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Brady Tkachuk's Next Contract is a Priority

July 8, 2020, 10:41 PM ET [97 Comments]
Michael Stuart
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With two top-five picks in hand, and a bonus third first-round pick, the Ottawa Senators have plenty to keep them busy over the next few months in advance of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The question of who to select after Quinton Byfield or Tim Stutzle could very well be a franchise-defining one, as has been discussed many times in this space and in the comments section. Add another forward? Take a chance on a defender? Swing for the fences with a goalie? There are a number of options on the table.

Even with all that to think about, the draft isn’t the only piece of business soon to be on Pierre Dorion’s plate. When the NHL calendar turns over, Brady Tkachuk will be in the last year of his entry-level deal. Getting him signed to a new contract needs to be a priority.

Stats, graphs, and the eye test all tell you that Tkachuk is a special player. He moves the needle for the Senators like few others, and he does so in a way that makes him miserable to play against for opponents and incredibly fun to watch for fans. While the Thomas Chabot extension signaled a refreshing willingness on the part of ownership to spend money, getting Tkachuk inked to a long-term deal without drama would be an even bigger step forward for the franchise.

As two blue-chip prospects get set to join the system in short order, it’s important that they see the team commit to its young players in a meaningful way. Ottawa is going to want Byfield, or Stutzle, or Raymond, or Rossi. The key is to make those guys want Ottawa back. Showing them that young players – i.e. Tkachuk – are put in positions where they can take leadership roles, succeed, and reap rewards so early on in their careers is a great way to do that.

The positive news for Senators fans is that the Chabot deal (and Colin White deal, to an extent) suggests that management and ownership aren’t afraid to skip bridge deals and go straight to the long-term pact. The allure of short-term dollar savings on a bridge deal might be strong for ownership, but Tkachuk’s impact on this team and deservedness of a long-term deal is stronger. Committing long-term, big dollars isn’t the right path with every player, but it absolutely is with Brady Tkachuk. Beyond keeping a face-of-the-franchise type player in the fold, it would send a really positive signal to the 2020 draft prospects that are going to be counted on to transform this team from hunted to hunter.

As always, thanks for reading.
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