The Ottawa Senators announced a significant contract extension for general manager Pierre Dorion this week, but that wasn’t the news fans of the team were hoping for. No, the Senators faithful are waiting with clenched teeth as star forward Brady Tkachuk continues to sit unsigned with just a few weeks left before training camp opens. The 21-year-old winger is a restricted free agent but did not have arbitration rights that would have sped the process along, meaning technically he’s open to an offer sheet at the moment.
With one of those already signed this offseason and the Senators’ long history of watching star players leave on uncertain terms, Tkachuk’s situation will be concerning to many until an actual contract is signed. There were hints earlier this offseason that the team was hoping for an eight-year deal, with the inkling even that Tkachuk may become the team’s captain if a long-term deal like that was signed.
But that hasn’t happened yet, and now the speculation mounts. Shawn Simpson of TSN tweeted today that “confused and frustrated” are the words he has heard in regards to Tkachuk’s feelings, while adding that the player does not feel a real offer has been even made to this point. That certainly isn’t the same impression that Dorion left with Sportsnet radio earlier today when asked about the situation:
We’re not going to really talk about it too much in public. We have had really positive talks. Are we confident that he will be signed by the time camp starts? Yes. These negotiations aren’t always easy and–not that it’s not easy, they take a bit more time. Hopefully the next time you guys bring me on the show, we’ll be able to announce a Brady Tkachuk contract.
Of the restricted free agents left to sign this summer, only Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes scored more than Tkachuk’s 36 points last season. The young forward has put up 60 goals and 125 points through three seasons, numbers that compare well to fellow 2018 draftee Andrei Svechnikov, who signed an eight-year, $62MM deal last month. The Senators meanwhile secured the services of Drake Batherson recently, inking the 23-year-old RFA to a six-year, $29.85MM deal that currently makes him the highest-paid forward on the team. Overall, Thomas Chabot’s eight-year, $64MM deal takes that spot for the Senators, signed in 2019 almost a year before his entry-level deal even expired.
The Senators will open the preseason on September 26 against the Winnipeg Jets, just over two weeks from now.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
I like Simmer but I think he says things go r the sake of saying things sometimes. Hopefully this is one of those times.
Off topic but in my thoughts are DD & Oake families today.
The leafs should swoop in. 8 years/68 million.
See if the sens will match 8.5 and if not, you keep Tkachuk and move on from Marner. Brady plays with the heart they lack and the physical grit with talent they lack.
I know this won’t happen but this is the type of player many NHL teams need to put them over the top
@MoneyBallJustWorks – You did look at CapFriendly’s Buyout Calculator, right? The Leafs are grayed out, and the other nine teams (not named Ottawa) are either cap-strapped, or probably undesired destinations. No matter how hard you try, you’re not separating Marner from TOR, at least not just yet. I agree that Walt Jr. #2 could be a difference-maker on a number of other teams. It would be a hoot to see him team up with his brother somewhere. Think of the carnage they could inflict! ;)