Having one member of the Tkachuk Family on the team is great.
Imagine having two?
The hockey world is buzzing today at the possibility that Matthew Tkachuk could be looking for a ticket out of Calgary. And while the origin of the rumour isn’t exactly rock solid and although the story hasn’t been confirmed by anybody else, people are talking.
And that’s because we’re quickly approaching the NHL’s silly season. A time when everyone heard someone might be available and every team is involved. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Naturally, Sens fans are dreaming about uniting the Tkachuk Brothers in the Nation’s Capital. Dreaming is one thing. Actually pulling off a deal is another challenge entirely.
While you would be hard-pressed to find a team that doesn’t have a need for a player like Matthew Tkachuk- a 23-year old pain in the ass forward with three 20-goal seasons under his belt- it’s not exactly a logical fit for the Senators. Ottawa is already deep on the left side with Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle and Alex Formenton on that wing. Matthew plays the right side too so there is some flexibility there but it still doesn’t address a glaring need for the Senators.
There is going to be a time in the not too distant future where it makes sense for the Senators to push some of their chips in the middle and acquire a talented player. Quantity for quality as the old saying goes. It just may not make a ton of sense to do it to add a winger.
The high cost to acquire Tkachuk and the fact that he only has one year left on his deal only makes it trickier.
So while the possibility of watching two Tkachuks terrorize the NHL on a nightly basis is certainly intriguing, it’s a longshot for the Senators right now.
What do you think? Is Matthew Tkachuk a fit for the Ottawa Senators? And if yes, what would you be willing to give up to make it happen?
-And so ends the Jonathan Davidsson era in Ottawa as the RFA forward has apparently signed a deal with HV71 in Sweden. Acquired in the trade that sent Matt Duchene to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Davidsson was never able to lock down an NHL roster spot despite coming close a couple times. And now at 24 years of age, he likely feels like it’s a long shot that he’ll ever be able to break through. Davidsson played in just 12 AHL games last year and failed to register a point.
-Some good news from the farm. According to Bruce Garrioch, the Ottawa Senators have reached a two-year deal with BSens Head Coach Troy Mann. It’s a crucial move for the organization as Mann has played a huge part in the team’s rebuild over the last few seasons. Having him stick around for a couple more years will ensure that the team’s prospects continue to develop in a good environment. Here’s Pierre Dorion on the extension.
“When we hired Troy three summers ago, we knew we were getting someone who had a strong track record in developing players. With where we were as an organization at that time, and with all that has transpired with regards to stockpiling prospects since, the timing could not have been better. Troy has played a vital role in helping with both the development and preparation of countless players, many of whom have recently assumed important roles in Ottawa. We’re pleased to reach an agreement with Troy to see him return to Belleville.”
