- Travis Green admits he was surprised and a little bit mad by Brady Tkachuk’s trade request
- Green says Steve Staios brought him up to speed three or four weeks after the season ended
- Read below for the video of Green’s full comments on the Tkachuk trade
Travis Green was a little bit mad about the way Brady Tkachuk’s exit from Ottawa played out, and he is not hiding it.
The Senators head coach sat down with Daren Millard and John Shannon on the 100% Hockey podcast and got asked the obvious thing about whether his captain’s trade request blindsided him.
“To hear that he had asked to be traded, or he was going to be moved at some point, unfortunate is a word I probably will use a lot,” Green said. “I can’t speak for Brady, but I was a little surprised. Would I say mad? A little bit. But also understanding that players have to make decisions, and you move on, though.”
Take a look at the full video of Green’s sit-down with Millard and Shannon:
Green said general manager Steve Staios brought him up to speed roughly three or four weeks after the season ended, which put the coach behind the request itself by a good stretch. Staios has said he saw signs Tkachuk wanted out more than a year before the deal got done.
Reaching out to Tkachuk could wait. Green held off until the deal was done.
“At the time, I didn’t talk to Brady till after the trade was done. I just felt like it was best,” Green said. “That was between his agent, Steve, and Brady. But we talked not long after the trade. Obviously, you have to put business aside and talk as men. I really enjoyed coaching him for two years. We had a good conversation. You wish them luck, and you move on.”
Bruce Garrioch broke down the interview in his Monday column for the Ottawa Citizen:
Three first-round picks came back to Ottawa in the deal, and one of them went to San Jose for William Eklund. That part of it sits fine with the coach.
“We’ve lost a good player. We’ve gained a couple of good players. Obviously, a real good young player in Eklund,” Green said. “And I’ve got a lot of faith in our group. I still think we’re improving.”
Tkachuk leaves behind 213 goals and 463 points in 572 games across eight seasons in Ottawa. The Senators also went 12-5-5 in the 22 games he missed last year, which is the number propping up Green’s optimism.
Ottawa opens the season Oct. 3 against Toronto. Tkachuk’s first game back at Canadian Tire Centre lands Oct. 21.
