Senators GM Denies Rumors Of Team Looking To Trade Brady Tkachuk, Which Is Good Because That'd Be Insane

While four NHL teams are still battling for a shot at hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup, the other 28 are trying to figure out what they can do to better position themselves to do it next season.

One team trying to crack this nut — well, more accurately, they're trying to figure out how to make the postseason — is the Ottawa Senators. 

However, despite rumors, the team's GM Steve Staios says trading team captain Brady Tkachuk isn't something they'll be trying.

While there's no denying that 24-year-old Tkachuk would command one hell of a return, the idea of dealing the team's captain and a key part of their core is insane.

Still, it didn't stop the rumor mill from churning, but apparently, Staios thought it was nuts too because according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Staios put his foot down on the idea.

"Complete B.S.,’’ Staios said of the rumors. "We are building this team around Brady. His leadership and unique skill set are rare.

"There is absolutely no validity to it.’’

Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios says team captain Brady Tkachuk isn't going anywhere. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

There you have it, Senators fans. (No really, they exist.) It sounds as though Tkachuk is staying put… at least for now.

There may of course come a day when trading him may make sense, but at this point, he, along with Tim Stützle, makes a pretty strong core for the team in the years to come. Now, it's just a matter of finding the right pieces to complement them and finding some sturdier goaltending.

With that in mind, I don't think the Senators are too far away from making a playoff appearance thanks to some of the depth they've got in players like Jakob Chychrun and Shane Pinto, and veteran leadership in Claude Giroux.

The team is on the come-up and until it becomes clear that the current formula isn't working, there's absolutely no reason to get rid of Tkachuk… but if they wanted to, there'd be no shortage of teams willing to cut a deal with them.