Senators HC makes his thoughts extremely clear on Brady Tkachuk "playing to the fans" during playoff series

Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green shared his thoughts on captain Brady Tkachuk's performance and engagement with fans during the playoffs.

Tkachuk experienced his first postseason hockey since being drafted fourth overall by the Senators in 2018. After falling behind 3-0 in the series, the Senators rallied to win two consecutive games but were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games of Round 1.

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After the game, Green praised Tkachuk's handling of his playoff debut, describing him as an outstanding player who is deeply driven to win and improve.

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"He's a great player in the league. He wants to win badly. You talk about a team that wants to win and get better — when your captain is at the top of the list for wanting to win and improve. It's not like he just wants to win, he wants to be a better player too. He's very coachable that way. When your captain has that approach, it makes it easier throughout your lineup," Green said.

When asked about Brady Tkachuk's actions after Game 4, where he energized the crowd, Green emphasized that his actions reflect his desire to bring success to Ottawa.

"To be honest, I don't think he's playing anything. I think he's just being himself. He's a passionate guy. He loves winning. I think it's the opposite, to be honest. It's not a play with him. He truly wants to win and wants the city to win and feel good about the hockey team. You couldn't ask for anything more," he added.

Brady Tkachuk amassed seven points through four goals and three assists in his first playoff series. The 25-year-old is signed to a seven-year, $57.5 million contract with the Senators, becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2028.

Auston Matthews praises Brady Tkachuk after Round 1 win

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews praised Brady Tkachuk for his leadership after the Round 1 series win on Wednesday. Matthews said:

"I just told him he's a great competitor, a great leader. They're going to be back. They're a great team, a young team. I got nothing but respect for him. Like you said, I’ve known him a long time. He's a great person, a great player," said Auston Matthews post-game

Meanwhile, Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs will be up against the Florida Panthers in Round 2. Notably, this is the second time in 21 years that the Leafs have made it past the first round.

Also Read: Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews makes feelings known about Brady Tkachuk after eliminating Senators from playoffs

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta