The Ottawa Senators will gather for one final time on Monday at the Canadian Tire Centre to say farewell and head into an off-season they never expected to start so soon. Swept out of the National Hockey League playoffs in four straight games after a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday at home, the Senators face numerous questions about the future of this roster after falling short at a critical time of year.
Key Off-Season Decisions Loom
At the top of the list for Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, is captain Brady Tkachuk. Held pointless in four playoff games, Tkachuk, 26, has two years left on his contract with a cap hit of $8.2 million U.S. per season. He holds a full no-movement clause, and after a frustrating four-game sweep against one of the NHL's best teams, both Tkachuk and the Senators are left with more questions than answers.
“I mean, it’s kind of the same, just heartbreaking,” Tkachuk said on Saturday, fighting back tears. “You want to just win the Stanley Cup, and everyone believed that here, and for it to be this tight of a series and not go our way. Every game, it’s really tough.”
There were questions about his future in Ottawa heading into the playoffs, which he addressed in an interview with Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman on the eve of the club’s first game of the series against the Hurricanes. “People are always going to be talking about it. And for me, it’s important to know that it’s never come from my mouth. I don’t think it’s ever come from the team’s mouth,” Tkachuk said. “It’s just people have the right to their opinion and talk about what could be, or what might happen. My sole focus is winning the Stanley Cup, winning one here and giving absolutely everything I have to this team and the guys in the room.”
Trade Speculation and Contract Talks
On Sunday, fans of the New York Rangers were already pining for the club to acquire Tkachuk on social media. Tkachuk and his wife, Emma, make their home in New Jersey, so he is often linked to a trade to the New York area. She is expecting the couple’s second child soon. What happens next will be up to Tkachuk. The Senators will be able to talk contract with him next summer, but at some point a discussion will have to take place between him and Staios to determine if Tkachuk has any intention of staying here.
The fingers of blame are being pointed in many directions right now, and Tkachuk is not the only one who failed to deliver in this playoff series. Center Tim Stutzle had one assist, along with forward Ridly Greig, while Claude Giroux, Shane Pinto, Warren Foegele, Fabian Zetterlund, and Michael Amadio were among those held pointless. Staios will have to determine whether it is time to move out a core piece of the roster or try to enhance the group by adding new talent.
Goalie Linus Ullmark also faces an uncertain future. Acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins, Ullmark has one year left on his contract and could be a trade candidate if the Senators decide to shake up the roster. The off-season promises to be a pivotal one for the franchise as they look to build on a promising but ultimately disappointing season.
