The biggest story for the Ottawa Senators right now is still Brady Tkachuk, who is unsigned and has already missed a good chunk of training camp. There seems to be no end in sight to negotiations that have gone on for some time, despite Senators GM Pierre Dorion repeatedly stating that talks were progressing and positive. Last night, Darren Dreger joined TSN radio to explain the current situation:
It’s still an amicable process I’m told, between Newport, the Tkachuk camp and the Ottawa Senators. But at the end of the day it feels like they’re grinding over the obvious, aren’t they? If Brady is going to accept that long-term, then he’s going to need bonus money, he’s going to need a little [trade] protection, all that. Otherwise, he’s going to look at what brother Matthew has done in Calgary and he’s going to fight for that bridge [contract]. And what’s that bridge number going to look like? It’s going to be too much for Ottawa.
Notably, the Senators do not give out signing bonus money in any of their contracts. The only player who is set to receive any sort of bonus (outside of the small amounts attached to entry-level contracts) is Nikita Zaitsev, who signed his seven-year, $31.5MM deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to Ottawa. Andrei Svechnikov, one of Tkachuk’s closest comparables, received just over $4MM in signing bonus money from the Carolina Hurricanes when he signed his eight-year, $62MM contract earlier this summer.
- While the rest of the Senators’ young forwards prepare without Tkachuk in the mix, there have been more and more opportunities handed out. One player who has run with that chance? Shane Pinto, who is making a case to be the team’s second-line center according to Wayne Scanlan of Sportsnet. The 20-year-old forward was picked with the 32nd overall selection in 2019 and was impressive in his short 12-game stint with the Senators last season, registering one goal and seven points at the end of the year. He has been one of the team’s best players at training camp and is in the mix for a full-time role of some sort this year.
- One of the players who could have been competing for a center role in the bottom-six appears to be out of the way, as head coach D.J. Smith told TSN radio today that the ankle injury Clark Bishop suffered last night could keep him out a “considerable amount of time.” Smith confirmed that Bishop’s ankle is not broken, but an injury at this point is terrible timing for the 25-year-old. Bishop signed a one-year, two-way deal in May to stay with the Senators and avoid Group VI unrestricted free agency, after playing in 13 games last season.
How the league hasn’t removed Melnyk through all these years is baffling. Worst owner in sports and that’s a pretty hard accomplishment considering the competition.
because he hasn’t bounced cheques. when that happens he’s out.
Hopefully they start looking when the team is below the salary cap to begin the season yet has a guy deserving of a blank check sitting at home.
The sens are a tire fire from the owner to one of the worst gm in the league! They’re going to overpay for a guy who has already topped out and will be an anchor moving forward
LOL@SillySundin. You think a 22 year old is topped out. I am no Sens fan, and I don’t like the Tkachuks, but if you think he has topped out at 22 years of age you got another thing coming.
You just wait and see
One of the dumbest takes I’ve seen in quite a while.
You see it so often and Brady is one of those players
Don’t quit your day job man. Bad attempt here.
You should start following field hockey………..you clearly know nothing about the game on ice
Ottawa will not be below the cap floor if Brady does not sign before the start of the season.
The Sens brought in Tyler Ennis on a PTO just for this situation.
All they have to do is sign him to a $1.25M one year contract & sent down an ELC player to Belleville, – most likely Parker Kelly.
I’m no fan of Melynk, – but you can’t put this all on his shoulders, – the Tkachuk’s are equally to blame.
Gaven was mistaken when he said Ottawa doesn’t give out signing bonuses.
They gave Bobby Ryan a $2M signing bonus in each year of his contract & they just gave Zack Ostapchuk a $92.500 signing bonus for 3 years.
IMHO if Brady is willing to commit long term to Ottawa, – he’ll get a $2M signing bonus per yesr.
If NOT he’ll get no signing bonuses if he signs a 3 yr bridge contract.
His “cutthroat” brother held out for Big Signing Bonuses for a Bridge deal, – but that strategy will NOT work in Ottawa.
If Brady signs the 8 year $68M contract that’s on the table he would make more per year than any other RFA in his class.
It would also include signing bonuses & a modified NTC in the last 4 years.
But I’m getting the feeling Brady s doesn’t want to stay long term in Ottawa & wants a 3 yr Bridge deal.
If that’s the case, – then Ottawa should just give him his bridge deal, – but with no perks like signing bonuses.
So 2 seasons later and how has this post panned out?
@Sillysundin, Brady proceeded to score 67 points that season and followed it up with 83 this past season. But you said he was “topped out” nearly 2 years ago.
Care to eat your words yet? This take was about as bad as a Wilf take.
Possibly a Wilf account before he became Wilf?
The sens still are a tire fire and haven’t made the playoffs in 6 years time for a new captain?
Leafs have won 1 round in 19 years. You want to talk about a tire fire?
Totally agree! I think that was a big over pay for matthews it’s proven the guy can’t step up in big games look at mcdavid and draistal’s pig in the playoffs they’re worth the most in the league
The Sens “HAVE” given out signing bonuses.
Bobby Ryan had $2M in signing bonuses in each year of his contract.
The Sens just signed their 2nd rd draft pick from this year (Zack Ostapchuk) to a 3 yr entry contract that pays him a $92,500 signing bonus in all 3 years, – which is more than his $80K he’ll make if he plays in Belleville.
I think Sens management wanted to send a message to Brady & the fans that they are willing to pay signing bonuses.
If Brady chooses to sign a 3 year bridge deal, he’s not going to get any signing bonus money like his brother got.
The Tkachuk’s cutthroat tactics (as Mathew referred to) will NOT work in Ottawa.
BTW, – Mathew’s 1st year had a $4M signing bonus & $3.5M in the 2nd year, but nothing this year.
If Brady shows he wants to stay in Ottawa & signs a long term deal, – I can guarantee he’ll get at least $2M per year (the same as Bobby Ryan) in signing bonuses in each year of his contract.
He’ll also get a modified no trade clause when he’s eligible, (which is the last 4 years of an 8 year contract), – which is what Thomas Chabot got.
The Sens offer of $8M average over 8 years is a better than Hughes & Peterson just got in Vancouver & neither of them got signing bonuses & also Hughes did not get a modified NTC.
Andree Svechnikov also got less than $8M a year, – but he did get a $4M signing bonus in his 1st year of his 8 year contact.
IMHO I believe that if Brady signs an 8 yr contract extension for $68M, – It will be structured in a way that he’ll make $10M in the last few years & he’ll also get $2M in signing bonuses each year & a modified NTC in his last 4 years.
I am bookmarking this just for the stupidity of SillySundin.