Sens' Tkachuk unbothered by trade rumors: 'It's stuff I can't control'

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk wasn't swept up by recent hoopla about reportedly being targeted by the New York Rangers.

Tkachuk was subject of rumors in the buildup of New York sending Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks. The reports prompted Senators owner Michael Andlauer to accuse the Rangers of "soft tampering."

"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," Tkachuk told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "It just speaks to the leadership we have in this organization with Mr. Andlauer and (general manager) Steve (Staios)."

Tkachuk added he didn't see the reports linking him to the Rangers and affirmed his desire to stick with the Senators. The 25-year-old is under contract in Ottawa until 2028 at a cap hit of $8.205 million.

"Steve called me and I think he was pretty frustrated," Tkachuk said. "To be honest, I didn't even see it so I had no idea why (Staios) was calling me."

Tkachuk added: "It meant a lot for him to address it with me individually and just say there was 0% accuracy to the (report) that came out. I told him it doesn't really frustrate me, but I appreciated his call."

Andlauer's defense of Tkachuk against trade chatter marked the second time in recent weeks that a member of the organization publicly defended their captain. Head coach Travis Green said in late November the Senators are lucky to have Tkachuk and that criticism of his on-ice antics is unfair.

The Senators drafted Tkachuk fourth overall in 2018 and gave him the "C" in 2021. He's produced 378 points in 467 games, including 29 in 27 contests this season.