After watching his brother, Matthew, win the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk appears to have adopted the stance of, ‘Tell me what I have to do to win that thing, and I’ll do it.’
Tkachuk is still leading, running people over, storming the net, and scoring goals. But last night, after a 3-0 win over the Seattle Kraken, he referred to “the old me,” suggesting he’s made some deliberate changes in his game.
One of the improvements is ramping up his commitment to defence and doing things the right way, trying to set an example for the entire team.
“Yeah, it goes hand in hand, you know, about old mistakes to new mistakes. I think the old me would have maybe gone for the empty netter, but I guess it’s just showing that there’s a new mentality in this room. There’s a new mindset. I guess you can say that. So, for me and our line, Timmy especially, it’s all about leading by example. And, if we’re doing it right, then guys will follow.”
Tkachuk was asked if there’s a new level of hunger in the room this season. Without missing a beat, he replied, “100 percent.”
“We’re sick of the continuous cycle we’ve been in since we’ve been here of going home early. And the shoulda-coulda-wouldas throughout the whole year. I think for us, this year’s different. This year’s mindset is different. We want more; we want more from ourselves and each other. But the great thing about this group is the belief that we have in one another.”
After losing a game they should have won on Friday in New York against the Rangers, the Senators responded well against Seattle just 24 hours later, when they didn’t have their best energy.
“That’s what we wanna be known as – the most consistent hardworking team, night in and night out.
“It’s just about keeping it simple, keeping it short, changing on offence, changing at the right times to get other guys out there. And keep it fresh and keep wearing them down. Because (the Kraken) have been sitting waiting for us. So I think it just goes into the mindset and the characteristics of an Ottawa Senator that we want every single day.”
Another big change is staying away from the fighting majors. The “old” Brady would often allow feisty fringe NHL players to get under his skin and take him off the ice for five minutes, a trade-off that opponents loved.
Tkachuk finished second in the NHL in penalty minutes last season. This season, he’s not even in the top 70 with just 10 PIM in 11 games. As TSN 1200’s Steve Lloyd noted, this is already the deepest that Tkachuk has ever gone into a season without getting into a fight.
In the pre season, Travis Green noted he didn’t want Tkachuk fighting all the time. In his 11th game, this is already the deepest Tkachuk has gone into a season without a fight.
‘18 8 games
‘19 10 games
‘21 4 games
‘21 2 games
‘22 7 games
‘23 5 games— Steve Lloyd (@TSNSteveLloyd) November 3, 2024
Leadership, like any other skill in hockey, requires time to develop. That’s why the captaincy is typically awarded to more experienced players. Now in his fourth season with the “C,” Brady Tkachuk has grown into the role like a pair of hand-me-down skates from his brother, and seems poised to guide this team to better days.
