The Ottawa Senators are gaining momentum at a crucial point in the season, but off-ice chatter is starting to grow louder. With speculation swirling around captain Brady Tkachuk, one NHL insider is urging the team to block out the noise and stay locked in on the bigger picture.
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman Sends Message to Ottawa Senators Amid Trade Rumors
The chatter around Tkachuk has grown louder in recent weeks. Some of it stems from Ottawa’s earlier inconsistency in the standings, while other speculation has been fueled by outside “dream scenario” ideas involving his brother, Matthew Tkachuk.
There were also questions about Tkachuk’s form following the Olympic break, with head coach Travis Green noting the captain hadn’t quite looked like himself.
Although the Senators’ recent surge into a wild-card position has quieted some of the immediate noise, discussion has already shifted toward the 2026 offseason as a potential turning point for the franchise.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman addressed the speculation, saying, “Well, it all like the first thing is you have to understand is that it’s always kind of there, right? And you know, because it happened with Matthew and and because he’s a US-born player, it’s just it’s just the way it is.”
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He emphasized that trade talk is inevitable but noted there’s nothing the team can realistically do about it right now. With the trade deadline passed and the focus on making the playoffs, Friedman suggested, “now worrying about it is wasted energy for everybody.”
He also pointed out that the best way to quiet speculation is through performance. “If I’m the Senators playing well and winning games that is the best way to ensure that things can happen. that is the only way to ensure that things can happen,” he said.
Any serious discussions, he implied, would more realistically take place in the offseason if concrete developments emerge.
Ottawa appears to be responding appropriately. The Senators have won 9 of their last 11 games, climbing into the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference with 85 points and about 11 games remaining.
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With momentum on their side, the focus remains on maintaining that pace rather than speculating. Continued strong play, as Friedman suggested, may be the most effective way to push trade rumors into the background. “And right now there’s no point in giving it airtime because nothing can happen,” he added.
The Senators will look to extend their run when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, aiming to strengthen their playoff position.
