Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[ACLEVERNAME]

Brady haters I hope you’re watching tonight

Another loss?

 

[BlueGoose27]

Nobody hates Brady.

There’s definitely a lot of “dislike” for the man all over social media.

Another loss?

Didn’t say “Sens haters”…he did his part

 

[PlayOn]

I hope NHL GMs see what some of you do. It will get Ottawa a better return.

I'm not seeing the dominant game you guys did. I'm seeing Brady Tkachuk having a night where he gets his goals the way he typically does and that's about it. I saw the Ducks deliberately leaving him wide open on the PK baiting the Ottawa coaching staff and Stutzle to pass to him for low chance opportunities and the Senators took that opening time after time after time and came up with nothing to show for it.

And because everyone is so sensitive... no I do not think Brady Tkachuk is a bad hockey player. But like I said in the GDT I think he fits that basketball description of the "good player putting up great numbers on a bad team".

Get back to us when he’s putting up 100 pt seasons in New Jersey with Jack Hughes and winning the Cup.

Brady elevates whatever line he’s on and has for years, it’s astonishing to me that people don’t see this.

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
Tkachuk - Greig - Giroux
Tkachuk - Pinto - Batherson
Tkachuk - Stützle - Gaudette

The second he’s taken off a line, it’s less dominant and often doesn’t work at all. That’s part indictment on our wingers and part reflection of how good Brady actually is.

 

[SensFactor]

He wont be traded. I see Chabot, Norris, Batherson all dangled to other teams ahead of him.

 

[Tuna99]

There’s definitely a lot of “dislike” for the man all over social media.

Also lots of dislike for Green, Staois, Norris, Sanderson, Ullmark, Giroux, Perron, Amadio, Cousins, Greig, Hamonic, Kleven, JBD, Chabot, Pinto.

not sure if you noticed but things are NOT going well - 4th worst team in the NHL

 

[Senovision]

Brady is the heart and soul of this team. The only player that takes charge. The rest are perimeter players waiting for something to happen. The others don't take initiative.
Trade some of the passengers. Although we would sadly only get a bag of pucks for them.

 

[hockey20000]

if we seriously trade him then i am done with this team tired of these bs rebuilds and this wouldbe final straw to push me away for a long time .theres other pieces you can ship out. you don't trade the heart and soul of the team in his prime mind you

 

[BankStreetParade]

if we seriously trade him then i am done with this team tired of these bs rebuilds and this wouldbe final straw to push me away for a long time .theres other pieces you can ship out. you don't trade the heart and soul of the team in his prime mind you

Yeah!

What you do is wait to miss the playoffs for the 8th year in a row, let his NMC kick in, watch him request a trade (due to the aforementioned missing the playoffs his entire career), let him handpick 1 or 2 destinations and get pennies on the dollar in a trade return. That's much better for the longterm future of this team.

 

[inthewings]

if we seriously trade him then i am done with this team tired of these bs rebuilds and this wouldbe final straw to push me away for a long time .theres other pieces you can ship out. you don't trade the heart and soul of the team in his prime mind you

The problem is that Brady has 3 years left after his one, and the unfortunate reality is that this team is not looking like they're going to content any time in the next 3 years. What do you do, walk him to free agency while hoping to sneak into a wild card spot or two?

Between Melnyk's financial constraints and Dorion's incompetence, the better part of a decade has been wasted. That's the reality facing Staios and Andlauer as they plan for the future.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

His wife posted a photo of a latte with the caption "bless", I think he asked out to Seattle.

 

[Senscore]

Yeah!

What you do is wait to miss the playoffs for the 8th year in a row, let his NMC kick in, watch him request a trade (due to the aforementioned missing the playoffs his entire career), let him handpick 1 or 2 destinations and get pennies on the dollar in a trade return. That's much better for the longterm future of this team.

Entirely possible that those handpicked destinations are divisional rivals too.

I don't want to trade Brady. He is a very good player. But this team desperately needs a shift in direction and a NMC-less Brady would be one of the most sought after trade assets in the NHL in a pretty long time.

He could command the kind of assets that could give the club a chance to really course correct without having to sink back into the mud of an extended rebuild.

 

[HSF]

The problem is that Brady has 3 years left after his one, and the unfortunate reality is that this team is not looking like they're going to content any time in the next 3 years. What do you do, walk him to free agency while hoping to sneak into a wild card spot or two?

Between Melnyk's financial constraints and Dorion's incompetence, the better part of a decade has been wasted. That's the reality facing Staios and Andlauer as they plan for the future.

3 years is a long time in hockey. The team can def change things up first with the core such as Norris before they touch Brady.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

3 years is a long time in hockey. The team can def change things up first with the core such as Norris before they touch Brady.

But they aren't going to get anything for Norris. They need to get better or at least swap similar personnel somehow, not just trade a guy away with little to no value. Tough too when his fill in looks like he might be the worst player on the team atm and the other is right there with him.

 

[Knave]

Get back to us when he’s putting up 100 pt seasons in New Jersey with Jack Hughes and winning the Cup.

Brady elevates whatever line he’s on and has for years, it’s astonishing to me that people don’t see this.

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
Tkachuk - Greig - Giroux
Tkachuk - Pinto - Batherson
Tkachuk - Stützle - Gaudette

The second he’s taken off a line, it’s less dominant and often doesn’t work at all. That’s part indictment on our wingers and part reflection of how good Brady actually is.

I'm surprised you think Tkachuk elevates other players. I watched the game last night. He was a recipient. He was the one being fed opportunities by others. He was the one cutting through open ice waiting for passes.

There's nothing wrong with being that guy when you have someone as talented as say McDavid or a more balanced and deeper roster like the Avalanche or Hurricanes or Panthers. But we don't have that so we don't win and we don't make the playoffs.

Maybe Jack Hughes is a better fit for Tkachuk but I have my doubts. And a 100 point Tkachuk just sounds like a team missing the playoffs. Tkachuk had loads of opportunities fed to him tonight. The team still lost and I didn't think they played all that poorly. Part of the problem was forcing through Tkachuk especially on the powerplays. Tkachuk got his points but the team lost. Edit: and let me be clear, I don't think Tkachuk is some massively selfish player here. I think the coaching staff especially on the powerplay was a bit of a let down. The Ducks gave us Tkachuk open off to the side and there were no cross-seam passes to get Tkachuk a better shot and nobody else was shooting. That's not on Tkachuk. That's on the coach and the other 4 players being unwilling to move around and shoot.

 

[Artanis]

Amount of Tkachuk glazing is insane. This team won't win jack with him as the captain.
How are you supposed to "hold the team accountable" when your leader barely back checks etc?
Don't worry he'll blow someone up at the blue line, and take some of the worst shots on goal at the goal line though.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

But they aren't going to get anything for Norris. They need to get better or at least swap similar personnel somehow, not just trade a guy away with little to no value. Tough too when his fill in looks like he might be the worst player on the team atm and the other is right there with him.

I get the argument for trading Brady & the timing before the NMC kicks in.

I wonder about Norris though. If he plays 82 games (or close to) this season and finishes the season with about 60 points, is he still a big injury risk and not worth much in a trade? Didn’t Tarasenko have the same surgery from the same surgeon and he’s just fine years later?

Sometimes I think Senator fans just assume the worst all of the time and are overcome with pessimism. I get why that’s the case, but also wonder if its always warranted.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I get the argument for trading Brady & the timing before the NMC kicks in.

I wonder about Norris though. If he plays 82 games (or close to) this season and finishes the season with about 60 points, is he still a big injury risk and not worth much in a trade? Didn’t Tarasenko have the same surgery from the same surgeon and he’s just fine years later?

Sometimes I think Senator fans just assume the worst all of the time and are overcome with pessimism. I get why that’s the case, but also wonder if its always warranted.

It's possible, but I'd be surprised if he has much value. Have to let it play out to find out. Worth exploring, but I think more what I'm going for with that comment is that this core doesn't just need to be "woken up" or "shocked" as some people reference, they also need a different look and some skill.

Norris has also played decently well, so you're not necessarily trading someone like say Pinto or Grieg that's contributing nothing, you're detracting from the roster.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Brady is the 2nd best forward, but his play style is not as a creator and is relatively slow for a high end player, so you basically have Stu, then a massive drop off to the next playmakers with any speed. The top line has produced because it has by far the best forward, then Brady behind him, no disagreements there, but after that it just feels thin if you're trying to match up with good teams and they've struggled to find someone to stick with those two, pigeon holing guys like Grieg in there. Feels like this team lacks another high end forward capable of taking charge and driving the other line (also freeing up someone to move up to the top line), but no doubt the issues you describe are a problem, like other things to be pointed to in previous years. Maybe you're right that they'd still be 1/2, but it still feels like this team needs another guy closer to Stu if they ever want to compete with the big boys.

I agree with the bolded.

I think they need another high end forward plus another good defender. The rebuild was not completed and Dorion pulled out of the rebuild too early imo. Its too hard for a team like Ottawa to be an attractive destination for high end UFA & trade targets. Got to get those assets via the draft imo.

 

[Answer]

I'm surprised you think Tkachuk elevates other players. I watched the game last night. He was a recipient. He was the one being fed opportunities by others. He was the one cutting through open ice waiting for passes.

There's nothing wrong with being that guy when you have someone as talented as say McDavid or a more balanced and deeper roster like the Avalanche or Hurricanes or Panthers. But we don't have that so we don't win and we don't make the playoffs.

Maybe Jack Hughes is a better fit for Tkachuk but I have my doubts. And a 100 point Tkachuk just sounds like a team missing the playoffs. Tkachuk had loads of opportunities fed to him tonight. The team still lost and I didn't think they played all that poorly. Part of the problem was forcing through Tkachuk especially on the powerplays. Tkachuk got his points but the team lost. Edit: and let me be clear, I don't think Tkachuk is some massively selfish player here. I think the coaching staff especially on the powerplay was a bit of a let down. The Ducks gave us Tkachuk open off to the side and there were no cross-seam passes to get Tkachuk a better shot and nobody else was shooting. That's not on Tkachuk. That's on the coach and the other 4 players being unwilling to move around and shoot.

Great post! Something rare to see around on this forum, particular on this Thread

3 years of rebuild followed by 3 years of utter failure.

It's the players responsibility to produce results, starting with the Captain.

 

[DueDiligence]

Brady is the heart and soul of this team. The only player that takes charge. The rest are perimeter players waiting for something to happen. The others don't take initiative.
Trade some of the passengers. Although we would sadly only get a bag of pucks for them.

Timmy and Brady are the only guys on the team that seem to give a crap AND do something to make a positive impact. A guy like Chabot might care but he is not a needle mover.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

It's possible, but I'd be surprised if he has much value. Have to let it play out to find out. Worth exploring, but I think more what I'm going for with that comment is that this core doesn't just need to be "woken up" or "shocked" as some people reference, they also need a different look and some skill.

Norris has also played decently well, so you're not necessarily trading someone like say Pinto or Grieg that's contributing nothing, you're detracting from the roster.

Yes I agree that we are missing a couple of pieces to become a true top echelon team. My next post made that point.

Yes, I wasn't arguing against how good of a return Norris would fetch in a trade this season. My point was different.

Its a weird situation with Norris. If you trade him this season, the return will be modest. But, his shoulder could also be OK and he could produce decent results next year, hence 2 years in a row. Then he’s helping the team we traded him to and we’ve got little in return. Slippery slope I think for Staois.

 

[DueDiligence]

That's not on Tkachuk. That's on the coach and the other 4 players being unwilling to move around and shoot.

So why are all these "skill" guys (Norris, Batherson, Giroux, Sanderson , Chabot, Pinto) playing like crap?

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Great post! Something rare to see around on this forum, particular on this Thread

3 years of rebuild followed by 3 years of utter failure.

It's the players responsibility to produce results, starting with the Captain.

Not really.

Its the bottom six that have produced negligible offense. Ditto for our defense. Pinto, Grieg & Sanderson are having off years as well. Goaltending has been sporadic as well. Those things would be higher on the list of what’s ailing the Senators this year assuming that people are actually interested in accurate analysis.

Whether to rebuild (retool, whatever) is a different topic. You’ve conflated 2 different subjects together as if they are one.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Timmy and Brady are the only guys on the team that seem to give a crap AND do something to make a positive impact. A guy like Chabot might care but he is not a needle mover.

Brady gives a crap 1 in 4 games.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Brady is the only player we can trade that makes the team better.

He isn't some incredible line driving, art Ross winning, hart trophy securing jabroni.

He's a guy you want as the ideally the 2nd/3rd best player on his line.

Instead we could get a package that not only has upside but also plugs more holes and gives more depth.

Since it is becoming more clear that our only true way to win is through incredible depth, Brady has to be sacrificed to get it. (Since no one past Stutzle moves the needle)

Imagine we get Mason McTavish + say a Tij Iginla type. Maybe Quinn + Peterka, Rossi + Yurov. These trades would be a game changer for this franchise.

It will be the biggest contribution Brady will have made in his career to this team since he can't be bothered to play a team game.