Both the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers have suffered several losses lately, prompting growing talk of possible roster changes. Ottawa secured a dominant 7-1 win over Vegas to end their two-game losing skid, while the Rangers continue their slide with another tough loss to San Jose.
As the season moves ahead in late January, attention has started to shift toward whether a significant name in Ottawa could eventually become available. That focus has now placed Brady Tkachuk in trade conversations tied to New York.
NHL Analyst Explains Rangers’ Chances of Trading for Brady Tkachuk
Tkachuk continues to be one of Ottawa’s most important players this season, producing reliable offense while setting the tone each game with his physical style and leadership. Drafted fourth overall in 2018, the 26-year-old winger plays a power-forward game built on net-front presence and generating pressure in the offensive zone.
This season, he has posted 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points in 32 games, while staying heavily involved physically. His recent three-assist game against the Golden Knights highlighted his influence beyond scoring.
In a recent column for The Athletic, insiders Vincent Z. Mercogliano and Peter Baugh revisited the Rangers’ long-standing interest in Tkachuk. They wrote, “Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators: The Rangers have coveted Tkachuk since he was a teenage prospect, and they were the source of Ottawa owner Michael Andlauer’s ‘soft tampering’ comments last season.”
The report also noted that Tkachuk fits the hard-nosed, skilled profile Rangers general manager Chris Drury values. However, his contract situation makes a short-term move unlikely.
The insiders added that if “there are ever signs of discontent in Ottawa,” the Rangers would be expected to explore that opportunity. For now, Ottawa appears committed to building around its captain, who remains a central figure in both performance and team identity. Tkachuk still has two years left on his contract after this season, which gives the Senators leverage and flexibility in any long-term decision.
Ottawa’s season has shown both promise and frustration, with strong offensive contributions from Tim Stutzle and a power play that has helped swing close games. At the same time, defensive lapses and penalty-kill struggles have often foiled strong starts. The 7-1 win over Vegas showed their scoring depth, while a 4-1 loss to Carolina exposed ongoing structure issues.
The team has also stayed active with roster management in January, especially around goaltending, as they shuffled players like Hunter Shepard and Mads Sogaard while managing Linus Ullmark’s availability.
Tkachuk’s name has also appeared in broader league speculation. In another The Athletic column, insiders Michael Russo and Joe Smith referenced teams keeping cap flexibility for “bigger fish like, let’s say, a Jack and Luke Hughes or a Brady Tkachuk trade in the offseason or beyond.”
While no deal appears close, repeated mentions of his name reflect how highly he is valued around the league. The Rangers, meanwhile, seem to be watching from a distance as they weigh their long-term roster plans.
