'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
NHL insider Pierre LeBrun claims Rangers and Senators still have lingering "hard feelings" after Brady Tkachuk trade rumor fiasco
The New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators are still dealing with the aftereffects of recent Brady Tkachuk trade rumors, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.
The controversy started when Larry Brooks of The New York Times reported that the Rangers had made Tkachuk their no. 1 trade target. The Senators immediately tried to shut down the speculation online, but things escalated when Senators owner Michael Andlauer accused the Rangers of "soft tampering" and firmly denied the rumor's validity.
Speaking on SC with Jay Onrait, LeBrun said lingering hard feelings remain between the two teams.
“I think there's still hard feelings. The Rangers are pretty upset, as you can tell in their statement that they released, completely denying the tampering charges. There's a lot to unwrap here.”
LeBrun believes this is more about Senators ownership defending their captain than attacking the Rangers, even if the two are linked. Andlauer has only owned the team for just over a year, yet has already had to dispel Tkachuk trade chatter three times.
“I think the Senators feel at times that they deal with things that a lot of other markets don't have to, and they're tired of it. They're sick of it.”
LeBrun pointed out that Andlauer insists they haven't talked to any team about trading Tkachuk during his entire tenure and he's irritated by the false speculation about their captain keeps circulating.
Regardless of lingering hard feelings, Andlauer sent a strong message about his commitment to Tkachuk and the Senators franchise, according to LeBrun.
Brady Tkachuk’s comments on trade rumors
Brady Tkachuk made it clear he was not bothered by trade rumors and saw his long-term future with the team.
"It’s stuff that I can’t control so, to be honest with you, it doesn’t really bother me because it’s coming from a place where it’s not true,” Brady Tkachuk said via The Ottawa Citizen. “It just speaks to the leadership we have in this organization with Mr. Andlauer and Steve [Staois]."
In 2021, Tkachuk signed a seven-year, $57.5 million contract with the Senators. He emphasized that this demonstrated his commitment to the team's future success.
"The reason I signed a seven-year deal is because I believe in this team, in what we’re doing and I believe in everybody," Tkachuk said via The Hockey News.”
Despite constant trade rumors and speculation, Tkachuk has made it clear he remains focused on contributing to the Senator's success for the long term.
Trending
