Brady Tkachuk addressed growing trade speculation on Wednesday, calling the noise around his future a distraction after a difficult playoff exit for the Ottawa Senators. The captain spoke candidly to reporters, pushing back on claims that he could be on the move this NHL offseason.
The 25-year-old said he remains committed to the organization and the city.
“Well, I mean, of course, I wasn’t here for, you know, everybody’s meetings and the other day, and so I haven’t had the chance to talk to Steve,” Tkachuk said about talking to Senators’ GM Steve Staios. “But I mean, I feel like I’ve answered this hundreds of times, that none of that I feel like I’ve never shown, I’ve never said, none of those things ever came out of my mouth.”
MORE: Matthew defends brother Brady Tkachuk as Senators get swept by Hurricanes
The speculation has intensified after Ottawa’s first-round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Senators struggled throughout the series and failed to hold a lead in four games. Their offense managed just five goals, while defensive lapses proved costly.
Tkachuk also expressed frustration at repeatedly answering the same questions about his future.
“And quite honestly, it’s just getting frustrating,” Tkachuk said. “It’s becoming a distraction and, ’cause I’ve, I have been fully committed to this team, to the city, and it’s just becoming a distraction, frustrating to deal with.”
Following the Game 4 loss, general manager Steve Staios dismissed trade talk involving Tkachuk. He labeled the rumors as “nonsense” and confirmed that no internal discussions about moving the captain have taken place.
“It’s nonsense is what it is,” Staios said about Tkachuk rumors. “I don’t read it. I don’t bother with it. We know what we have internally. We have great communication with our players, so we really don’t focus on it. I mean, this comes up very often. There’s nothing that we have talked about or thought about where that conversation should happen.”
MORE: Brady Tkachuk in tears as Senators’ season ends in crushing sweep
Tkachuk’s contract also supports that stance. He is in the fifth year of a seven-year $57,564,958 deal running through the 2027–28 season. The agreement includes a full no-movement clause, giving him control over any potential move.
Despite a challenging year that included injuries, Tkachuk still produced 59 points in 60 games. However, he was held without a point in the playoffs, adding to outside scrutiny.
For now, both player and management remain aligned. Ottawa continues to view Tkachuk as a central piece, while the captain insists his focus stays on helping the team move forward.