Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[Relapsing]

Well I for one am utterly and completely reassured.

 

[Micklebot]

At the end of the day, the fans of Team USA aren’t the ones paying Brady’s salary, the Sens fans are.

The games were good but it was still a meaningless tournament that has a pretty big body count so far… I’m not sure the owners can be very pleased with losing some key players down the stretch.

The owners went into this knowing it was a long term strategy to increase the popularity of the sport that should pay dividends down the road. They can be disappointed if one of their players came back hurt, but they knew the risks going in and understood to value the tournament could potentially bring.

If the owners didn't want to put on the tournament it wouldn't have happened.

 

[BigRig4]

Can play through injury for the US but not for the Sens

 

[PlayOn]

This is pretty obvious based on the fact that you can count on one hand the number of games he’s missed in his career.

You don’t have to believe what Green says to understand he likely plays through things other guys don’t all the time.

 

[Micklebot]

Can play through injury for the US but not for the Sens

Alternatively it got worse as a result of playing through it and now he can't.

Another possibility is the sens team doctors aren't willing to give him the prescription drugs he'd need to play through it but team USA had no problem doing it. I'm pretty sure some ex players (Ryan?) talked about how sens drs were very stingy with that stuff on coming in hot.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I mean the guy split his face open, lost some teeth, and still came back to play for the Sens and score the OT winner.

I suspect that he has probably earned the benefit of the doubt from us, in my opinion.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I knew it. It was bad sushi on the flight back to Ottawa.

Besides the injury, the US said he also caught that flu bug that was going around, could be over it now though.

 

[Tundraman]

If there were any doubts about the long term at least now we know where Brady stands and the impact he can have on a series. He'll be a very valuable commodity one day.

 

[SensHulk]

Ek is now a soldier exemplifying work ethic?

Oh boy, we’ve gone off the deep end.

It’s fine to defend Brady but to try to diminish EK at the same time…..you’re not only off the deep end, you’re flying high as a kite

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

It’s fine to defend Brady but to try to diminish EK at the same time…..you’re not only off the deep end, you’re flying high as a kite

Basically destroyed his career as an elite player from playing through injury for the Sens on that run. But it seems like you either loved or hated the guy, not a lot of in between.


I don't think Brady needs to be skewered too much for this, but I think it's fair to be unhappy with the situation as a Sens fan. Seems indisputable to me that USA hockey goals were prioritized over Sens hockey goals. Some are okay with that, some aren't. I was annoyed heading in to last nights game but with how awful they were, it's hard to see Brady being the difference either way.

That said, I do think that if this goes off the rails and they miss the playoffs again, the marriage will probably end this summer. Where would you even go from here.

 

[Micklebot]

It’s fine to defend Brady but to try to diminish EK at the same time…..you’re not only off the deep end, you’re flying high as a kite

I think we need to honest in our assessment of both current and past stars. Karlsson could be a warrior at times, he gutted it out and played the entire 2017 playoff run on one leg. But, he also had times where his effort level, particularly on the defensive side, was suspect. He seemed to miss more practices than anyone.

EK was great, but he wasn't perfect, or above criticism. So if someone is going to bring up Karlsson in terms of work ethic, it's perfectly fair game to point out that his work ethic was far from consistent.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

On the Brady's future conversation, this is what Big Walt said on the Missin' Curfew podcast:



Stevey Staios likes to be patient and steady, and Garrioch has reported that there won't be much activity from us other than maybe something on the periphery... so is the "that's what I expect" an ultimatum? If you don't go for it now, it's not Brady's fault when you miss, and why should he stay there if you aren't willing to push some chips in?

Before Florida's first SCF run a couple years ago, Keith went on Toronto radio and called their team soft. The roster responded.

This time it seems he's calling out our management group. Will we respond?

Keith can f*** off.

 

[Senscore]

Keith can f*** off.

He is going to be more of a problem going forward

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Keith can f*** off.

I don't like it, but I get it.

You have to see things from both sides. Brady was drafted to a Melnyk owned team and gave them 7 season to figure it out.

Brady just had his Karlsson in the 2017 playoffs breakout, where after being hidden away in regular season games for most of his prime, he got a chance to prove what he could do at the absolute top and most competitive pro level.

We're all biased because we're Senators fans, but if he was on Utah/Arizona for the last 7 years and the same speculation was coming out, we would all say, yeah it makes sense for him to want to move on.

The Keith stuff is part of the package. The Tkachuks are extremely competent at maximizing their position. This is something most players should do, but they don't. Even when Brady negotiated his previous extension and remained unsigned at the start of the season, they had Matthew doing media spots taking the heat, alluding to Brady being a big softy who just wants to sign a contract and get playing, but that him and Keith were pulling the strings. Which unless you're naive as hell probably is not the case, but they are very cerebral with how they work as a team and put stuff out there. Even Keith being Matthew's mouthpiece when Florida needed a wakeup call.

I absolutely get fans saying that they don't like it because they are stakeholders in the Senators maximizing their position with the best players on the best value contracts so that they can win more games. I don't like it from that perspective either, but I don't think the Tkachuks are doing anything wrong.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I don't like it, but I get it.

You have to see things from both sides. Brady was drafted to a Melnyk owned team and gave them 7 season to figure it out.

Brady just had his Karlsson in the 2017 playoffs breakout, where after being hidden away in regular season games for most of his prime, he got a chance to prove what he could do at the absolute top and most competitive pro level.

We're all biased because we're Senators fans, but if he was on Utah/Arizona for the last 7 years and the same speculation was coming out, we would all say, yeah it makes sense for him to want to move on.

The Keith stuff is part of the package. The Tkachuks are extremely competent at maximizing their position. This is something most players should do, but they don't. Even when Brady negotiated his previous extension and remained unsigned at the start of the season, they had Matthew doing media spots taking the heat, alluding to Brady being a big softy who just wants to sign a contract and get playing, but that him and Keith were pulling the strings. Which unless you're naive as hell probably is not the case, but they are very cerebral with how they work as a team and put stuff out there. Even Keith being Matthew's mouthpiece when Florida needed a wakeup call.

I absolutely get fans saying that they don't like it because they are stakeholders in the Senators maximizing their position with the best players on the best value contracts so that they can win more games. I don't like it from that perspective either, but I don't think the Tkachuks are doing anything wrong.

I agree.

I want what's best for the Senators.

They want what's best for the Tkachuks.

Everyone's in the right.


Their is this weird notion that Management is letting down Brady like they did Alfredsson or Karlsson in terms of contract or support.

But those guys consistently overplayed expectations and carried their lines and their teams.

Brady's play has been inconsistent and he's never carried his line or the team.

 

[Rand0m]

Brady too injured to even take part in the skills comp today…

Was walking gingerly onto the bench when announced.

 

[bicboi64]

It’s fine to defend Brady but to try to diminish EK at the same time…..you’re not only off the deep end, you’re flying high as a kite

Like it's not even close. RK would need maintenance days because he was top 3 in ice time across the league most of the time he was here while playing elite defense. Brady has never been elite at anything but because he hits and is loud, he's considered a warrior. Like we're so starved for talent and on ice success some fans think EKs 30 min games are lesser than apparently whatever Tkachuk is doing.

We're not going deep even if we get into the playoffs because Tkachuks playing hard (hitting everything in sight) isn't sustainable and is going to get him hurt.

The dude lost teeth and came back to score an OT goal with stitches in his mouth, so I won't say he doesn't care but the guy prioritized USA over the team that plays his salary. He's allowed to prioritize his nation, especially when he gets to play with more skilled guys and his brother, but it's short sighted and can cost us wins this season.

Look at a guy like Pietrangelo, he backed out of the tournament and is on ice for Vegas helping them win. This tournament may be huge for the league, but it's so ass for us as Sens fans.

 

[DackellDuck]

He can’t put on skates to go in the ice at the skills competition.

I’ll be shocked if he’s playing Wednesday, and with how this team has played down injuries with other players, I bet he’s out for a while.

Hope it was worth it to be talked about on TNT for a week.

Now we’ll need Ullmark to go on a Merilainen run, or Merilainen to come back up and do it again.

 

[ottawagm]

He can’t put on skates to go in the ice at the skills competition.

I’ll be shocked if he’s playing Wednesday, and with how this team has played down injuries with other players, I bet he’s out for a while.

Hope it was worth it to be talked about on TNT for a week.

Now we’ll need Ullmark to go on a Merilainen run, or Merilainen to come back up and do it again.

I'm guessing at least 2-3 weeks from Thursday, but they will keep saying day to day up until any trade deadline deals are made.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Ice-Tray]

It’s fine to defend Brady but to try to diminish EK at the same time…..you’re not only off the deep end, you’re flying high as a kite

Ek was phenomenal here, but he didn’t exemplify work ethic.

That’s the only point I was making, and I don’t think it diminishes EK.

 

[5ive4Fighting]

Was he at the arena? I must have missed it during the game.

So sorry to be unclear - I meant at the Canada/USA game.