Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[Dionysus]

He can change the narrative. Come back and play and get into the postseason.

In the 15 games prior to the tournament, he scored 3 goals and 6 points for the Senators. On the Florida trip, when the team had the opportunity to build up a little bit of buffer in the playoff race, he had 1 point in 3 games and was a -6. Then he goes and puts on a US jersey and turns into Superman. Comes back to Ottawa and can't play.

We've now lost 4 in a row at the most important time of the season, and he's on the sidelines doing podcast interviews.

And enjoy the ride? The ride of what? Missed playoffs for the last 6 years? I'd rather be in the playoffs then tell myself that we have the "best powerforward" in the league so it's all okay.

There's no denying that Brady is a great personality off the ice. And he's entertaining to watch on the ice, most of the time. But at some point, he's got to win something in the NHL.

There's no other sports situation where a team can miss the playoffs 6 years in a row without the best players, who've been there being the entire time, being criticized. But heaven forbid you do that in Ottawa. We should be grateful they're here!

And this isn't just Brady. I feel the same way about Stützle, Chabot, Batherson, etc.

Are they a serious hockey team or not? All we heard about in the summer is accountability. Well we're in the midst of yet another losing streak and I don't see much of it.

It's been a bad team for years. And they are clearly worse without Brady. Team has many issues. Injury prone players, poor depth, no cap flexibility, minimal prospects and picks upcoming.

They have drastically improved defensively, but at the expense of their offense. Tough to say if they will be able to do both effectively.

No issue with criticism towards Brady's play on the Sens. He has had ups and downs this year. His attention to detail in the defensive zone rather than blowing the zone early has reduced his offense, like many others on the Sens.

Playing all-out physically for 82 games is next to impossible. Can be done in a quick best on best, and we see it some games, but not every night.

Lots of blame to go around. Feels like fans are really reaching for ways to blame Brady for an outsized portion of the Senators issues to me though.

 

[DackellDuck]

For what its worth, BTkachuk only went superman because of the depth and talent he played with on USA. Even if Stu and Sandy are stapled to Brady for every minute he plays in Ottawa, he isn't replicating that type of play. Still, our chances of winning are just a billion times more when he's on the ice and I hope he can get healthy enough asap.

It's relative, isn't it? Yeah, Tkachuk was playing with way more talent. But he was always playing against way more talent.

He's not going up against a team with McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Makar, etc in the NHL.

 

[bicboi64]

It's relative, isn't it? Yeah, Tkachuk was playing with way more talent. But he was always playing against way more talent.

He's not going up against a team with McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Makar, etc in the NHL.

This is true to some extent, but when Tkachuk is on the ice, I'd be comfortable guessing he's playing against the top shut down pairing any team has.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

Was interesting hear Matthew talk about how the final game was even bigger than winning the Stanley Cup. Because so many of them never got to represent their country before. For the players this will all in. They had banded together and were going all out as if it was game 7 for the Cup. Playing through injuries if required. This was huge for the players, bigger than a regular season game. And when we were watching that game we were expecting that from them. So this idea that Brady chose a meaningless tourney game over a regular season game, well, i think that's backwards from a player perspective.

No trade of Brady is going to make us better over the next 2 years than without him. So its not even on my radar. Cant imagine anyone serious on the team is even thinking about it

We'll see how you feel when Brady barely plays the rest of the season(or he does play but badly) and we miss the playoffs due to his selfishness.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

Some Sens fans doing there best to drive Brady out of town is bonkers.

Everything he does is just a massive red flag to some. Plays unreal in a best on best, battles through a nagging injury.. is American, guys a bum and doesn't care about the team.

Does an interview elevating the NHL and the Senators in the US market, must mean he has a foot out the door. Better trade him ASAP.

Bad things can happen. Guys get hurt, Matt Tkachuk looks to be out for a while, Theodore outdoor the season.

Maybe Brady leaves one day. Who knows. Enjoy the ride while we have the best powerforward in the league. He puts his body on the line for the team on the ice, and is a great ambassador off it.

How has he played for his actual employer this year?

And you do realize it's a bad look that he was able to elevate his game at the 4N while having his worst season with Ottawa right? I'm not even saying I expect him to play lights out for 82 games because that's practically impossible, but he's been a no-show on many a night so far in 2025, so to see that he did have quite a lot more to give really opened my eyes. I don't remember Alfie taking many nights off if at all when he was our captain.

 

[Relapsing]

It's been a bad team for years. And they are clearly worse without Brady.

I'd say not having our 2 and 3 C's playing has been way more impactful, but I get what you're saying.

 

[Wondercarrot]

I’d love to burn this f***ing thread to the ground. Can we send some of you to the US instead?
So f***ing whiny while telling Brady Tkachuk to essentially man up, or care more?!?
I mean wtf?

Was listening a french podcast. They said Brady is not unanimous in the locker room and trade this summer

What podcast? I want to hear this…

 

[BigRig4]

Was listening a french podcast. They said Brady is not unanimous in the locker room and trade this summer

What would unanimous mean in this context?

 

[DackellDuck]

I’d love to burn this f***ing thread to the ground. Can we send some of you to the US instead?
So f***ing whiny while telling Brady Tkachuk to essentially man up, or care more?!?
I mean wtf?

Brady Tkachuk over the last 20 games: 5 goals, 9 points, -3.

Nobody would be saying shit if he was on a heater for the Senators. But he's not, he's been bad at the most important time of the season, and as a whole, he's on pace for just 63 points.

This was the "make or break" year for the playoffs, according to these players. And in a very important stretch, he's been a no show.

Let's be frank, he deserves all the criticism he's getting (as do some of his highly paid teammates). If it wasn't for Merilainen coming in to save the day, this team would have already blown it.

If he comes back, plays well, and the team gets in? Everyone will praise him.

But the "we must always speak positively of Brady Tkachuk regardless of his or the team's performance" stuff is crazy. Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson faced more than their fair of heat when things weren't going well. But eventually, they rose up and seized the moment. Let's see if Tkachuk can do that.

 

[Tuna99]

How has he played for his actual employer this year?

And you do realize it's a bad look that he was able to elevate his game at the 4N while having his worst season with Ottawa right? I'm not even saying I expect him to play lights out for 82 games because that's practically impossible, but he's been a no-show on many a night so far in 2025, so to see that he did have quite a lot more to give really opened my eyes. I don't remember Alfie taking many nights off if at all when he was our captain.

Brady Tkachuk and Alfie are the two greatest Sens of all time - shame on you for this post

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Brady Tkachuk and Alfie are the two greatest Sens of all time - shame on you for this post

I'd like to see him appear in a "meaningful game" before he's anointed 1 of the 2 best ever. So far he's just a good player on a team that's only ever been bad during his tenure.

 

[Relapsing]

Brady Tkachuk and Alfie are the two greatest Sens of all time - shame on you for this post

Idk about anyone else, but I'd put a two time Norris winning defenseman and franchise leader in pts by a D man over Brady. Heck, there's even an argument that Anderson (top all time in wins and games played, 2nd in shutouts).

I'm not saying this to dimish Brady, at all, but let's be reasonable here.

He's not even top 5 in points all time.

 

[Crosside]

What would unanimous mean in this context?

Ne fais pas l unanimité dans le vestiaire

 

[Tuna99]

I'd like to see him appear in a "meaningful game" before he's anointed 1 of the 2 best ever. So far he's just a good player on a team that's only ever been bad during his tenure.

Greatness goes beyond wins on the ice, it’s the person you are, your commitment to the team, how you rep the fans and community, how you hold the team together.

Tkachuk stuck out the Melnyck years, Alfie and Ek and Spezza and Heatley did not they cut bait and left because of he owned, and what Grady has done means more to me then NOrris trophy or 50 goal seasons

 

[DackellDuck]

Greatness goes beyond wins on the ice, it’s the person you are, your commitment to the team, how you rep the fans and community, how you hold the team together.

Tkachuk stuck out the Melnyck years, Laife and Ek and Spezza and Heatley, that means more to me the a NOrris trophy

Brady played 5 seasons under Melnyk.
Karlsson played 9.
Spezza played 11.

Spezza went to the SCF.
Karlsson went to the ECF.
Tkachuk went to Lieutenant's Pump after every regular season and then hopped on the bird to cheer his brother play for a different NHL team in the playoffs.

 

[Crosside]

I’d love to burn this f***ing thread to the ground. Can we send some of you to the US instead?
So f***ing whiny while telling Brady Tkachuk to essentially man up, or care more?!?
I mean wtf?



What podcast? I want to hear this…

At around 32min

 

[Relapsing]

Greatness goes beyond wins on the ice, it’s the person you are, your commitment to the team, how you rep the fans and community, how you hold the team together.

Tkachuk stuck out the Melnyck years, Alfie and Ek and Spezza and Heatley did not they cut bait and left because of he owned, and what Grady has done means more to me then NOrris trophy or 50 goal seasons

... It's too early to be this drunk man.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Greatness goes beyond wins on the ice, it’s the person you are, your commitment to the team, how you rep the fans and community, how you hold the team together.

Tkachuk stuck out the Melnyck years, Alfie and Ek and Spezza and Heatley did not they cut bait and left because of he owned, and what Grady has done means more to me then NOrris trophy or 50 goal seasons

Gotcha. Not my criteria, but fair enough.

I feel like since there hasn't been much "fun", or any sort of "ride" during Brady's whole tenure that it's been hard for me to muster up much emotion or attachment for this current group. Give me a reason to care and I'll care, but hasn't happened yet.

 

[Tuna99]

Gotcha. Not my criteria, but fair enough.

I feel like since there hasn't been much "fun", or any sort of "ride" during Brady's whole tenure that it's been hard for me to muster up much emotion or attachment for this current group. Give me a reason to care and I'll care, but hasn't happened yet.

I’ve loved this season, seeing Brady grow especially, rally his team, how well they have played when at full health. In a playoff spot, winning streaks, big wins, the young kids improving.

This season has been for me one of the funnest in a long time, I love how the team plays, I love their grit and character - surprised you arent feeding off of that as a fan. What even keeps you going if not the players on the ice? Like if there’s nothing there for you, what are you getting out of this if it’s been years of no attachment, like honestly why are you here?

 

[Tuna99]

At around 32min

Yes they did they he would be traded to the USA and probably Florida. But they also said it’s from the same source who said Logan Mailloux would be traded for a top 6 forward last summer and that wasn’t true so they are kinda making fun of themselves.

They also say Ottawa has a Euro player vibe, which makes no sense - isn’t the last Euro we signed Kovalev, and even he admitted that was a mistake and we traded him

 

[L'Aveuglette]

Greatness goes beyond wins on the ice, it’s the person you are, your commitment to the team, how you rep the fans and community, how you hold the team together.

Tkachuk stuck out the Melnyck years, Alfie and Ek and Spezza and Heatley did not they cut bait and left because of he owned, and what Grady has done means more to me then NOrris trophy or 50 goal seasons

This is getting embarrassing for you. You're talking like Brady is 30 years old or something. Wait until he nears the end of this contract before talking like he's more loyal than the likes of frikkin' Alfie who stayed here for much longer and was largely underpaid for it.

 

[DackellDuck]

I’ve loved this season, seeing Brady grow especially, rally his team, how well they have played when at full health. In a playoff spot, winning streaks, big wins, the young kids improving.

This season has been for me one of the funnest in a long time, I love how the team plays, I love their grit and character - surprised you arent feeding off of that as a fan. What even keeps you going if not the players on the ice? Like if there’s nothing there for you, what are you getting out of this if it’s been years of no attachment, like honestly why are you here?

This season has been fine, but I don't think it's been anything that most of the fans have been able to rally around.

The team has certainly gotten better defensively, but that's come at a big expense to our offense. We're 25th in GF (31st in 5v5 GF), which is just terrible. We've had a few fun winning streaks, but haven't been able to stem the losing streaks. There's no single player having what you'd call an outstanding individual season. And the players that everyone was concerned of in terms of durability (Ullmark, Pinto, Norris, Zub) have all missed a bunch of time.

What are the great stories? Gaudette's start and Merilainen's call up?

It really comes down to these last 25 games.

We could go on a good run (i.e. win 15-17 of the next 25) and finally make the playoffs, which will be incredibly memorable, or we could stay on our current pace, finish with 86-90 points, land in 10th or 11th place in the East, and have this season go down as forgettable and mostly miserable, yet again.

For all these players, there's a lot riding on 6 weeks.

It'll either be stay the course and add in the summer. Or make major changes and reset.

Brady, more than anyone, needs this moment. He hasn't had one yet. Next season, he'll be the same age that Karlsson was the year we went to the ECF. Isn't that crazy?

 

[Tuna99]

This season has been fine, but I don't think it's been anything that most of the fans have been able to rally around.

The team has certainly gotten better defensively, but that's come at a big expense to our offense. We're 25th in GF (31st in 5v5 GF), which is just terrible. We've had a few fun winning streaks, but haven't been able to stem the losing streaks. There's no single player having what you'd call an outstanding individual season. And the players that everyone was concerned of in terms of durability (Ullmark, Pinto, Norris, Zub) have all missed a bunch of time.

What are the great stories? Gaudette's start and Merilainen's call up?

It really comes down to these last 25 games.

We could go on a good run (i.e. win 15-17 of the next 25) and finally make the playoffs, which will be incredibly memorable, or we could stay on our current pace, finish with 86-90 points, land in 10th or 11th place in the East, and have this season go down as forgettable and mostly miserable, yet again.

For all these players, there's a lot riding on 6 weeks.

It'll either be stay the course and add in the summer. Or make major changes and reset.

Or they make the playoffs, and make it again next season, and the season after that which is how I see this going, I don’t see the doom and gloom

This is getting embarrassing for you. You're talking like Brady is 30 years old or something. Wait until he nears the end of this contract before talking like he's more loyal than the likes of frikkin' Alfie who stayed here for much longer and was largely underpaid for it.

Embarrassing for me, you’re cheering first team you hate.

 

[DackellDuck]

Or they make the playoffs, and make it again next season, and the season after that which is how I see this going, I don’t see the doom and gloom

Right... that's what I said.

If they make the playoffs this year, they'll all come back and can make the playoffs again next year. Everyone will be thrilled. All the players will be cheered. Win 16 of 25 and everyone will call you a hero.

But if they don't make the playoffs this year, more than one of the "core" is not coming back next year. And the overall tenure of this core group will be looked at as a huge failure.

There's no positive if they miss. The time for moral victories has long passed.

 

[Blotto71]

I heard Brady is on next episode.

He was on, taped on the weekend I think. Spoke briefly about his body "not feeling good".

Yaaaa. Four Nations Cup.