Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle dropped a blunt comment on former teammate Brady Tkachuk after he was traded to the Florida Panthers.
After spending eight seasons in Ottawa, including the past five seasons as the Senators’ captain, Tkachuk requested a trade. That wish was granted when he was sent to the Panthers in exchange for a hoard of draft picks. In Florida, Brady Tkachuk will play with his brother Matthew Tkachuk.
While the Senators did receive valuable draft capital in return for a player who clearly did not want to play in Canada’s capital anymore, his departure leaves a void in the team’s lineup. For a Senators club that is hoping to make noise in the postseason, losing Tkachuk certainly hurts the team this coming season. But the club’s players, including Stutzle, know that they simply need to accept that he’s gone and that they need to move on.
Tim Stutzle Reacts to Brady Tkachuk Trade
Speaking at the European Player Media Tour, Stutzle was asked about the Tkachuk trade, and this is what he said.
“It’s his decision. There’s nothing we can do about it. For me, he was always a great teammate and, obviously, a great hockey player and we’re going to miss him. He was always there for me. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to move on. We’re going to miss him as a hockey player, as a person, and as a leader, but it is what it is. We’re focused on what we have ahead of us and the team we have right now. So, wish him all the best,” Stutzle said (via NHL.com).
“He’s a great player, so obviously if you lose a guy like him, he’s going to be missed, but I don’t think a whole lot changed for us. I think we always had great leaders in the room, so there’s not one guy who has to be the guy. We have so many guys who lead the team well where everybody has an open ear for anyone. So we’re just focused on the team we have, and I think we built a really great culture, which we’re really proud of.”
Tim Stutzle Says Brady Tkachuk Trade Request Surprised Him
According to Stutzle, he had no idea that Tkachuk asked for a trade out of Ottawa. But either way, he is confident the team will do well this coming season.
“You don’t really talk to your teammates about that. I love Ottawa and I want to be there for as long as I can. Maybe other people have different opinions. That’s none of my business. I’m just trying to focus on what we have, the team we have. We have a great team. We have a bunch of great guys, so it’s going to be fine,” Stutzle said.
“We’re still a really young team, so I think everything is going to move up from here. I think everybody who is there right now loves being in Ottawa, loves playing for the Sens. So I think that’s the biggest key, and that’s what we want.”
Tim Stutzle Drops Blunt Comment on Brady Tkachuk After Trade