Free Agent Frenzy on July 1 continues to draw closer and TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest news and rumours as the NHL off-season heats up.
Tkachuk trade a sign of what’s to come?
Brady Tkachuk is teaming up with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, as the Florida Panthers acquired him Sunday in a blockbuster deal that saw three-first round picks and a second-rounder head back to the Ottawa Senators for their captain.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports in The Athletic that Tkachuk made it clear he would not be re-signing in Ottawa in two years and presented the Senators a list of four teams he would be interested in joining - the Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes. He adds, however, that Tkachuk never promised to waive his no-move clause for those teams and it became clear he was focused on joining the Panthers.
LeBrun believes this could be a sign of what’s to come in the NHL as players follow the lead of those in the NBA in taking in control of their own futures to join fellow stars in certain locations.
The off-season got kicked into high gear earlier this month when Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, initially handing in a list of just three teams in the Wild, Golden Knights and Panthers. LeBrun writes that as the salary cap rises, teams have more room for star players and “the playing field is gradually but assuredly becoming the haves and have-nots”
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston echoed that sentiment Sunday while appearing on SC with Jay Onrait.
The Tkachuk trade could also be the first of a few blockbusters this summer as Larkin headlines a list of players who could be on the move.
“We’ll see what happens over time with Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets. To be clear, he has not asked for a trade, but teams around the league believe that’s coming over the next 12 months,” LeBrun wrote. “(Connor) Hellebuyck didn’t hide his feelings about his Winnipeg Jets future at the end of the season.
“The Dallas Stars are listening on Jason Robertson even as they try to extend him. Per my TSN colleague Darren Dreger, it sounds like Bowen Byram isn’t interested in a long-term marriage with the Buffalo Sabres and could be on the move at some point, too.”
As the NHL draft looms on Friday, teams are on the clock to get deals done that include 2026 first-rounders or risk pushing their returns another year.
What’s next for the Senators?
Trading Tkachuk represents a massive step backwards for the Senators after two straight trips to the postseason.
Prior to the deal, the team had already been looking for a top-six winger and now that need has doubled. The Senators loaded up on potential trade fodder in the Tkachuk deal and now own three first-round picks in Friday’s draft. The Nos. 9 and 25 overall picks acquired in the Tkachuk can be flipped, but the 32nd overall cannot be due to league stipulations.
LeBrun reports the Senators attempted to land forward Anton Lundell back from the Panthers in the Tkachuk deal, but Florida shut that down.
Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports the Senators are expected to step up their efforts to acquire forward Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks, with the team now owning a 2026 first-rounder that could help satisfy the Ducks’ asking price.
McTavish registered 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games with the Ducks last season. He added a goal and six points in 10 playoff games before his team was eliminated in the second round.
The 23-year-old would bring some contract security to the Senators as he is only entering the second season of a six-year, $42 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $7 million.
Garrioch adds the Senators have also previously shown interest in Pittsburgh Penguins veterans Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust and are likely to revisit those discussions.
Rakell, 33, had 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games with the Penguins last season. He added a goal and four points in six playoff games as the Penguins fell in the first round.
Rust, 34, had 29 goals and 65 points in 72 games with the Penguins last season. He added a goal and two points in six playoff games.
Both players are under contract for another two years, with Rakell signed at $5 million and Rust at a cap hit of $5.125 million.
Cap space is unlikely to be a problem for the Senators this summer, with the team now owning more than $25 million in space with 18 players signed for next season, per PuckPedia.
The free-agent market could also offer some solutions for the Senators, but there are few big names and available the team will have to potentially compete with more coveted landing spots.
