The NHL landscape continues to shift as elite American players on Canadian teams leverage their position to force trades to U.S. destinations. The latest example is Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who despite two years left on his contract and the Senators reaching the postseason, refused to commit long-term. He was traded to the Florida Panthers for the No. 9 pick (from Chicago), the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NHL draft, a conditional first-rounder in 2029, and a second-rounder in 2027.
DeBrusk Emerges as Trade Target for Senators
The Senators now need a left-winger and have shown interest in Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk. DeBrusk, 29, has a no-movement clause but is looking to join a contender rather than endure a rebuild. “I think a rebuild is hard for every player, but at the same point it's a great opportunity for younger guys,” DeBrusk told reporter Ben Kuzma. “This game humbles everybody and it's been a little bit more than humbling this year. Obviously, that (rebuild) is not something I would be OK with or accepting. My game doesn't fit that.”
DeBrusk could fill the void left by Tkachuk. He excels at going to hard areas, getting to the net, and using screens, deflections, and rebounds. His 19 power-play goals this season ranked third overall. Despite scoring droughts, he has delivered 20-plus goals in four of the last five seasons: 23, 28, 27, and 25. He led the Canucks with 219 shots, including 121 from high-danger areas, and his expected goal total was 3.49. His contract carries a cap-friendly US$5.5 million annual average value over the next five seasons.
Trade Return and Other Options
Landing the No. 25 pick in exchange, paired with Vancouver's No. 24 pick, could help the Canucks target a big centre. The Senators also hold the No. 32 selection. However, Ottawa has renewed interest in Anaheim Ducks left-winger Mason McTavish, 23, who can also play center and has a cost-certainty of US$7 million annually for five more seasons. McTavish scored 17 goals this season, with a career high of 22.
Another potential destination for DeBrusk is the Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus looked destined for the postseason before a 2-7-1 finish. Head coach Rick Bowness would value DeBrusk, who had a seven-year playoff run with the Boston Bruins and led them in playoff scoring with 11 points (5-6) in 13 games in 2024.
Canadian Teams Face American Player Exodus
The trend of American players leaving Canadian clubs is concerning. The Canucks handed out extensions to Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser, and Conor Garland to appease Quinn Hughes, who previously refused to commit long-term. Matthew Tkachuk similarly forced a trade from the Calgary Flames after a career-high 42 goals and went on to win consecutive Stanley Cup titles with the Panthers.
Despite this, the Canucks should not hesitate to draft American prospects like Chase Reid, an OHL blueliner from Chesterfield, Mich., with the third-overall pick. They should also lock up Zeev Buium, a San Diego native projected as a first-pairing fixture and future captain, to ensure loyalty when the team becomes a contender.
