From Draft Pick to Captain
Ottawa selected Brady Tkachuk fourth overall at the 2018 NHL Draft, and from his very first season it was clear the Senators had landed something special. The son of NHL veteran Keith Tkachuk and younger brother of Matthew Tkachuk came in physical, competitive, and unafraid — qualities Ottawa fans quickly fell in love with during some lean rebuilding years.
In his rookie season, Tkachuk racked up 22 goals and showed a combative edge that made him a fan favourite at the Canadian Tire Centre almost immediately. He embraced Ottawa with an energy the city hadn't seen in years.
The Contract Drama
Things got complicated heading into the 2021-22 season. Tkachuk was a restricted free agent, and a prolonged contract standoff had Sens fans nervous. Would the cornerstone of the rebuild actually stick around?
He did. Tkachuk signed a seven-year, $84.5 million extension — and along with it, was named the 12th captain in Senators franchise history. At just 22 years old, he became the youngest captain in the NHL at the time. Ottawa exhaled.
Growing Pains and Bright Nights
The rebuild years weren't always pretty. Ottawa missed the playoffs repeatedly while assembling a core around Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Josh Norris, and Drake Batherson. There were frustrating stretches — injuries, inconsistency, and the inevitable growing pains of a young team finding its identity.
But there were memorable nights too. Tkachuk's physical presence and leadership in the locker room gave the team a backbone. His battles along the boards and willingness to stand up for teammates made him the kind of captain Ottawa fans wanted representing the crest.
Playoff Hope Returns
By the 2022-23 season, Ottawa was genuinely in the playoff conversation for stretches — a feeling Sens fans hadn't experienced in years. Though the team ultimately fell short, the pieces looked like they were coming together. Tkachuk's production climbed, and his identity as one of the premier power forwards in the Eastern Conference was cemented.
The highs included Tkachuk posting back-to-back 35-plus goal seasons and representing Canada at international tournaments. The lows included watching a talented, young roster underperform when it mattered most and dealing with coaching changes and front-office turbulence.
What His Tenure Meant for Ottawa
Regardless of what comes next, Tkachuk's time in Ottawa has been the defining chapter of the Senators' rebuild era. He chose Ottawa when he could have pushed to leave. He wore the 'C' with pride and gave a franchise — and a fanbase — a reason to believe again.
For a city that endured years of mediocrity after the Daniel Alfredsson era ended, having a young, homegrown captain who genuinely wanted to be in Ottawa meant everything.
Source: CTV News / Google News Sens RSS
