Key Takeaways:
– Despite New York Rangers bagging the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy for best regular-season team, a proposal to enhance their team with a star player has been dismissed.
– Ottawa Senators view Brady Tkachuk, a consistent goal scorer, as a centerpiece and are not inclined to trade him.
– Trade proposition of exchanging K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko for Brady Tkachuk and a pick could not balance Tkachuk’s value.
– The New York Rangers recently extended Kaapo Kakko’s contract, further complicating any potential trades.
The Ottawa Senators have quickly dismissed a reader’s proposed trade that aimed to land the New York Rangers star Brady Tkachuk. The reopening of the sporting season saw the Rangers clinch the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy, despite not reaching the Stanley Cup Final. A win on the cards, their loss in the conference finals to the Florida Panthers was tempered by their stellar performance throughout the season.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
The proposal, put forward by reader Jeff F., and discussed by Peter Baugh of The Athletic, reasoned that the suggested trade would provide a balanced exchange in salaries and solve the Rangers’ right-wing issue. In return, the Ottawa Senators would receive promising talents K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko. However, Baugh expressed doubt about this idea by suggesting, “Ottawa’s front office would hang up immediately. That’s not nearly enough for Brady Tkachuk”.
Tkachuk’s Place in The Senators
Brady Tkachuk is a high-value player for Ottawa. Drafted fourth in 2018, since then Tkachuk has been a consistent performer. In the 2024 season, he scored a career-high 37 goals, added 37 assists, and amassed 74 points in 81 games. Senator’s General Manager, Steve Staios, stated, “We are building this team around Brady. His leadership and unique skill set are rare.”
Are the Rangers Ready to Trade Kakko?
On the other side, Kaapo Kakko, recently extended his contract with the Rangers. Despite exhibiting inconsistent performance since being drafted in 2019, the Rangers decided to stick with Kakko. They re-signed him at the end of the 2024 season for a one-year, $2.4 million deal. This extension complicates his involvement in any potential trades.
Prospects Of The Rangers-Senators Trade
Given the current situation, it seems highly unlikely that this trade will go through. Baugh wrote, “The Senators have no interest in trading Tkachuk. He’s their captain and under contract for four more years.” Tkachuk’s value to Ottawa is non-negotiable, at least for the foreseeable future. This is tough luck for Rangers fans who were hoping for a new addition to their team. Baugh suggests that if the Rangers are aiming for a top-tier forward, they might want to consider trading Artemi Panarin for Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In the constantly shifting landscape of NHL, firm decisions can often be short-lived. Only time, and the right offer, will tell if Ottawa will keep Tkachuk in their forward lines. For now, the Rangers need to explore other avenues to strengthen their team for the next season.