There have been rumblings in the hockey community about Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and the New Jersey Devils. The rumor could be nothing, it could be something. But since the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast suggested Tkachuk to New Jersey, it’s all Devils fans can talk about at the moment. We don’t often see team captains traded in the NHL and a deal involving Tkachuk could have a lot of parts. If this gets steam and becomes a real thing, what might a Tkachuk to New Jersey deal look like? We take a look at a few hypothetical trades.
Brady Tkachuk trade rumors
Potential Brady Tkachuk trades to Devils
NJD receive: Brady Tkachuk
OTT receive: Nico Hischier, 2024 third-round pick
The reason I throw in the pick is because Tkachuk is slightly more valuable thank Hischier to the Devils. We haven’t seen a captain swap since Ryan Callahan for Martin St. Louis. Tkachuk is slightly younger, signed longer and a better player (albeit not by much). The salaries match up with Hischier making $7.25 million and Tkachuk around $8.2M per season. The pick is a sweetener that can also be made into a prospect like Alexander Holtz if that’s what Ottawa wants.
If you’re the Devils you don’t hesitate. It’s rough letting go of a perennial Selke Trophy finalist. But Tkachuk is exactly the type of captain this team needs. New Jersey still has Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer and Erik Haula at center and could sign someone like Chandler Stephenson or Sean Monahan. The Devils could also take a center like Konsta Helenius or Berkly Catton in the draft as a replacement in a few seasons once Haula is off the books.
If you’re the Sens, the only reason you’re doing this deal is because Tkachuk wants out. Getting back Hischier isn’t a bad consolation for having to trade Tkachuk. Hischier should be in the Selke conversation most seasons. He could be used as the second-line center behind Tim Stutzle or the Sens could move Stutzle back to wing. Shane Pinto has potential but is he anything close to Hischier right now? Josh Norris’ injuries have to concern the Sens given his contract. So if you’re the Sens, you take the top-20 center and be happy. Ottawa would have excellent forward/center depth after this deal. Maybe getting back a defenseman prospect like Seamus Casey or Simon Nemec would need to be thrown in. Let’s look at a more enticing deal.
NJD receive: Brady Tkachuk
OTT receive: Alexander Holtz, Seamus Casey, No. 10 pick
Holtz fell out of favor with the Devils this past season, at least with Lindy Ruff. Sure, Holtz could find his footing and become an OK middle-6 scorer. He also doesn’t feel like anything more than a scorer, which the Devils have plenty. So you’re fine giving up Holtz in any deal for any player really. The No. 10 pick is the kicker so that the Devils don’t need to give up Nemec or Mercer. The issue there is you’re not shedding any salary and taking on $8.2 million from Tkachuk.
That may be easy to navigate in the short-term, but after 2024-25, Luke Hughes’ contract extension (whatever it may be) will kick in. You also need to pay Mercer, which could be anywhere from $4-6 million per season. It might also be easier to deal Mercer. You hope he can recapture 2022-23 with whoever is named the next head coach. But a long-term deal to Mercer also locks in another forward. You still want to maintain some flexibility within the forward group if you need to make changes here and there. So it wouldn’t be bad to swap Mercer for Tkachuk.
NJD receive: Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto
OTT receive: Dawson Mercer, Simon Nemec, 2025 second-round pick
I think the Devils would need to sweeten this deal with the pick or even the No. 10 pick, which feels like a lot but Tkachuk and Pinto is a good haul. The Devils need a center and Pinto fits that mold better than Mercer. Both players are RFAs but Pinto may command less money given he’s got 70 points in 140 NHL games. Mercer’s a bit younger and has proven more.
The Devils likely need to deal Nemec or Seamus Casey given how much money each player could make if a ceiling is hit. Luke Hughes isn’t going anywhere. With Jonas Siegenthaler, John Marino and Dougie Hamilton all under contract, New Jersey would be in line to have a defense of for 2024-25:
Marino
Hamilton
Siegenthaler
L. Hughes
Simon Nemec
Seamus Casey
Kevin Bahl
Bahl regressed and doesn’t appear to be a long-term option. Hamilton is coming off major injury again. Marino and Siegenthaler got eaten alive this past season, which doesn’t inspire much confidence. So going into a big season with three 20 year olds on the blue line feels risky. All three could become very good players. Usually that takes a bit longer with even the most polished defensive prospects. Moving a few defensemen could make sense to open up Tom Fitzgerald to find more veteran help on the blue line.
