Brady Tkachuk led the Ottawa Senators to their first Stanley Cup Playoffs berth since the 2016-17 NHL season. However, the young roster in Canada’s capital city was unable to withstand Toronto Maple Leafs‘ star-studded roster, losing in 6 games. As much speculation surrounds Tkachuk’s future, the captain delivered a sincere statement about his situation.
The Senators finally broke their hex, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time after seven seasons. However, their postseason journey reached its ending earlier than they expected, and at the hands of their Ontarian rivals, the Maple Leafs.
It’s a step in the right direction—and a strong cornerstone for the Senators to build on heading into the NHL offseason. Still, the noise surrounding their captain continues to grow. Tkachuk has repeatedly been linked to a potential move to the New York Rangers in the past.
Others have floated the idea of a reunion with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, in Sunrise, where the reigning champs continue to struck fear into the league. However, that dream seems unlikely, given the Panthers’ salary cap constraints.
Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena on March 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
After the elimination against Toronto, Brady Tkachuk took it upon himself to cancel out the noise as he embarks on a pivotal offseason, hoping to come back even stronger for the 2025–26 NHL campaign—one in which Ottawa won’t be content with just a playoff seed.
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“Obviously it’s a lie,” Brady Tkachuk said about the rumors that he wants out of Ottawa during his end-of-season press conference. “It’s just not true. It’s on me if I let that bother me or take me off what I’m trying to do. I know we have a great group and I know we are going to get it that much better. I want to play here, I want to win here, and I really believe in everybody in this organization, and that everybody wants to win here.”
Seven years in the making
Tkachuk had to wait to experience Stanley Cup Playoffs hockey in the NHL, and while the ending was far from ideal, he thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. After entering the league in the 2018–19 season, it wasn’t until his seventh year that the youngest son of Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk finally played meaningful hockey in April and May.
“It was truly the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in,” Tkachuk admitted. “The energy, the excitement, the atmosphere it’s almost addicting to be able to play in front of that. It was so special. The fans have been waiting for long eight years for it.”
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The Senators are determined to be back in the playoff mix next season, however, the road will only get tougher as the young rosters in the Atlantic Division continue to grow into bigger shoes. One thing is for certain, the race for the postseason will be as jam-packed as ever.
