The NY Rangers are heading into a transition. The club has been focused on moving high-priced veteran contracts that yield little upside. That trend started with moving former captain Jacob Trouba last season.
Since then, the Rangers have sought to bringing in talent that could spur the team into a window of contention now. However, the team is missing a superstar who can take over as team captain.
That superstar could be: Brady Tkachuk.
The Rangers have not hinted at a possible captain for next season. While the likeliest candidate could be Artemi Panarin, he’s slated to be a UFA at the end of the season. Unless he re-ups soon, the Rangers could pass on naming Panarin.
So, why not bring in a bona fide star and leader into the mix? Tkachuk is someone who could step in a hit the ground running in New York. There’s no reason to suggest Brady wouldn’t have the same impact his brother Matthew had in Florida.
That situation leads to the following pitch:
Rangers get:
Brady Tkachuk, F
Carter Yakemchuk, D
Senators get:
Alexis Lafreniere, F
2026 first-round pick
Gabe Perreault, F
The price the Rangers would pay for Brady Tkachuk may seem somewhat underwhelming. But bear in mind that’s the result of the Ottawa Senators potentially having to move Tkachuk before he hits free agency.
As a result, the Rangers would take advantage of the Senators’ need to make a move now. Otherwise, the club risks losing Tkachuk for nothing if he walks in free agency in 2028.
Why Senators May Need to Trade Tkachuk
The Senators face a situation in which they may need to move Brady Tkachuk sooner rather than later. He’s entering the fifth year of a seven-year deal that carries an AAV of $8.205 million. That’s not an outrageous cap hit. It’s certainly one the Rangers could swing.
But beyond that, the Senators could be facing a situation in which Tkachuk may be unwilling to re-sign in Ottawa. If that’s the case, the Senators face a dilemma. Do they move Tkachuk now while there’s still some time left on his contract? Or do they want one more season and hope to change his mind?
Tkachuk’s father, Keith, insisted in a recent interview that Brady is not looking to leave Ottawa. The situation with Matthew leaving Calgary has spurred speculation that Brady could follow a similar path.
But regardless of what Tkachuk’s father says, the Senators might need to make a move now while his value is high. Consequently, the Senators could recoup a top-line forward like Alexis Lafreniere and a first-round pick in the process.
Rangers Could Get Future Captain
The Rangers wouldn’t immediately slap the C on Tkachuk’s sweater as soon as he joins the club. But that would be the path for the star winger.
If the Rangers can get Tkachuk with three years left on his contract, there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t be captain soon. He’s still a young player, but not a rookie. So, the Rangers’ veteran core could rally around Tkachuk. Plus, Tkachuk gets a chance to shine on a much bigger stage than Ottawa.
Yes, the Senators are a playoff team now, while the Rangers are not. But that won’t always be the case. With a solid leader like Tkachuk, the Rangers could emerge as one of the Eastern Conference’s best clubs. That might even mean another Presidents’ Trophy.
All of this speculation depends on the Senators’ choosing to recoup assets now before the price dips.
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