NHL Rumors: Insider speculates Brady Tkachuk trade before captain forces Ottawa Senators to make a move

Cam Janssen and Andy Strickland, hosts of "The Cam & Strick Podcast," delved into the speculation surrounding Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

Strickland put forth the potential scenario where the Senators might take action before Brady Tkachuk pushes for a trade. The idea might be to manage the situation proactively to prevent Tkachuk from having too much leverage to dictate where he goes.

By addressing the situation early on, the Senators could potentially have more control over the trade process and ensure they get the best possible outcome for the team (1:17:10):

"And you know, I want it to be about Brady too. But I don't know if it's going to be about him in Ottawa. That's just the reality of the situation. Maybe they will get to that point. Who knows. But I think Ottawa looks at it like, hey, they got to have those conversations," Strickland said.

"If you don't want to be here, if you're going to be trying to force a trade, we'd rather move you before you try to dictate where you go and handcuff us. Because that no-move is going to come in, and he's going to be able to choose where he wants to go, probably," he added.

Cam Janssen shared his perspective on how the Sens would handle the situation with Tkachuk. He emphasized the importance of Brady to the team, describing him as the face of the franchise.

"If I'm Ottawa, I'm like, I just can't trade you. Our powerhouse. Our identity. Our leader. Our face. Everything. All the people that are going to the games, watching. They're like, "Hey, let's go watch this guy," Cam said.

Janssen also highlighted Tkachuk's role in setting the tone for the team with his physical play and emotional impact, making him a key figure for the organization and its fan base.

Sens GM responds to whispers around Brady Tkachuk

Back in February, rumors were circulating rapidly about the Senators potentially shopping Brady Tkachuk. However, the Senators GM, Steve Staios, last month addressed these rumors in an interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

Staios denied the speculation and emphasized that the organization is building its roster around Brady:

“Complete B.S.,” Staios said, via LeBrun. “We are building this team around Brady. His leadership and unique skill set are rare. There is absolutely no validity to it"

Brady Tkachuk has been with the Sens since he was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2018 NHL draft. He's currently locked in a $57.5 million deal with a cap hit of $8.2 million until June 2028.