NHL Rumor Roundup: Senators' Brady Tkachuk Denies Trade Rumors, Plus Jets Buzz

The Ottawa Senators' first-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs sparked speculation over their off-season plans, with most of the attention focused on team captain Brady Tkachuk.

Trade rumors have dogged Tkachuk since last summer. The trade chatter has been largely based on pundits examining the 26-year-old power forward's body language and parsing his comments to glean any sign of unhappiness that might suggest he wants out of Ottawa.

Tkachuk has previously dismissed those rumors, calling them lies. On Monday, Senators GM Steve Staios dismissed the conjecture as nonsense.

Tkachuk Frustrated By "The Noise," But Holds The Power To Silence It

Tkachuk addressed the media on Wednesday and expressed frustration over the constant questions and speculation about his NHL future.

Shifting our gaze westward to the Winnipeg Jets, Murat Ates of The Athletic recently examined how they declined into a "mushy middle" team (too good to tank, too flawed to win) and how they might get out of their predicament.

One option suggested by Ates would be trading a core player such as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, left winger Kyle Connor, center Mark Scheifele or defenseman Josh Morrissey. One of those players could fetch a return that helped the Jets now and over the long term.

Ates also believed the Jets must acquire a reliable second-line center. He suggested pursuing an affordable young player stuck in a third-line role, such as Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars or Peyton Krebs of the Buffalo Sabres.

Another option would be pursuing a young forward who lacks no-trade protection. Those could include Connor Zary of the Calgary Flames, Ridly Greig of the Senators or Emmitt Finnie of the Red Wings.

It's doubtful the Jets will move a core player unless one of them requests a trade. Shopping for an affordable young second-line center seems a more likely course of action, though prying one away from a rival club could come at the cost of one or two of the Jets' future assets.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 7:45 AM.