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‘Really Hard Decision’: Ex-Sens Captain Brady Tkachuk Reflects on Ottawa Exit
Tkachuk said he quietly asked to leave after Ottawa’s playoff sweep because he did not plan to re-sign, and teammates learned of the move late.
At the annual NHL and NHLPA player media tour in Sin City on Tuesday, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk discussed his trade request, calling the decision "really hard" and an emotional process involving reflection.
Tkachuk quietly requested a trade following the Senators' four-game playoff loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, signaling he would not re-sign with the organization that drafted him.
"It was a small group of people that knew," Tkachuk said of the request, noting his teammates remained unaware until shortly before news of his move to the Panthers dropped.
Sanderson acknowledged it was "not a surprise" Tkachuk wanted to reunite with brother Matthew in Florida, while Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot expressed disappointment at the departure.
On Oct 21, Tkachuk will return to Ottawa, where he said "I'm just really grateful for my time there" while expressing no expectations for the crowd's reaction.