GARRIOCH: Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk still trying to close gap in contract talks
“The indications are that the Senators and Tkachuk are not that far apart in dollar terms.
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The observation and expectation of a Brady Tkachuk signing continues.
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Training camp moved to another phase after the Ottawa Senators opened the preseason with a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night at the Canada Life Center and talks continue to try to ‘get the 22-year-old restricted free agent. the winger signed a deal.
general manager of Ottawa Pierre Dorion has been in contact with Tkachuk agents based in Toronto Craig oster and Don Meehan from Newport Sports every day since the start of the camp. Both teams are trying to find a way to end the stalemate to get Tkachuk back on the ice as quickly as possible.
The Senators are believed to have filed an eight-year, $ 64 million deal with Camp Tkachuk and remain focused on trying to get him to sign a long-term deal. It’s the same contract signed by the Ottawa defenseman ThomasSculpin that will net him $ 8 million per season.
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The indications are that the Senators and Tkachuk are not that far apart in dollar terms.
TSN Insider Darren dreger told the network’s radio station in Toronto on Monday that he believed the two sides had not been able to agree on the structure of the deal. He wondered if at some point the talks might turn into a bridge deal like Tkachuk’s brother’s. Matthew signed with the Calgary Flames in 2019.
When Dreger talks about structure, he means the Tkachuk camp is looking for bonus money and the Senators don’t want to go that route.
“Maybe the golden mean is a shorter deal,†Dreger told TSN 1050.
The Senators would prefer to lock Tkachuk up for the long haul because he’s part of the core and that’s why the club are trying to exhaust all options to get there.
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Owner of the Senators Eugene Melnyk, Dorion, trainer Dj smith, Deputy General Director Peter MacTavish, senior vice president rockMcGuire and all hockey operations personnel know that it is essential to contract with Tkachuk as quickly as possible.
The fact that he’s missing the side isn’t good because Tkachuk is the kind of player who can use that part to prepare and will put him behind the 8-ball when he arrives.
But that doesn’t mean the Senators should just give Tkachuk what he wants to make a deal, and that’s where they’re trying to strike a balance. The club will also need to sign winger Tim Stuetzle and center Josh Norris, both of whom have shown they can be top-notch talents.
Sure you’re sitting here saying the Senators have a lot of cap room, but they don’t want to spend 60% of their salaries on four or five players and then not be able to put in talent. around them because of the ceiling.
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The club also Jake sanderson from the University of North Dakota and goalie Mads Sogaard showed a lot of potential.
Tkachuk skated in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the FRG forwards Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes Vancouver Canucks pending a deal.
The NHL released its key dates on Monday and Tkachuk, along with the rest of the FRG, must sign by December 1 if they are to be eligible to play this season. It’s unlikely to happen at this point, but it’s the line in the sand.
PINTO ON POINT
Center Shane Pinto pushes to be the No.2 center to start the season and he did nothing to hurt his chances with a big effort on Sunday.
He led all forwards in ice time with 20:18 against the Jets, scored the winner just 25 seconds into overtime and just for good measure he was 13 for 21 in the faceoff circle. He played 12 games with the club after leaving the University of North Dakota in April.
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“Pinto was as good as anyone on the ice for us,†said Smith.
The key for 20-year-old Pinto is that he’s a smart player who has good balance. The games he played at the end of last season prepared him for the camp and prepared him to fight for a place in this camp.
“It was huge knowing what to expect in every game,” he said. “I knew what I needed to work on this summer and I think I worked on those things. I came in a little better, and I was confident, so I have to continue to build on that.
While Josh norris is the top center of the club, behind him there is a battle for positioning going on. Veterans Chris Tierney and Colin Blanc are in the mix with Pinto. At the start of the season, management and coaching staff will need to determine where everyone fits.
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Pinto said he is developing good chemistry with the veteran winger Tyler Ennis, which is here for a professional try.
“He’s just a very good player,” Pinto said. “He’s deceptive and he makes some really good plays there. We read quite well. We had a good game and hopefully we can build on that. “
KELLY ON THE RISE
Cheeky Parker Kelly, who made his NHL debut last season and scored one goal, played 16:42 and helped eliminate penalties.
I don’t know if he’ll be in the roster on opening night, but he’s trying to push for a spot. There is nothing fancy about Kelly, but he plays with confidence and does the little things right. If he can play a fourth line role and contribute, he will be retained.
Smith is a fan of Kelly, who was not drafted and signed as a free agent.
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“Parker gives you the same effort every game,†Smith said. “In the NHL there’s so much chip and chase and not a lot of room, and he’s a guy who’s ready to go into dirty areas. He finishes every hit, he has a good rhythm in his game, he’s a very good killer on goal and he’s a knocking guy on the door.
THE LAST WORDS
A guy to love on Sunday was D Lassi thomson. He spent last season with Belleville and made great progress. Thomson has an NHL shot and does a good job of moving the puck out of his own zone. The Senators will tell you he’s been stable for them throughout this camp. A No.19 overall pick in 2019, he’ll need time at Belleville, but if he can keep up that pace, he’ll put himself in a position to be called up. He played 17:29 and did a good job helping to kill the five-minute middle finger rated at Ridly greig for cross-checking. … The Senators made a lineout move by sending G Leevi Merilainen back at the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs on Monday. He accompanied the Senators to Winnipeg to be the club’s third goaltender in case Anton Forsberg Where Philippe gustavsson had problems. Merilainen has a good opportunity to be Finland’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the world junior championships. … Winger Zach Sanford, acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the center Logan Brown Saturday, should be on the ice with Ottawa today. He was due to arrive over the weekend and will need time to adjust to being here. As shown in this space, expect Sanford to skate with White and Nick paul once Tkachuk has agreed to a deal. … The Senators went to two groups at camp after dividing them into three to start.
Twitter: @sungarrioch
