TKACHUCK SAYS HE’S READY FOR NHL DREAM
Not surprisingly, there is no doubt in Brady Tkachuk’s mind about where he should be playing next season.
“I think it’s with Ottawa and in the NHL,” Tkachuk said in an interview with TSN 1200 late Monday afternoon, only hours after the Senators made his signing official. “I think I’m physically ready and mentally ready for the grind. I think I’m definitely ready and I’m going to get better as the year goes on.”
After a weekend of loud speculation that Tkachuk had opted to leave Boston University in the hopes of starting his pro career — a picture of Tkachuk smiling and signing appeared and then quickly disappeared on social media — the Senators finally put out a statement confirming the signing on Monday.
The way general manager Pierre Dorion is talking, the organization had no problem with any delay.
“Brady Tkachuk exemplifies all the attributes around which we want to improve the Ottawa Senators,” Dorion said in a statement released by the team.
“He is a young man of exceptional character. We know how much he agonized over leaving Boston University and we are encouraged by the degree of accountability this shows from him.”
After scoring eight goals and 23 assists for Boston University in 2017-18, Tkachuk was selected fourth overall by the Senators at the June NHL entry draft, behind Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin, Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov and Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Montreal Canadiens.
The three-year entry level contract calls for Tkachuk to make $925,000 if he’s in the NHL and $70,000 if he’s with Belleville of the AHL.
Tkachuk, who was at home in St. Louis on the weekend, huddled with his family — including former NHL star father, Keith and older brother Matthew, who plays for the Calgary Flames — before making his decision.
“It was very hard,” he said. “BU was such a great spot for me. I met so many new people, people I call best friends. But (a decision) had to happen eventually and I’m super excited. I think it’s the perfect opportunity and the perfect time.”
Ultimately, Tkachuk said, the advice from his family was that it was his decision to make.
In addition to the options of playing in Ottawa or Belleville, the Senators could also send Tkachuk to London of the OHL. Way back in 2015, the Knights took a gamble that Tkachuk might eventually end up playing in the OHL, drafting him in the fourth round of the OHL draft (67th overall), despite his commitment to play in the NCAA.
“At the end of the day, it’s what management thinks is best for me,” he said.
While he has repeatedly said that playing in the NHL is his dream, he insists he can’t get ahead of himself. “I want to have a good (training) camp and play my best and not look past that.”
The auditioning for a full-time spot will begin at the opening of rookie camp, which is expected to begin on Sept. 6.
The Senators prospects will also play their Montreal Canadiens’ peers on Sept. 7 and against the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects on Sept. 8 at a rookie tournament in Laval.
From there, Tkachuk will be invited to the Senators main training camp, where the battle will begin to crack the lineup for the Senators season opener Oct. 4 versus the Chicago Blackhawks.
After attending the Senators development camp in late June and early July, Tkachuk left for Toronto, where he lived with his brother. The two worked out together daily at a gym run by former NHL star Gary Roberts.
The younger brother has been keen to hear any advice his big brother can offer.
“It was nice to live with him this summer,” he said. “I learned so much about his experiences and I asked him about all the little things he has learned along the way. I’m just super excited to get to training camp.”
The Senators can’t wait for him to arrive, either. Following development camp, he was named co-winner of the Jonathan Pitre Memorial Award (along with Parker Kelly), as the hardest working player.
“Through tenacity, combativeness and work ethic, he also exemplifies leadership skills that we know will benefit the team now and well into the future,” Dorion said in his statement. “Most of all, Brady has shown us through his maturity that he is coachable, committed to teamwork and determined to help us strengthen our team chemistry. For all these reasons, he is an exciting young player whose growth and development we are eager to support.”