Andlauer vents on Tkachuk rumours: 'Never actually been an ounce of discussion'
Published
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer says he is sick of having to reject trade rumours involving team captain Brady Tkachuk.
The latest instance of the franchise doing so came last week when the change-seeking New York Rangers were reported by Larry Brooks of the New York Post to have circled Tkachuk as their "primary target."
Andlauer said the report by Brooks could be considered "soft tampering," if his reporting came from a source within an NHL team.
“Here’s my frustration: I talk about how I care for these players, and I care for their families — you make a commitment to a team for six, seven years, you set roots in the community, you’re part of this community, there’s a lot of pressure on these young men,” Andlauer told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic. “Yes, people might say they make millions of dollars, but the reality is there comes a responsibility with that.
“And when I see our captain, in the one year I’ve been here (as Senators owner), there’s been three separate occasions where there’s been fires we had to put out. I can tell you 100 per cent there’s never actually been an ounce of discussion about Brady Tkachuk being anything other than an Ottawa Senator.”
The Rangers rejected any notion of tampering in a statement to LeBrun on Monday.
“This is an irresponsible accusation and we defer to the commissioner’s office,” a spokesperson said.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported shortly after Brooks' report first surfaced on Friday that "there is nothing going on" between the Rangers and Senators.
As Andlauer alluded to, the Senators rejected trade rumours surrounding Tkachuk twice last season.
“Complete B.S.,’’ Senators general manager Steve Staios said in May of rumours at that time. “We are building this team around Brady. His leadership and unique skill set are rare.
“There is absolutely no validity to it.’’
The 25-year-old forward has 13 goals and 29 points in 27 games with the Senators this season while picking up 50 penalty minutes.
He is signed through the 2027-28 season at a cap hit of $8.2 million.