Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[Golden_Jet]

I know he's been bad, but that still doesn't take away his talent and what he is capable of.

Ya well that’s where some of this hate should be going, to him and Pinto.
They need to up their game, but never gets mentioned by the handful of posters.

It’s Brady on infinite loop for some reason.
If it was more evenly distributed, no one would be biting back.

 

[LiseL]

Adam Gaudette is on pace for 40 playing with Stutzle.

Turns out when you play with super talented offensive players like Stutzle and Batherson you score lots of goals. Who woulda thunkit!

When Crosby was winning Stanley Cups with Kunitz and others did the Pittsburgh GM come out publicly stating that Kunitz was the key to success and probably just as good as Crosby? No. Pittsburgh kept the important players - Crosby and Malkin and moved wingers around them over time.

In all fairness, Guadette was scoring pretty well when he was on the 4th line. I do get what you're saying about Brady, he is a PP merchant as that's where most of his production comes from and he needs a playmaker to get him the puck.

I like that he's hard to play against, is fighting less and is making an effort to play more 2-way hockey. Because of his size, Brady can park himself near the net, they can't easily remove him. Even when his NMC clause kicks in, I still think he'll play to the end of his contract, maybe even do what his brother did in Calgary and tell them a year in advance he won't be re-signing wth the club. If that happens, they'll still get a decent return for him. The only way I see Brady possibly asking for a trade beforehand is if they get rid of a core player he's very close to and/or he no longer believes in management's vision.

 

[bicboi64]

You brought up team success, said in the context of the sens he isn't having success, I disagree. He is having success. He is one of the most successful players on the team, and he's top 30 in scoring in the league. The team is struggling, he is not.

The whole idea of framing his performance in the context of other high volume shooters is just a bizarre way to minimize his performance. The fact is he is performing at a very high level, trying to spin getting lots of shots on net as a negative is just strange. If he wasn't top 30 in pts and on pace for 40+ goals, maybe we could start nitpicking his shot selection, but what he's doing is clearly working fine,

In the context of the team's scoring, he is indeed successful. You are right; I didn't express my point clearly. Tkachuk's scoring is impressive when we consider the Sens alone—he's been our top scorer in recent years without a doubt. I hope he still paces for 40g and hits that this year and stays in the top 30 scoring.

However, when you compare his performance to other high-volume shooters, it becomes less remarkable, especially considering that other players with similar shooting rates (apart from Matthews) aren't known for their defensive prowess but still manage to outscore their defensive shortcomings. It's not some bizarre attempt to minimize his performance that I'm obsessed with doing, it's just objective facts about his game

 

[Golden_Jet]

In the context of the team's scoring, he is indeed successful. You are right; I didn't express my point clearly. Tkachuk's scoring is impressive when we consider the Sens alone—he's been our top scorer in recent years without a doubt. I hope he still paces for 40g and hits that this year and stays in the top 30 scoring.

However, when you compare his performance to other high-volume shooters, it becomes less remarkable, especially considering that other players with similar shooting rates (apart from Matthews) aren't known for their defensive prowess but still manage to outscore their defensive shortcomings. It's not some bizarre attempt to minimize his performance that I'm obsessed with doing, it's just objective facts about his game

Why do we care about other high volume shooters, he’s not Matthews , or those guys,
he plays a completely different game than them, and isn’t paid like them either.
I don’t find it “less remarkable”, either, because of everything already mentioned.

you do seem a little obsessed with the high volume shooting though tbf, otherwise wouldn’t go on about it as much, you’d mention it and move on. Don’t think it’s anything to worry about,

He is not Auston Matthews, who also makes 5 million more.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Why do we care about other high volume shooters, he’s not Matthews , or those guys, he plays a completely different game than them, and isn’t paid like them either.

you do seem obsessed with the high volume shooting though, as you wouldn’t go on about it ad nauseum, you’d mention it and move on.

He is not Auston Matthews, who makes 5 million more.

I'm not saying I agree with it 100%, but I think the point that bic is trying to make is that given that BT is not an elite scorer in the same league as a Matthews or OV or McD maybe shooting as much as he Brady does might squander some of the team's offensive zone time by being a volume shooter.

To me he DOES tend to get a bit of tunnel vision and take low percentage shots at times, but I think that's just who he is. For the most part I'm of the belief that pucks on net are never a bad thing.

 

[Micklebot]

In the context of the team's scoring, he is indeed successful. You are right; I didn't express my point clearly. Tkachuk's scoring is impressive when we consider the Sens alone—he's been our top scorer in recent years without a doubt. I hope he still paces for 40g and hits that this year and stays in the top 30 scoring.

However, when you compare his performance to other high-volume shooters, it becomes less remarkable, especially considering that other players with similar shooting rates (apart from Matthews) aren't known for their defensive prowess but still manage to outscore their defensive shortcomings. It's not some bizarre attempt to minimize his performance that I'm obsessed with doing, it's just objective facts about his game

Who cares about other high volume shooters though, it's a red herring, he can't shoot the puck like Austin Matthews can, that doesn't make him shooting a lot a negative though, he shouldn't shoot less because it takes him more shots to score than some of the best shooters the league has, it's such a dumb argument....

He's 19th in the entire league in goals, but apparently that's not enough for some to consider successful...

 

[TheNewEra]

you miss a 100% of the shots you dont take - Michael Scott

 

[bicboi64]

I'm not saying I agree with it 100%, but I think the point that bic is trying to make is that given that BT is not an elite scorer in the same league as a Matthews or OV or McD maybe shooting as much as he Brady does might squander some of the team's offensive zone time by being a volume shooter.

Pretty much this. You've articulated better than I could've over several posts.

Players can't change their shot quality overnight. I don't think Tkachuk should stop shooting considering he's one of the few guys constantly scoring and we need that. But being in the same company as other guys based on shot volume isn't as impressive to me as it is to others and isn't necessarily an automatic positive considering his production. On the Sens where we aren't the highest-scoring team, that looks impressive. League-wide, not so much.

Not sure where to find it, but I'd love to see some stats on the quality of scoring chances created by Tkachuk relative to other players.

 

[Relapsing]

Ya well that’s where some of this hate should be going, to him and Pinto.
They need to up their game, but never gets mentioned by the handful of posters.

It’s Brady on infinite loop for some reason.
If it was more evenly distributed, no one would be biting back.

 

[Dionysus]

Pretty much this. You've articulated better than I could've over several posts.

Players can't change their shot quality overnight. I don't think Tkachuk should stop shooting considering he's one of the few guys constantly scoring and we need that. But being in the same company as other guys based on shot volume isn't as impressive to me as it is to others and isn't necessarily an automatic positive considering his production. On the Sens where we aren't the highest-scoring team, that looks impressive. League-wide, not so much.

Not sure where to find it, but I'd love to see some stats on the quality of scoring chances created by Tkachuk relative to other players.

The crux of the argument seems to revolve around shot volume. Does a player having a high shot volume at a lower shooting percentage increase or decrease the teams offense?

A team like Carolina relies on shot volume as a team to drive their offense. Not a lot of high-end finishing, but they funnel pucks to the net consistently and get results.

I'm not sure how you could isolate that for players. While some plays may die from a lower percentage shot, it also creates rebounds, deflections, and forces opposing teams to be ready to protect their net, leaving more room on the outside.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I'm not saying I agree with it 100%, but I think the point that bic is trying to make is that given that BT is not an elite scorer in the same league as a Matthews or OV or McD maybe shooting as much as he Brady does might squander some of the team's offensive zone time by being a volume shooter.

To me he DOES tend to get a bit of tunnel vision and take low percentage shots at times, but I think that's just who he is. For the most part I'm of the belief that pucks on net are never a bad thing.

A few less shots I guess,
sometimes it’s just., I got nothing else right atm, so I’m going to shoot.
Overall it’s kind of a pointless thing to get all hung up on,

The crux of the argument seems to revolve around shot volume. Does a player having a high shot volume at a lower shooting percentage increase or decrease the teams offense?

A team like Carolina relies on shot volume as a team to drive their offense. Not a lot of high-end finishing, but they funnel pucks to the net consistently and get results.

I'm not sure how you could isolate that for players. While some plays may die from a lower percentage shot, it also creates rebounds, deflections, and forces opposing teams to be ready to protect their net, leaving more room on the outside.

Ya great example with Carolina,

 

[bicboi64]

The crux of the argument seems to revolve around shot volume. Does a player having a high shot volume at a lower shooting percentage increase or decrease the teams offense?

A team like Carolina relies on shot volume as a team to drive their offense. Not a lot of high-end finishing, but they funnel pucks to the net consistently and get results.

I'm not sure how you could isolate that for players. While some plays may die from a lower percentage shot, it also creates rebounds, deflections, and forces opposing teams to be ready to protect their net, leaving more room on the outside.

Would love to see how that applies relative to Tkachuk's shots. I tried playing around with hockey-reference.com but can't find it. Not sure that type of info is even available there.

 

[Micklebot]

Would love to see how that applies relative to Tkachuk's shots. I tried playing around with hockey-reference.com but can't find it. Not sure that type of info is even available there.

Natural statric has rebounds created, Brady is 4th in the league 5v5 and 1st since 2022-23. I don't know where you could find shot attempts leading to deflections but I imagine that would be more of a stat for D

 

[PlayersLtd]

I am taking into account potential, and based on that if you're relying on Brady to be the guy now or in the future, good luck in the basement.

Thankfully we have Stutzle and Sanderson so guys like Norris, Chabot, Batherson and Brady can be insulated. Otherwise we'd be screwed.

This also means that any of the latter can be traded if the return makes the team better.

Stutzle and Sanderson can be traded too but it is unlikely someone give us the value we need to make it happen.

I guess I don't know what you mean by being 'the guy' then. If that's best player on the team no, he isn't and that's obvious, but then neither is Matthew Tkachuk. If it's the player that shows up clutch, embraces the spotlight and the responsibility that comes with the captaincy and drags his team into big games and big moments than that absolutely would be Brady. That to me is what I could consider being 'the guy'

 

[DueDiligence]

?? Alfredsson was THE GUY he was not generational. Same with Stutzle and Sanderson.

And If you have been watching the games this year, or two years ago, it's clear that Stutzle is the engine of this team.

Sorry but you are wrong again.
"THE GUY" refers to a generational talent better than everyone else. Orr was the Guy, Gretzky was the Guy,and now Connor McDavid is the Guy. Alfredsson was , and Stutzle is, just really good players.

 

[Tuna99]

Gaudette was pacing better when he was on the 4th line.

Who else did they turn into 30+ goal scorers? And why is it a condemnation for good players to play together?

This doesn't even make sense. Kunitz had 1 outlier season where he scored 35 goals.

And yes, the Pens built around their best players, you know, like their captain.

What a bizarre fetish you have for looking at reality and distorting it so badly.

I hope Chris Kunitz gets a flat tire every day of his life

I want to spend more time watching playoff hockey with the Ottawa Senators in it.

You're on season 7, season 4 as captain trying to convince me that Brady Tkachuk is key to the success of the Ottawa Senators despite the Ottawa Senators having zero success and still being several points out of the wildcard spot in mid-December.

Brady Tkachuk is a star player. I've compared him to players you think are better, players you think are worse. In all cases the GMs of these players realized pretty quickly they were not the key player to success and traded them. All the teams that did this continued to be successful. Tampa Bay is still in a playoff spot after trading Stamkos. San Jose after Cheechoo got better. The Penguins with their revolving door of wingers for Crosby/Malkin continued to win Stanley Cups.

But if we were to trade Brady Tkachuk you'd think it would be the end of the world. And not Ottawa trading a star player but a flawed player and being better for it within a few years. Not sure how we can get worse than another lottery pick with Captain Tkachuk but maybe someone can explain that to me.

What if they traded Brady for Matthew - would you be happy?

Matthew integral to his team success you could say?

 

[Knave]

What if they traded Brady for Matthew - would you be happy?

Matthew integral to his team success you could say?

Matthew Tkachuk is a better shooter, passer and defender.

It's like asking if I'd trade Stutzle for McDavid. Of course I would. Stutzle is fast and a great playermaker. McDavid is on a different level and better at both.

In terms of happiness surrounding this team - I'll be happy when they make the playoffs. And if this team misses the playoffs for the 4th year in a row with Brady Tkachuk at the helm after changes everywhere else it's time to break up the core. Tkachuk and Norris out. Keep Batherson and Stutzle.

They have 54 games to change my mind.

 

[aragorn]

Buffalo and Detroit both have former players who are now GMs who have been with their organizations for 4+ years. They are 1. and 2. in active playoff droughts.

I wonder if Detroit fans say similar things about Larkin and Raymond that some of you say about Tkachuk.

The team wins a game that Brady Tkachuk is essentially a passenger in and people rant and rave like we've clinched a playoff spot all thanks to him.

Larkin & Raymond are not like Tkachuk, there are very few in the NHL that are like Tkachuk? It's not about one game, it's about his five yrs in the league & what he has accomplished including when the team sucked. Every team in hockey wants a player like him.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Sorry but you are wrong again.
"THE GUY" refers to a generational talent better than everyone else. Orr was the Guy, Gretzky was the Guy,and now Connor McDavid is the Guy. Alfredsson was , and Stutzle is, just really good players.

I mean THE GUY on a team. You're talking about the THE GUY in hockey or all time.

Alfredsson was our the guy, then it was Karlsson, and now it's Stutzle.

 

[OD99]

Would love to see how that applies relative to Tkachuk's shots. I tried playing around with hockey-reference.com but can't find it. Not sure that type of info is even available there.

I think what is being missed is how the shots are created.

Brady isn't flinging the puck at the net as soon as he crosses the blueline. He gets those shots off deflections and rebounds because he goes to the dirty areas and nobody can move him.

Same with his jam plays when he muscles to the net from the corner. That is one of his skills that make him unique.

His shot has improved overall too, and he probably has the hardest shot of all our forwards, with the ability to beat goalies from distance at times.

This isn't Erik Condra.

 

[Bileur]

I think what is being missed is how the shots are created.

Brady isn't flinging the puck at the net as soon as he crosses the blueline. He gets those shots off deflections and rebounds because he goes to the dirty areas and nobody can move him.

Same with his jam plays when he muscles to the net from the corner. That is one of his skills that make him unique.

His shot has improved overall too, and he probably has the hardest shot of all our forwards, with the ability to beat goalies from distance at times.

This isn't Erik Condra.

I don’t understand how people can overlook it. There were several segments last broadcast where they specifically highlighted Brady taking a direct path to the net and boxing out Trouba on one of the Batherson goals. Explicitly crediting Brady for the goal.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Two of the three analysts inbetween periods said they would build a team around Brady & they were both former players. That says something.

I think most people would build around him, but unless he is committed to staying here long term it is irrelevant.

He only has 3 years left, and his trade value likely drops by about 80 percent after July 1st if he asks out. People will say "yeah but we don't have to trade him if he asks out", but it never works that way in real life. It becomes too big of a distraction.

I would absolutely not trust a Tkachuk who tells me "Yes Mr. Staios, I'm so happy here, missing the playoffs is fun, no, my dad didn't tell me to string you along until my NMC kicks in." Which is not me saying the Tkachuks are bad people, but Staios would have to be an idiot not to see that they know how to play the game. Once July 1st hits, the balance of power shifts completely to Brady. To the point where giving the Senators a 3 team list is a major consolation. If you're Brady and you want out, getting to July 1st is important because it means you don't have to worry about getting traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and you can give the Senators a 3 team list consisting of Vegas, Golden, and Knights.

They are in a really tough spot because trading him as a precaution against the NMC is a crappy situation, but if they hold onto him and in January of 2026 he asks them to move him at the deadline, they aren't getting anywhere close to what they could have gotten for him if they decided to move him in January of 2025.

 

[HSF]

I think most people would build around him, but unless he is committed to staying here long term it is irrelevant.

He only has 3 years left, and his trade value likely drops by about 80 percent after July 1st if he asks out. People will say "yeah but we don't have to trade him if he asks out", but it never works that way in real life. It becomes too big of a distraction.

I would absolutely not trust a Tkachuk who tells me "Yes Mr. Staios, I'm so happy here, missing the playoffs is fun, no, my dad didn't tell me to string you along until my NMC kicks in." Which is not me saying the Tkachuks are bad people, but Staios would have to be an idiot not to see that they know how to play the game. Once July 1st hits, the balance of power shifts completely to Brady. To the point where giving the Senators a 3 team list is a major consolation. If you're Brady and you want out, getting to July 1st is important because it means you don't have to worry about getting traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and you can give the Senators a 3 team list consisting of Vegas, Golden, and Knights.

They are in a really tough spot because trading him as a precaution against the NMC is a crappy situation, but if they hold onto him and in January of 2026 he asks them to move him at the deadline, they aren't getting anywhere close to what they could have gotten for him if they decided to move him in January of 2025.

3 years is plenty of time

the sens aren't in a tough spot at all. They will ride out alteast the next 2 years and see what happens

have a bit of confidence

 

[HSF]

Ya we def need less Brady Tkachuk

Wish more guys went to the net

 

[Ice-Tray]

Imagine trying to argue that a guy who is scoring at a 90 point pace is somehow less of a player because he shoots more than other guys who score at a similar rate. Seems like the guy simply does what he needs to do to score at an elite level regardless.

Funny to see the same 2-3 posters in here are still trolling the board with this absurdity.

I like having more than one elite player on the team personally, I’m really not sure what the problem is with Brady, but it definitely has nothing to do with hockey.