The Ottawa Senators have expressed strong discontent regarding recent speculation linking their captain, Brady Tkachuk, to the New York Rangers. This controversy arose after Larry Brooks, a Rangers insider for the New York Post, reported last week that Tkachuk was the Rangers’ main target for a trade.
The speculation prompted a reaction from Michael Andlauer, the owner of the Senators, who voiced his frustration and disapproval at the recent Board of Governors meeting, speaking with TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. LeBrun noted that Andlauer did not hold back his anger, referring to the situation as “soft tampering” twice, emphasizing his belief that the league should take action against such incidents.
Andlauer’s frustration stems from this being the third instance during his tenure as owner where rumors have circulated about other teams showing interest in Tkachuk. In response, Bruce Garrioch from the Ottawa Citizen reported that GM Steve Staios planned to meet with Tkachuk to discuss and dispel the trade rumors.
Andlauer made it clear to LeBrun that the Senators have no intention of trading Tkachuk and have not engaged in any discussions with other NHL teams about him. Andlauer reiterated that Tkachuk is the team’s captain and will continue to be their long-term leader.
In defense of the Rangers, the organization released a statement denying any allegations of tampering, calling the accusation “irresponsible” and referring the matter to the Commissioner’s office. Rangers GM Chris Drury also commented, acknowledging that while trades remain a possibility, he prefers to allow time for things to settle following the recent departure of their captain.
