Ottawa in terms of importance and leadership.

Do we have a list of players on the Sens that can rival the ones you made?

So what you're saying is that our roster is not deep enough to slot Brady in the 4/5 spot. Maybe Tkachuck should start drafting smarter and making better trades to rectify that.

 

[Knave]

So what you're saying is that our roster is not deep enough to slot Brady in the 4/5 spot. Maybe Tkachuck should start drafting smarter and making better trades to rectify that.

That's what everyone has been saying from the start. You need to actually rebuild. Pushing for the playoffs with Brady Tkachuk as your leader has failed 3x. We are approaching 4x this year. Same story every year too. A November/December meltdown to fall to the basement of the Eastern Conference.

Play out this season. If they fail to make the playoffs trade Brady Tkachuk before the NMC kicks in. He's not a superstar you build around. He's a complementary piece.

I have no idea why some of you have decided to take this so personally on behalf of Brady Tkachuk.