Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[Golden_Jet]

I don't think anything's been confirmed, but it's highly speculated that he is playing through something.

He has a bandaged finger, Methot said the way it’s bandaged , it’s an injury.

 

[JD1]

yea but the mistakes he is making are of his own volition, nothing to do with linemates.

He has good vision and can see plays developing but seems to lack focus with the puck. Lots of half hearted hope passes that miss their mark. And more than that he is missing simple passes when he is being pressured resulting in too many giveaways.

And if he was playing with other players playing at a 1st line level, do you think there would be lots of hope passes? Personally I think there was a reason that he, Batherson and Norris were a top 5 line in goals scored at even strength thru 30 games or whatever it was.

They call them lines and line mates for a reason. Tkachuk has been playing with anybody and everyone since those two injuries. Mostly players who have little more business being on a 1st line in the NHL than I do.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I see Stutzle make all kinds of mistakes too why aren't you pointing those out?

I mean Stutzle just turned 20, is still on his ELC, and has 101 career games. Brady is 22, has 244 career games and makes 60 million. And as captain, has even more expectations to raise his game and be the best player on the Senators.

I also do not think the nature of the mistakes are the same. Stutzle can cough the puck up because he is weak and sometimes does too much but not because of a lack of focus.

The last thing you want to be doing as a player on offensive line is to kill plays for your line when you have possession. And while Brady is doing a lot to create space for his teammates, all of it goes to waste when he turns it over on a play by being careless. I'm not saying he is the only one doing this but Brady can and should be better. He is certainly paid to be better.

If Stutzle is having simple lapses in judgements in his 4th season with a 8+ million cap hit I would point those out too.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[aragorn]

Yea, he's not very skilled.

 

[Blacephalon]

Remember when people called him a 40 point player lol

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[aragorn]

It's just another indication of how dominant Tkachuk has been physically in the NHL in such a short period of time. Unfortunately some people just don't appreciate the way he plays the game which is ironic since Canada has always been known for being a hard nosed hockey country.

 

[GCK]

It's just another indication of how dominant Tkachuk has been physically in the NHL in such a short period of time. Unfortunately some people just don't appreciate the way he plays the game which is ironic since Canada has always been known for being a hard nosed hockey country.

There are more than a few Style over Substance types around here.

 

[JungleBeat]

Was hoping his play would expand on the offensive end but it is what it is

 

[JD1]

Was hoping his play would expand on the offensive end but it is what it is

Geez, I thought he was doing quite well offensively when he had other first liners to play with

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

It's just another indication of how dominant Tkachuk has been physically in the NHL in such a short period of time. Unfortunately some people just don't appreciate the way he plays the game which is ironic since Canada has always been known for being a hard nosed hockey country.

There are more than a few Style over Substance types around here.

No fan doesn't appreciate the physical side Brady brings but that doesn't mean it excuses his lack of play in other areas.

Last I checked offensive and defensive play is substance.

Brady can go full games without generating a scoring chance for. That is something you can justifiably be concerned about from your highest cap hit.

 

[Sweatred]

No fan doesn't appreciate the physical side Brady brings but that doesn't mean it excuses his lack of play in other areas.

Last I checked offensive and defensive play is substance.

Brady can go full games without generating a scoring chance for. That is something you can justifiably be concerned about from your highest cap hit.

Cap hit means nothing to this team until we are capped out. He’s 22 making $4 million and playing excellent bullying teams at an age when most kids are rookies in the league.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Cap hit means nothing to this team until we are capped out. He’s 22 making $4 million and playing excellent bullying teams at an age when most kids are rookies in the league.

What a convenient argument like Brady and his agent didn't structure his contract to defer money to the latter part of it. And then when we get to the years where he's making $10.5 million you'll be able to say "well now his cap hit counts more than his salary".

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Geez, I thought he was doing quite well offensively when he had other first liners to play with

Yeah i thought a 60-70 point Tkachuk was pretty much what we were all hoping for.

If that's the area he ends up consistently putting up points, while doing everything else he does I'll be a happy guy.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

No fan doesn't appreciate the physical side Brady brings but that doesn't mean it excuses his lack of play in other areas.

Last I checked offensive and defensive play is substance.

Brady can go full games without generating a scoring chance for. That is something you can justifiably be concerned about from your highest cap hit.

Every player has cold games like that.

Even Alfie had a lot of dud games in his career.

 

[Micklebot]

Geez, I thought he was doing quite well offensively when he had other first liners to play with

He's mostly played with Stützle with Norris an Batherson out, who imo is a first line quality player, but none the less I agree with your sentiment, and even if he's still playing with first liners (which is admittedly debatable at best despite my feelings on Stü) the loss of depth makes it easier for opposition to focus on shutting his line down.

As an aside, the debate at the time of his signing was between Tkachuk and Svechnikov, both players are doing really well, so no closure on that one yet.

 

[Sweatred]

What a convenient argument like Brady and his agent didn't structure his contract to defer money to the latter part of it. And then when we get to the years where he's making $10.5 million you'll be able to say "well now his cap hit counts more than his salary".

Not at all. If he is over paid at $10 million in a few years call him out.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Every player has cold games like that.

Even Alfie had a lot of dud games in his career.

I don't remember many but to be fair I didn't watch a young Alfie.

One of the best indicators I have found for great players is that even when they have bad games they are still creating or trying to create. Karlsson, Alfredsson, Stone, Spezza all would make dynamic plays even if they were struggling because they were simply on higher intelligence and skill level than most players on the ice. It was second nature for them to make high end plays.

Brady doesn't struggle like that, he straight up vanishes so that the only time you notice him is when he makes a big hit, dumps the puck in to go on a change, or turns turns the puck over.

And its not even that its singular isolated dud games. Since Batherson went down, it's been many, sometimes consecutive games where nothing happens with the puck on his stick.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

As someone who wanted Brady to play more of a puck possession, skilled, passing game I think he is struggling because of trying to play like that. His hands, feet, brain just aren't coordinated enough right now.

He is way more effective when all he is thinking about is to shoot the puck. I think the best way to describe him isn't K. Tkachuk or Iginla or the other powerforwards. But a 6 ft 4 Brendan Gallagher.

 

[bert]

He's mostly played with Stützle with Norris an Batherson out, who imo is a first line quality player, but none the less I agree with your sentiment, and even if he's still playing with first liners (which is admittedly debatable at best despite my feelings on Stü) the loss of depth makes it easier for opposition to focus on shutting his line down.

As an aside, the debate at the time of his signing was between Tkachuk and Svechnikov, both players are doing really well, so no closure on that one yet.

He just isnt a good fit with Stutzle their styles dont work well together.

 

[SensFactor]

Tkatchuk plays a heavy forecheck and grind game. Stutzle plays the speed and slick play game but with less puck possession. They don't really mix well.

 

[GCK]

Tkachuk’s hands, shot and puck possession continue to improve. No reason to think it won’t continue, kid works so hard on his skills.