Confirmed with Link: Brady to Fla: 9oa, 25oa, 2029 1st, and a 2nd

[SlyDawg]

Notes: Staios Live Event

Thanks Brady and Emma for their work here
- Brady requested the trade. Thus the process beginning
- Saw something was amiss and did the due diligence
- Wants people who want to be here
- Will let Brady answer questions about trade requests or extensions being discussed.
- Does not think that people don't want to play in Ottawa. This was 'a unique situation'
- Could see that Brady was a different player; was not too surprised at the request. Wished it was different and to move forward but wasn't the case.
- Team played at a very high level this year. Was proud with how they dealt with situations. Sees a path moving forward. Sees an elevation of leadership of individuals in the room. Has full confidence they have good players.
- Dynamics of a no trade clause changes the transaction and how it will work. It was clearly pointed at one team in the end. Feels comfortable with what they got considering the circumstances. Was not available to the NHL; worked with some of the teams but clearly pointed at one point. As far as the return, would have liked to get an impact player but the draft capital opens the door for many possibilities.
- Clearly the dynamics of players power shift. They negotiate no trade clause and as a gm you have to abide by it. Not concerned in Ottawa. What has been done in the last two years is not only a good team but can continue to build. Has no concern over the dynamic in question.
- Gets a call mid question; laughter about trading for the 9 and 25; laughter in hall
- Has no care to take a step back, will move forward however possible.
- Hard to say if they stay at 9. Pick is in play. Does not want to be mislead by the picks coming from trade. Specifies that they're not taking a step back with this group.
- Depending on what to do in the coming weeks, does not see being a reset or rebuild or retool. It's one player that has been traded and we're going to continue to work to improve the roster. Has not been as dramatic as this.
- No specific time of having issues with them. Has ups and downs for players. Had to analyze the team.
- Draft picks "for now". What they can do with that in the forward week and the interest in the picks will have an opportunity to add to the group. Stay tuned.
- Has had an open conversation with the players' management and owners. They were given a head's up before the trade.
- No conversations had with players about distractions in second half of the year. No one has come up to tell him this was a distraction.
- Potentially looking at trading up but doesn't see it with the number 9 pick. There were benefits to trading with the team they did, and they had a down year so this holds value. His job is to find out what that pick is valued.
- No interest in moving up in the draft.
- No discussion or reviews on next captain. Further conversations later about this with Travis Green.
- As the season goes on, they take great pride to help out those who need help in situations they need help with. Calls it a pride with the team as a whole. There were a lot of external distractions for Brady. The organization tried to support them so he can be at ease.
- Will not get into private discussions he had with Brady. He wanted to be traded. He engaged in the process. Detailed process. Weeks of work; 3 or 4 of full engagement. Has the asset base and has time before the draft to work with this.
- When season ended, did not have an exit meeting with Brady. Week and a half after they had a sit down and it was clear to him at that time.
- Top 10 protected for 2029.
- We're in the middle of figuring out re replacing Brady's production. Interesting week to figure out what the value of that number 9 pick is. Engaging in process with those assets. There's no way to replace Brady's playstyle. Unsure if it's in two weeks or two months or longer to make the team better. They have players outlined and targetted.
- Interesting with the cap going up; 8 teams paid at the cap. thinks there may be less this year. Not sure if they will reach the cap but has a committed owner that will do what needed; does not see spending money just to spend money as useful. Need to be responsible.
- It becomes cumbersome to give a NMC; seems to be negotiated in most deals. Does not see this changing in future contract negotiations.
- Sees a deeper discussion re CBA talk about putting some sort of stop on NTC to be weaponized by players. Plays with what is currently set in writing.
- Wanted to see this through with Brady. Did not see this possible and the request was made and had to work on it.
- Opens a lot more options with cap amount available to them for free agents.
- Top 10 protected pick shifts to 2030 if hits protection.
- Doesn't seem to think that he will be worried about recruiting US individuals to Canada. Feels like this was a unique situation. Was obviously a clear path as to why to play. Is something to consider but nothing to stop and keep him away from getting a good player.
- Discussions with ongoing free agents. Just talked to Giroux today. Will sort through that. This has to come down to if moving on the assets, what can be done.
- Ongoing discussions with Spence
- No intention having this team to take a step back. Going to be active in the market, adding more to the team and push them in the right direction. Has not had the right result in the playoffs but they want to push more. Giving themselves a chance by going into the playoffs the last two years. Refers to the Hurricanes as a model of persistent playing in the playoffs to row.
- Carolina certainly played with an identity. They were on top of their game; deserving of being Cup Champions.
- Extension with UFAs re Batherson: Will have discussions with them.
- Doesn't want to get in the specifics with the list of teams but to him there really just was one team.
- Feels he got the best deal that the Senators could get.
- Won't speak for our fans re: Brady's return. Had a big impact in the community. Will be up to the fans to decide what reception to give. It's part of the business. Not one that one is excited about venturing into. Feels like there's a clear path now to get better.
- Intention was always to move forward with Brady. (Repeated this a few times). Was clear it wasn't going to happen. Wouldn't change a thing re handling Brady and supporting him in tough times. Tries to create an environment for players to be their best.
- Thinks this one trade was unique honestly. Has taken massive steps as an organization and been in the playoffs the last couple of years. The owner has made changes to how they do things and do business. The players are committed to the team "Ottawa is a destination"
- Each player wants to play in certain cities for different reason. You hope players want to play in a place to win. Will continue to build and get players that want to win.
- Hamstrings a lot when a a NMC with just a few teams. Makes it tough to get what you want. Full value of the player are within the parameters. Feels like it would have been different if all 31 teams were involved.
- Did not know if pick 25 that FLA got was going to be added in this.
- Has 3 third round picks, 3 first round, started the year with 0. This changes the dynamics of what to do in the offseason. Needs to get to work. Looking forward to do the work and build the team
- Unsure if they can trade the player at 32. Hopes he 'can' trade the player, said jokingly.

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

Notes:

• Steve thanks Brady and Emma for their impact in the community and on the hockey team.
• Asked what changed between now and last year when Steve declared trading Brady would be nonsense. "A trade request did."
• Thinks we're moving in the right direction. No animosity between Brady and the team. Says the group here "wants to be here."
• Asked if Brady had explained why he wanted a deal, demures and says it'll be best for Brady to answer those questions.
• Asked if it was an immediate request or a "I'm not going to sign in two years", demures again that Brady should answer that.
• "This was a unique situation."
• Became clear as the year went on that something was going on. Brady "became a different player". Request to leave was a disappointment, but not a surprise.
• Believes the Brady situation was not a distraction in the room and that the team played at a high level.
• Is confident that the leadership in the room will be stepping up.
• NMC changed the dynamic of making a deal. Was "clearly pointed to one team at the end".
• Draft capital and assets returned open many possibilities.
• Recognizes that there's a new dynamic in the league with players using NMCs to dictate departures.
• Not concerned about that dynamic; has a committed group.
• Steve's phone goes off in the middle of the conference. "How's that for timing?"
• No intention of taking a step back. Team is active and open to deal.
• "Hard to say" what the chance is they pick at #9. The pick is in play.
• Doesn't see this as a reset, a rebuild, or retool. Team is continuing to work to improve.
• Not a specific time he can point to when he noticed things changing.
• Asked to communicate to the fanbase how this deal doesn't indicate a rebuild or retool. Emphasizes that these are "draft picks for now."
• Spoke to a number of players before the deal was made public.
• Nobody in the locker room brought up distractions to Steve over the course of the year.
• Is open to using the pick to trade up in the draft, but it's not his present priority. Considers it fortuitous that Florida had a down year, but no interest in moving up at this point.
• Hasn't given much thought to the captaincy at this point. Will discuss with Green.
• Focused on supporting Brady during the controversies during the season, but nothing specific was discussed between him and management. Believes that he was affected by "external" things.
• Sat down with Brady a week and a half after the season's end, which is when Brady's decision was made clear.
• Won't be able to "replace" exactly given the type of player he is, but have outlined and targeted certain players and are undergoing an active process.
• Demures about spending to the cap. Mentions that the cap increasing has reduced the number of teams that spend to the cap. Ownership is willing to spend, but need to be 'responsible'. "That's not to say we won't spend to the cap."
• NMCs are "cumbersome" when trying to make a transaction.
• More cap space opens more options; may be more aggressive in free agency.
• Other Florida 1st has top-10 protection.
• Not worried about American players. Views this as a "unique situation" with a "clear path" on why he wanted to play for Florida. It's something to consider, but not something to hang up on.
• Discussions ongoing with RFAs. Spoke to Giroux right before the conference (while he was working out).
• Reiterates that he as "no intention of this team taking a step back." Plans to be active in the market.
• Compares the Sens to Carolina as a team that will continue to grow step-by-step, season-by-season.
• Contract talks have already begun with Zub and Batherson.
• Asked to clarify whether a list of teams was provided. It was, but at the end of the day it became "very clear" that there was one team.
• Believes he got the best deal he could get under the circumstances.
• Asked about how the fans may welcome Brady back. "Well,... I won't speak for our fans."
• "How should he be welcomed back?" Again, won't speak for the fans. Recognizes the role Brady played in the community.
• Intention was always to move forward with Brady until it became clear that it wasn't going to happen.
• Wouldn't change a thing about how the Sens "supported him and protected him".
• Hints to how the new ownership has changed the perception of the team. Ottawa is a "destination" for many players.
• Asked about how the NMC hamstrung Steve in trying to make a deal: "A lot." Team did the best they could under the circumstances.
• Deal has changed the dynamic of what the team plans to do in the off-season.
• Team will be picking at 32. Unsure if he'd be able to pick and trade. "I know eventually I'd be able to trade him. I'm not sure if there's a time limit."

 

[Relapsing]

Time to wrap it up - there's work to be done for Staios and co.

Loved the quip about going from 0 picks to 3 first round picks this year.

Very professional presser overall.

My personal take: Feels like we're going to have a trade announced later today or mid-week

 

[Tak7]

Staios not pulling any punches.

Have to appreciate the transparency - no PR BS.

 

[Cosmix]

Was about to say, this is a pretty solid presser so far. He's doing a great job not throwing Brady under the bus, but making it clear that they had their hands tied when it came to where he was going.

Staios should have said more at the start of the conference.

 

[inthewings]

So Brady demanded a trade to Florida specifically. Very cool of him.

 

[Mingus Dew]

Staios explicitly saying there was only one team in the picture.

Nah guys Brady is a model citizen and totally did right by the team. He gave us so much time.

Build him a statue on Sparks.

 

[Cosmix]

Why thank Emma? she had zero points the whole time she was here.

She was a great producer!!

 

[HSF]

Stone wanted to stay.

No, he didn't tell them he wasn't signing. He told them he was demanding a trade and he would only accept Florida as the destination.

Stone wanted to stay? So why didn’t he?

 

[Relapsing]

Stone wanted to stay? So why didn’t he?

Management at the time. It's all there if you look back.

 

[Loach]

General rundown of the presser:

- Staois starts the presser by thanking Brady & Emma Tkachuk
- Bruce asks him what changed since Steve called the idea of trading Tkachuk "nonesense"; Steve says, "a trade request".
- Staois says he has no intention of taking a step back this coming year
- Slight paraphrasing in quotations: "if you're alluding to the fact that people don't want to play in Ottawa, I don't think that's the case. This was a unique situation. If you look at where he was transacted to, there's a connection."
- "Not overly surprised" "Brady was a bit of a different player throughout this past year" "Wish we could have found a way forward, but we move on"
- Doesn't feel that this situation had a negative impact on the room or how the team played this season; sees "an elevation in leadership for individuals who are already in the room... full confidence" in those guys
- Staois says that due to the NTC "it was clearly pointed towards one team in the end"
- "Would you like to get an impact player back in a deal like this? There are different ways you can get there in the end, and this draft capital may be able to help us get there in the end"
- re: the "player empowerment phenomena": "players negotiate NTCs into contracts, and as a manager you have to honour that... I'm not concerned about that for us in Ottawa... we have a very committed group."
- Bruce: "how much interest do you have in 9 and 25 right now?", as Steve is about to answer the question, his phone rings. He follows: "I have no intention of this team taking a step back. We're active, and we're open".
- "9 is in play, for sure." "If you see the transaction, see the picks taking back, you may wonder what direction the team is going in. I want to be clear, I don't intend on this team taking any steps back."
- re: how we can trade a star player for only picks and not take a step back "Draft picks for now... the timing of this transaction, moving into this week, the interest in those picks... we'll have an opportunity to add to our group with those picks"
- Spoke to a number of players about the trade before it came public
- Says no players spoke to him about Brady being a distraction in the room or raised him as an issue
- Says that there's a slight chance of keeping the pick or moving up, but that its not likely
- Hasnt given Captaincy much thought, will discuss with Green, feels we have many good in-house options
- Has been fully engaged on this for the last 3-4 weeks
- American factor is "something to consider" but wouldn't keep him away from a player
- Discussions with Giroux and Cousins are ongoing. G is working out downstairs currently.
- Ongoing discussions with Spence
- Reiterates that he has no plans on taking a step back, plans to add to the group via trade and FA
- re whether he anticipates extension talks with Zub & Batherson leading up to July 1st, he gives a 1yr answer: "Yes."
- "In the end, there was only one team... There was a list that provided and I engaged with all of those teams, but when all was said and done it became very clear that there was only one team."
- "Ottawa is a destination for many players for many reasons"
- Asked how much the NTC hamstrings the process: "A lot. If the player was offered to 31 teams, what does the return look like? ... But we did the best we could within the circumstances"

That's pretty much it.

I wish someone had asked him about Samoskevich. Doubt he would have answered, but still.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[JD1]

3 firsts and a second and a shirt ton of capspace. lets get something done

 

[Mingus Dew]

Stone wanted to stay? So why didn’t he?

Melnyk killed the deal? This is common knowledge.

Mark Stone is 10x the player and captain that Brady will ever be.

 

[Cosmix]

Time to wrap it up - there's work to be done for Staios and co.

Loved the quip about going from 0 picks to 3 first round picks this year.

Very professional presser overall.

My personal take: Feels like we're going to have a trade announced later today or mid-week

On the whole, Staios handled it well except for the shorter than short intro before accepting questions.

I like his cool, calm and controlled approach. Answered the questions well and deflected certain questions to Brady whose opinion was being asked by the reporter. Yes, very professional.

No sarcasm like Bryan Murray.

No bitching; focused on the future and making the team better going forward. Too early for any other announcements.

 

[Mingus Dew]

Management at the time. It's all there if you look back.

Ownership but yeah. Dorion left unchecked would have done the deal.

 

[Relapsing]

On the whole, Staios handled it well except for the shorter than short intro before accepting questions.

I like his cool, calm and controlled approach. Answered the questions well and deflected certain questions to Brady whose opinion was being asked by the reporter. Yes, very professional.

No sarcasm like Bryan Murray.

No bitching; focused on the future and making the team better going forward. Too early for any other announcements.

I appreciate the incredibly short intro. What else is there to say? I'd be embarrassed if he went out of his way to say glowing things.

 

[Tragedy]

On the whole, Staios handled it well except for the shorter than short intro before accepting questions.

I like his cool, calm and controlled approach. Answered the questions well and deflected certain questions to Brady whose opinion was being asked by the reporter. Yes, very professional.

No sarcasm like Bryan Murray.

No bitching; focused on the future and making the team better going forward. Too early for any other announcements.

Brady is a big boy, he doesn't need fake platitudes.

It's obvious Steve was pissed that Brady forced his way to play with big brother at the detriment of the team that bent over backwards to make him happy

 

[Cosmix]

2 years left on the deal

They probably want brady bad cause it makes then the favourites in the league for another cup. 9th overall for Brady and then a lower 1st rounder and a pick in '29 is not that big for them to give up

That pick in 2029 could turn into a doozy, particularly if Florida exercises its condition to delay it by a year to 2030 if it is a top 10 pick!

 

[thebestnic]

I like what Staios have done as a gm for you guys so far. This whole thing will set you up for a brighter future. It was never going to work with Brady

 

[inthewings]

On the whole, Staios handled it well except for the shorter than short intro before accepting questions.

I like his cool, calm and controlled approach. Answered the questions well and deflected certain questions to Brady whose opinion was being asked by the reporter. Yes, very professional.

No sarcasm like Bryan Murray.

No bitching; focused on the future and making the team better going forward. Too early for any other announcements.

I appreciated the short intro. It was Staios tacitly making it clear that he wasn't happy with Tkachuk without providing a damaging and unprofessional soundbite.

 

[Cosmix]

I appreciate the incredibly short intro. What else is there to say? I'd be embarrassed if he went out of his way to say glowing things.

I did not say "glowing things".

I think he could and should have told us some of the background for why this trade occurred now. It came out during questioning but I wanted to hear it directly without having to pump him for it.

 

[Loach]

So after the season Brady went home for the birth of his kid. Then came back and in his exit meeting asked to be traded to Florida.....then did a presser. Fck me. Lol

 

[Relapsing]

I did not say "glowing things".

I think he could and should have told us some of the background for why this trade occurred now. It came out during questioning but I wanted to hear it directly without having to pump him for it.

I know you didn't - I did. Wasn't trying to put words in your mouth.

I'm totally fine with how that played out. There were going to be a ton of questions. It was going to come out one way or another. I'd rather he keep the intro short given the context, rather than making a big statement and then having to answer the same questions anyways.

 

[Cosmix]

I like what Staios have done as a gm for you guys so far. This whole thing will set you up for a brighter future. It was never going to work with Brady

Short term, the team probably suffers a bit unless other acquisitions are made immediately. Long term we could come out well ahead.

We certainly have a lot of cap space now: $25M to spend.

Hope fully we spend it wisely on players with a longer term future with the team rather than ageing out old farts!

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

They also started the conference, like, ten minutes late. And he mentioned he had spoken to Giroux right before. And he got a call in the middle of it.

Sounds like they're being busy little bees down there.