(Ottawa) Brady Tkachuk may now have a new letter embroidered on his sweater, but he’s not considering changing anything else.
Tkachuk became the 10e captain of Ottawa Senators history, Friday.
“It’s an honor and I’m excited to have this opportunity,” said Tkachuk. Several players in this locker room are also very good leaders. So it won’t be just one person’s business. ”
At 22, Tkachuk is the youngest captain in Senators history. There will be pressure on his shoulders as the team tries to return to the playoffs, but head coach DJ Smith believes he’s well equipped to deal with whatever comes his way.
“I’ll try to take as much pressure as possible when the going gets tough. It’s my job as a head coach, Smith said. He grew up in hockey his entire life. He’s been in arenas since he was two. He’s been through the NHL and he only knows it so I think that gives him a head start as a young captain. ”
Tkachuk will also benefit from the advice of his father Keith, who captained the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes during his impressive career.
After missing training camp due to a contract dispute, Tkachuk signed a seven-year contract worth US $ 57.5 million hours before the Senators’ opener on October 14.
Tkachuk has 62 goals and 129 points in 205 career games. He has two goals and two assists in seven games this season.
He will make his debut as Senators captain when the Ottawa squad host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon.
Tkachuk learned Thursday he would be named captain, but he didn’t want to be a distraction for the team ahead of their game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Tkachuk will be supported by full-time assistant captain Thomas Chabot and a rotating group of assistants made up of Connor Brown, Nick Paul and Nikita Zaitsev.
“He’s one of the very good leaders I’ve met and he’ll be by my side,” Tkachuk said of Chabot. We will be together as we have been from the start. He’s one of my best friends and nothing is going to change. ”
Since being drafted fourth in the 2018 Draft, Tkachuk has made a significant impact on the Senators through his personality and robust style of play.
“Brady gives everything he has every night,” Paul insisted. He leads by example. He scores, he tackles, he fights, he does everything we ask of a very good leader. ”
After three years without naming a captain, Senators management was delighted to finally make the announcement.
“Brady’s deep understanding of what it means to be a professional made him the right choice for the position of team captain,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. He has a unique set of qualities and he puts the success of the team above all else. Admired by his teammates and coaches, and respected by his opponents, he will undoubtedly be an excellent ambassador both for our team and for the City of Ottawa. ”