New York Rangers Caught in Controversial Trade Rumor — Insider Says ‘Just Not True’
If the New York Rangers were holding out any hopes that Brady Tkachuk might request a trade this offseason, the Ottawa Senators captain made it clear this weekend that that won’t be happening.
Addressing the ongoing rumors about wanting to leave Ottawa, a frustrated Tkachuk firmly stated during the Senators’ break-up day, “Obviously it’s a lie. All those articles and stories … it’s just not true. But it’s on me if I let that affect me or distract me from my goals. Everyone knows I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Seeing the excitement from this fan base and how they rallied around us, everyone is waiting for it. We all aim to achieve the same goal: winning the Stanley Cup.”
Earlier in the season, before the Senators found their rhythm and ended a seven-year playoff drought by securing the first wild card in the Eastern Conference, there were widespread rumors that Tkachuk was frustrated with the team’s consistent losses and wanted out. The 25-year-old had never played in the postseason prior to this year, having watched his brother Matthew help the Florida Panthers win the Cup last spring.
Thus, the rumors seemed understandable—at least on the surface. The Rangers frequently appeared in the speculation, which made sense since general manager Chris Drury was looking to revamp the roster, and Tkachuk fit perfectly as a player that the Blueshirts desired—fiery, passionate, gritty, tough, skilled, and in his prime.
The Senators eventually grew tired of the gossip about a potential trade to the Rangers, leading their owner Michael Andlauer to make accusations of “soft tampering” against the Blueshirts in December.
In response to Andlauer’s comments, a Rangers spokesperson said, “This is an irresponsible accusation, and we defer to the commissioner’s office.”
Brady Tkachuk not seeking trade to Rangers or anywhere else: ‘I want to be here (Ottawa)’
The Rangers eventually traded for J.T. Miller, bringing the veteran center in from the Vancouver Canucks on January 31. Despite this move, they did not make the playoffs and still appear interested in potentially acquiring Tkachuk this offseason, although there has been no credible reporting to back that up.
Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl around Tkachuk, who performed well in his first Stanley Cup Playoff series. The Senators were eliminated in the first round after a six-game Battle of Ontario against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tkachuk led Ottawa with four goals and seven points in the series and ranked second on the team with 30 hits.
He seemed fully committed to Ottawa after the series ended last week.
“I want to play here, I want to be here, and I truly believe that everyone in this organization is focused on winning,” Tkachuk told reporters. “That’s what makes it exciting. We all share the same goal and want to achieve the same thing.”
Tkachuk’s contract includes a full no-move clause that takes effect on July 1. He has three years left on his $ 8.2 million AAV deal and can become an unrestricted free agent in the 2028 offseason.
It appears that if the Rangers are serious about acquiring the talented forward, they’ll have to be patient.
