Pretty sure Tkachuk has 30 goals, 60+pts in him. If Gallagher can do it, so can he because IMO Tkachuk is a bigger/better version of Gallagher
- habfanforever

Astute thought.

He would be a nasty piece of work, if Gallagher were another 7" taller and 60 lbs heavier.

Astute thought.

He would be a nasty piece of work, if Gallagher were another 7" taller and 60 lbs heavier.
- spatso

Eh, I wonder if that would be diminishing returns (pun?).

I think part of his effectiveness is that he's small and such a pest.

Who was it that was showing defence contracts a while back compared to Chabot?

9.25 for Nurse... He's a good player but...

Sens left wing and left side D is awesome but wtf is Dorion doing about their center ice, RW!, and goalie

I don't think anyone would be unhappy if it were to stretch out to something like an 8 x $8m deal or even a bit more. It is the notion that Brady would try to push himself into the Mitch Marner kind of deal. It becomes a killer for everyone. Especially down the road when some of the younger stars step up in a few years and want to get matching or better deals.

Some teams (Boston, Colorado) seem to have some restraint around player salaries as they attempt to build a winner. If your team leader does not set the tone, you end up like the Leafs.
- spatso

💯 agree about giving him 10-11 million that’s just nuts and I don’t see Tkachuk wanting that but 7 7.5 8 I can see him getting 😉

I don't think anyone would be unhappy if it were to stretch out to something like an 8 x $8m deal or even a bit more. It is the notion that Brady would try to push himself into the Mitch Marner kind of deal. It becomes a killer for everyone. Especially down the road when some of the younger stars step up in a few years and want to get matching or better deals.

Some teams (Boston, Colorado) seem to have some restraint around player salaries as they attempt to build a winner. If your team leader does not set the tone, you end up like the Leafs.
- spatso

And how much does Batherson get. As a rookie he has the same numbers as Tkachuk so potentially he should be more productive in the future. Dorion better be careful how he handles both contracts because he might be stuck in the middle of a poop storm.

And how much does Batherson get. As a rookie he has the same numbers as Tkachuk so potentially he should be more productive in the future. Dorion better be careful how he handles both contracts because he might be stuck in the middle of a poop storm.
- granpa

So you’re just basing contracts off of points I love Batherson and I really think he’s gonna be another power forward he’s getting bigger , but in saying that he does t bring what Tkachuk does every night 🤷‍♂️

Who was it that was showing defence contracts a while back compared to Chabot?

9.25 for Nurse... He's a good player but...
- david22

man Chabot at 8M is looking great don't it, so many of the 9M+ contracts for these Dmen are going to be buyout candidates in a few year.

I have posted this a dozen times now, but with the reality of the NHL's cap, the Senators (and all NHL teams) should copy the blueprint set by several of the recent champions and implement a salary cap per player to facilitate building and maintaining a cap compliant team that can compete into the future and avoid the nightmare Toronto et al find themselves in.

Set the cap at or near Chabot's $8M and stick to the plan. If a player doesn't want to win with the Senators for at or around $8M per season trade them and find someone else who will.

Shawn Simpson
@TSNSimmer
Been asking around on the Tkachuk contract, and nothing new at this point. What was told to me by someone close to the Tkachuk camp, is that Brady loves the crew in Ottawa. But he's totally waiting to see if ownership is willing to spend what it takes to deliver a Cup team.
11:09 AM · Aug 5, 2021


not looking good for a long term contract for Brady

Shawn Simpson
@TSNSimmer
Been asking around on the Tkachuk contract, and nothing new at this point. What was told to me by someone close to the Tkachuk camp, is that Brady loves the crew in Ottawa. But he's totally waiting to see if ownership is willing to spend what it takes to deliver a Cup team.
11:09 AM · Aug 5, 2021


not looking good for a long term contract for Brady
- Mithos

Long term there will be lots of money coming. Short term nobody knows if Melnyk has the cash to pull it all together.

For those of us who would prefer to see Brady on a shorter term deal, this may be an entirely positive outcome.

So you’re just basing contracts off of points I love Batherson and I really think he’s gonna be another power forward he’s getting bigger , but in saying that he does t bring what Tkachuk does every night 🤷‍♂️
- sens4life1971

What else can I base Tkachuk's contract on. If I summarize his game it's basically net front presence and hitting. There's nothing else special about the rest of his game. He's just another Tom Wilson with a passion for the melodramatics. It's not reality tv.

I did not even know tickets were on sale. I doubt very much if lack of ticket sales has anything to do with Bradys contract. If i was Melnyk i would fire the staff saying that.

I'd rather a shorter term deal too. It's hard to imagine his style of play will last for throughout his career. Would much rather have an evaluation opportunity in 3 years.

However, negotiations will always be had. Wouldn't be surprised if they are trying to max on value now.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Great points by both you and spatso. Both management and Tkachuk's camp are doing a good job of keeping things quiet.

As much as I want Tkachuk signed long-term, I don't want to sign him at all costs. Tkachuk is a great, solid, charismatic player but he is also a 50 point player. I would like to see an 8 year contract that starts at $6 million/year to gradually increase up to $8-8.5 million. He is no Ovie, Benn or Panarin.
- thecupisours

Absolutely agree, no way you can sign him at all costs. Like many have said here, you don't want to get into a situation like Toronto did with their top 4.

I did not even know tickets were on sale. I doubt very much if lack of ticket sales has anything to do with Bradys contract. If i was Melnyk i would fire the staff saying that.
- spazzbot

Sponsorship, etc. plus I have been told they have been asked when/if Dorion will get a contract extension too. They had to get DJ's deal done first to show the players they are committed now comes Dorion you would think?

Overpaying for intangibles is a bad business... especially for a small market team, where cents seem to matter as much as dollars. Nobody dislikes Tkachuk, but he simply has NOT shown that he's more than a 25G-25A guy. Of your list of supposed comparable players, only Laine, Tkachuk, and Connor are actually comparable as RFA signings, and of those Laine and Connor each had multiple 30G seasons during their ELC years... not to mention that both Laine and Tkachuk are examples of where over-investment could have been a mistake. Given their lack of progression (or decline), I doubt very much that WPG and CGY are regretting those bridge deals.

For me, if Tkachuk wants his $8M deal, he's going to need to prove he can at least hit the 30G-60Pts mark at least once. Give him a 2yr deal to prove his offensive upside, then make your long-term contract signing. He'll still just be 23yo, and will be worth a 7yr/8yr deal - but you'll have a much better sense of his real upside, and not just paying top dollar for hopes and good vibes.
- khawk

With Norris having a year under his belt now and Batherson a full season, this will only help Tkachuk's point production this season. Another off-season of training and that experience will show this year. It will be interesting to see what type of points all 3 put up in a full season.

I think a bridge deal will only make Tkachuk's next contract bigger if his linemates continue to progress the way we think over the next 3 seasons. Which is why the Chabot deal looks even better now with Makar and Nurse getting 9 million plus. Management needs to get a long term deal done now or it will cost them even more in 3 years! At that time, they will have numerous other young players up for new contracts too.

An asset is an asset. Brady might've more value today than at any time over the rest of his career. Merely, as a matter of curiosity, it might be intriguing to wonder what kind of return he might bring.

Teams need to be ruthless in managing their assets. Never personal. But, at some point, the ask may be too great. Selling an asset at the top is the goal of all traders.
- spatso

If you sign him to a bridge deal, his value will be even higher in 3 years if you want to look at selling an asset at a higher value. In my eyes, a bridge deal means Ottawa cant afford him long term and will trade him in a few years when his value is even higher. But hey, who knows what is happening behind closed doors as we speak?

Kevin can you take off artem anisimov off the sens roster in the cap central. It's annyoing to see a non current list? It was already stated he won't be back with the team.
- SENS-sational

I just put the request in for you!

Thanks for the blog Kevin. Your hard work and dedication is appreciated as its great to have regular new content.
- SensFan25

Thank you! Appreciate the kind words. I try my best getting up fresh content and by replying to fans comments in here. Some days are tougher than others with having a family, kids in sports and fulltime job. Thanks for your support.

Anyone in Ottawa hitting a sports bar for the Redblacks game tonight? 10pm start.

Long term there will be lots of money coming. Short term nobody knows if Melnyk has the cash to pull it all together.

For those of us who would prefer to see Brady on a shorter term deal, this may be an entirely positive outcome.
- spatso

agree

Astute thought.

He would be a nasty piece of work, if Gallagher were another 7" taller and 60 lbs heavier.
- spatso

Oh yes for sure. As he gains more experience in this league he will be a wrecking ball

Who was it that was showing defence contracts a while back compared to Chabot?

9.25 for Nurse... He's a good player but...
- david22

That contract will look horrible in 5 years but like they could lose him in the off season like Larsson.

Sens left wing and left side D is awesome but wtf is Dorion doing about their center ice, RW!, and goalie
- AlfieisKing

No doubt they are lacking right now at C and RW. I just got in from watching the Redblacks game on a patio with a few friends, plus a few Hockey Buzz readers that messaged me. Great meeting a few of you! Anyone can message me directly on here with the contact feature. I will try to reply to a few more of the comments.