Brady Tkachuk Interview: 1st Ottawa Senators Playoff Experience, Growing As An NHL Captain & More!

Brady Tkachuk Interview: 1st Ottawa Senators Playoff Experience, Growing As An NHL Captain & More!

On today’s show, we’re joined by the captain of your Ottawa Senators, Brady Kachchuck. Brady tells us all about how he evolved as a leader this year and some of his thoughts on the Sen’s offseason moves. This is Brad Kachchuck and you’re listening to the Locked On Senators podcast. You’re Locked On Senators, your daily podcast on the Ottawa Senators, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome. You are locked on to the Ottawa Senators, the only daily podcast covering the sends on the outskirts of enemy territory. I’m Ross Levitan alongside Brandon Pillar up in the Blue Mountains. Today’s episode’s brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app. Create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Today is Friday, July 11th, and Pillsey. Brady Kachchuck is an absolute beauty. Yeah, I mean just an absolute legend giving us time during his off season when he’s relaxing and uh he’s actually the one that messaged us to check back in and say, “Hey, when do you guys want to do the episode?” So, for him to give us that time and uh give us a great interview for the second time on our show is we can’t thank him enough. He’s just above and beyond in the community, on the ice, wherever he is. is like there’s not a lot of guys in the league like him. We always talk about how he’s a unicorn. I saw a stat this morning that no player in NHL history has more hits before their 26th birthday than Brady Kachchuck, but he’s also a unicorn off it. the way that he goes out of his way to make people feel special. And I think that quality makes him an amazing leader for this Ottawa Senators team. And to be able to get over a hump now that he is a playoff player, played great in the first round as well, even though he was battling through injuries. We’ll get into all the ins and outs of when he realized the Senators were going to make the playoffs and everything else. It’s just phenomenal, Chad. He’s always very candid, very open, very honest, and uh we couldn’t be happier. I still remember PZY like before the 2018 draft, we had making sense of the sense, and the episode was entitled draft foreplay because they had the fourth overall pick and we talked about a lot of different options, but when they took Brady Kachchuck, it just felt like, you know, when you’re starting a rebuild, you just want the high-end skill. But it turns out taking the high-end person and a guy who’s got high-end skill, that was clearly the right choice. So, what a player to build your team around. I mean, we’re just buttering him up, but he comes through. We just chatted with him before recording this and um all time guy. Yeah, I mean, our interview season continues and Ross, I couldn’t think of a better way to cap off our full-time season from going from five shows a week, Monday through Friday, to going to next week we’re going to be three shows a week, ideally Monday, Wednesday, Friday, every single week for the next little while. No better way to cap things off than have the captain Brady Kachchuck on the show. Let’s get to it right now. Here’s our conversation with Brady. Today’s episode is brought to you by our friends over at Game Time. Have you ever decided at the last minute, hey, it’s a beautiful day. Let’s head to the ball game with family and friends. Well, maybe it’s game day and you suddenly realize you don’t want to just watch on the couch. You want to be in the stands. That’s exactly where our friends over at Game Time come in. It’s the easiest way to grab last minute ticket deals without all the stress. 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Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for 20 bucks off your first purchase. Terms apply again. Create an account. Redeem code locked on NHL for $20 off. Download the Game Time app today. Last minute tickets, lowest prices guaranteed. Today’s episode’s also brought to you by the Gleeb Central Pub. Just steps from lands down. On the Gleeb Central Pub is your local pub in the heart of the Gleeb with great food, awesome drinks, and an atmosphere to match. If you’re heading to a Red Blacks game, like there is one on July 20th and July 31st at home. Make sure you’re stopping in the GCP before and after for all the festivities. The GCP’s got something going on almost every night of the week. Start your week with wing night every Monday, all day, and all night. Trivia goes Tuesday. Bring your crew. How about Wednesday’s open mic night? Whether you play, sing, or just want to kick back and listen, great way to get over the hump. Thursday’s all about cheap tacos. And of course, Saturday nights, live music with no cover ever. So whether you’re going out and about in the Glee, you want to see some live music, or just a night out with friends, make the Gleeb Central Pub your home base because, as you know, the vibes are free at the GCP. Just a quick disclaimer for everyone watching on YouTube. The video for Brady’s interview is a little fuzzy. He was enjoying the outdoor weather, but at least the audio is nice and crispy, and it’s a legendary chat with the captain of the Ottawa Senator. So, enjoy our interview with Brady Kachchuck. All right, we now welcome a very, very, very special guest back to lockdown. Senators, we are heading to beautiful New Jersey where we catch up with Senators Captain Brady Kachchuck going into his fifth season as captain. Brady, you know, you’re alone and second longest serving Senator’s captain when you step on the ice this season. Well, I didn’t know that, but uh no, I’ll take that. That’s pretty awesome. And uh no, thanks again for having me. Well, the guy who’s in first is right behind you on the bench, Daniel Alfredson. You got a ways to go. He’s at 13. You’re at five. So, yeah, we definitely have a long ways to go. How’s the summer going so far? It’s been great. Been uh it’s been awesome just hanging out with the fam and and getting the the new pad’s been great. So, um yeah, just been probably the most chill summer that I’ve had and just been able to relax, get every get healthy again and and just getting ready to rock and roll now. Yeah, that’s awesome. How’s dad life going? It’s been great. It’s busy. Um, but it’s honestly been so much fun. Just he’s a menace. He’s he’s definitely my son. He’s just he’s crawling around everywhere and caused as much havoc as he possibly can. So, um, I’ve lost every sec with him and and uh yeah, no, it’s just it’s been the best part of the day. He got a pair of skates yet? You know what? He actually did get a pair of skates. I think somebody got it for his birthday or when he was born. Um, and so we’re that’s all locked and loaded, ready to go when when the time comes. I’m now starting to get him and, you know, trying to teach him how to hold a stick and he has no idea what he’s doing, but I’m making sure he’s grabbing it left-handed. So, I’m like, you’re going to be a lefty. I’m going to force it upon you. So, uh, he’s grabbing the mini stick lefty, but could care less about the stick, cares more about the ball. Just trying to put it all in his mouth, too. My daughter’s stage now. Everything is a chew toy. Everything doesn’t matter. his own fingers. He just will pick up something off the ground. He’s just ready to rock. Oh, that’s awesome, man. Well, really happy for you. Are you ready to never have a birthday your own again? Cuz that’s wild. Your your baby was born on the same day as you were. Yeah. No, it’s uh I think I’ve come to come to grips with it. I’ve I’ve definitely probably overdone my birthday um for myself and celebrated like I was the only person to ever have a birthday. So, I’ve probably done that. And uh no, it’s going to be great that it’s a time to to not even share. It’s going to be all about him and I’m just going to be the background. You know, thanks for the birthday wishes, but it’s not about me. So, yeah, we already have a good birthday party planned for Ryder and our family’s going to come and enjoy it. So, it’s going to be a good time. No, that’s awesome. You’re going to have some fun combined birthdays uh throughout the years, I imagine. Now, this was a pretty special season for you. Finally, the Ottawa Sanders get to the playoffs. Everyone’s fired up about it. Have you had some time to sit back and kind of reflect on how this year went? I I can’t even tell you how many times that I’ve been on YouTube and I’ve just kind of rewatched like the intro and like the like the fan. I I know I’ I’ve watched the same one like six times where like just it showed like the ice before the game, the jumbotron, the waving of the towels. It just like kind of takes you back to that moment going onto the ice and and you know first time game three stepped on the ice. I remember I was behind Drake and I just had like chills. I was like oh my like this is what kind of all that hard work just turned out to be and um it was amazing. Obviously you look back and just now at the point of the summer where it’s just so boring that know you rewatch every game’s highlights. you you rewatch kind of all the playoff stuff and you know you go through a phase of you know should a could of wouldas and all that but at the end of the day it’s just kind of everything happens for a reason. That whole experience was special and and uh I really think that experience is going to kind of elevate our group and I know it’s going to elevate me individually. Well, glad you brought up Drake there because I remember on a podcast I think you’re on with Andy Strickland back uh years ago and you said you and Drake always talked about black jerseys, white towels, watching the old school games where the Senators were always in the playoffs. Did it live up or even exceed your expectations that game three? It exceeded like not even close. Like, and it’s funny cuz I remember Drake and I were talking about it like we’ve been talking about this for god knows how long and like to to finally be happy and just take it all in, soak it in and and uh I mean just the energy the energy like to start the games, the intro and even like the like I remember the TV timeout, what was it, game six? Um well, there’s multiple times it happened. It happened game three in overtime, which unfortunately didn’t go our way, but it happened game six. I remember the place was rocking in the TV timeout and it was just it was so cool to be a part of. So, um I’m looking forward to that from game one of next year and just kind of riding that to go for a very fun year next year. Yeah, I was there at the CTC for games three and four and game four goes to overtime. That was probably the most stressed I’ve ever been. I’m sure you guys were feeling the pressure there as well. Pilzy, I got a high heart rate notification from my iPhone when you guys went down uh short-handed for 4 minutes. I was pacing. I felt like I was playing Brady. Yeah. But you know what? Like when that kind of four minute happened, like there wasn’t really like a panic or like you just knew it wasn’t like it wasn’t over. like we’re going to we’re going to have a huge kill, which we did, and then we’re going to find a way to take it to game five. Like, you just almost had that like instinctual feeling that like that was going to happen. Like I mean, of course, there’s probably like a little stress at the start, but then once you’re kind of in it, it’s like, you know what, we’ve we’ve come this far that like this isn’t the way we’re going to go out. So, uh but yeah, no, it was uh probably crazy feeling um at the start, but then it just kind of the belief kicked in. Yeah, as soon as you killed off that four-minute penalty, I remember looking to everyone in the crowd being like, “They’ve got this.” Like, if if they’re able to kill this off, they’re going to find a way to do this. What do you have like a vivid memory of when Sandy scores that goal? Like, was it like time slowed down or was it like a blur? Like, what was that experience like getting that first playoff win and not letting the Leafs get the sweep there? Yeah, honestly, I don’t even really remember much of I remember winning. I think I was coming off a shift or coming off a long shift where I was just gassed. And I remember it like took me a second like get up and celebrate like cuz I had nothing really left. And I mean it it was so awesome of a feeling but also it’s like all right we still have to win three more. you didn’t want to get to like oh like this is like unbelievable like no we won we won a game like that was kind of just what we needed to do and then it’s just like all right we had the hardest game of our season and of for some of us of our careers game five in Toronto now know where they don’t want to come back to Ottawa so it was kind of more focusing on that right after but uh I mean just that whole experience and obviously being close to Matthew in Florida you learn just so many things and now being a part of it, I honestly feel like I’m a whole new person and player um and just a a captain just from the experiences we went through in playoffs. Well, what are what are some of the things you learned? I mean, just like every game’s a new game. Like it doesn’t matter if you’re down one nothing, two nothing, three nothing, or other way around. It’s it’s you know, every game has a new opportunity. You really can’t get too high, too low because there’s multiple times that series where we were down two and now we came back to tie it and you know the result might have not happened and and you look at playoffs and in the Stanley Cup finals, Florida’s up three nothing and and then Edmonton came back 4-3 4-4 then Edmonton won in overtime. Like you’re just you’re never out of it in a game. Doesn’t matter what’s going on, what momentum swings are happening. you’re just in the fight to the very end and just and honestly a big thing is is a lot of things you do game one game two affects you know the rest of the series like physicalitywise where if you’re just kind of on them taking space just bumping and and being hard on no guys that eventually they’re going to wear down and and that’s where you kind of get your chances your looks and I mean at the at the end of the day Florida is the best team at doing that just you always have the mindset of playing the six, seven games that the first couple they’re just going to wear you down, play hard and and by the end of it that they’re, you know, so committed to that. And I feel like we’re we’re right there in that commitment that, you know, we can play with anybody and and play any type of way that, you know, for us, our focus was playing six, playing seven games and just wearing teams down. And I think that whole experience this year is going to just set us up for next year and the years after that. We had basically a full segment on the show after game three just saying don’t let the sends win one and then you did and you went to Toronto. We said don’t let them drag him back to Ottawa and they did. Don’t you just won’t see this team quit when David Pon scores that goal with seven minutes left in game six. Everyone has to be thinking we’re winning this not only game but we’re winning the series. No. Or are you guys at that point just next shift? I mean, it’s it’s easy to say like just next shift we have to win the game. But like I think it’s it’s a no-brainer that we tie that. It’s like you automatically like, “All right, we’re going to find a way to win this.” Like kind of how what you’re saying like the belief like we’re going to win this game and we’re taking it back to game seven and who knows what could happen in game seven. Like that’s obviously where your mind goes. And whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, you think long term and short term, but it’s like it’s it’s hard not to believe like that that was kind of it almost felt like it was meant to be like to tie it up late like that in a dramatic fashion like you know try to reverse sweep a team like that and and uh but at the end of the day it’s it’s kind of a different story that that ended up happening and and I’ve always said even right from after the game that everything happens for a reason. Um, I think that’s just going to mold us and and jealous into something bigger than we already are and and uh that we’re just going to be a better team because of it. Well, Brady, you said you’ve watched that YouTube video six or seven times. Well, I probably watched the Kevin Mar clip from the Red Sox documentary 60 or 70 times where he’s like, “Don’t let him win one.” You know, we got we got Pedro on on Saturday and game seven anything can happen. So, that was my way of of dealing with that. Speaking of game sevens, Brady, did you guys lead the league history in most game sevens played in a single season from March 1st through the end of the year? Yeah, we we broke records. It was game seven every opportunity that came around. And when I got hurt, I felt bad because I couldn’t even mention the locker room because I wasn’t in the locker room like, “Hey, don’t forget this is game seven.” So, I think guys were laughing about that towards uh towards the end. But, uh, I mean, I just think that’s, you know, that that had to have been our focus. You know, every game, every point mattered in that stretch and it was so tight for the longest time. And and I think just that mindset and focus allowed us to kind of come on top in that wild card race is that, you know, every game that we really it meant a lot to us and that we’re going to find a way to, you know, win or if we’re down just to get a point. So, um, I think that mindset’s going to help us, you know, and it’s not just, you know, in the new year we’re going to start thinking about that. I think right from that first game in October, it’s it’s every game matters and and we’re not going to talk about, you know, the October, November starts because at the end of the day, notice none of that matters. Yeah. So, it’s it’s you could you could be unbelievable at the start and, you know, find a way to tail off or you could be just okay average. and and I think our October, November, we were just okay and average and we we ended up having the best season of of course I’ve had to date uh with the Suns. So, um just you never know what happens the season, but every day is is I know we’ll have that Stanley Cup um standard that is that’s what we want now. It’s not just about know the first round and getting into playoffs. Oh, this is great. It’s know our standards are rising. So, you tell me if I’m off because I want to know when you felt like, hey, we can do this. And I know there’s always a belief, but as the season went on for me, and we were obviously at that game, we got to see at the gala a couple nights before, but going into that third period, staring down a potential sixth straight loss coming out of the four nations to San Jose. You get things going on a five on three in the third period. Then Timmy gets a lucky one where the goalie misplayed a bounce. You guys win that game, then you go on the road, you battle back in Washington to get a point. Like you said, every point matters. You go to Chicago, you get two points in an overtime game there. You come back, you score the OT winner against the Rangers. You’re down two goals with seven minutes left. And then stands on his head against Detroit in the next game. You guys get out shot what 46 to 20. Cousins comes in his second game, scores the the power play winner with 5 minutes left. Like to me that fivegame stretch was where I said this is a playoff team. No doubt. Was it different for you? Uh no. I was that’s exactly when you were kind of starting that question was that was the time frame that I was thinking of and no to the point like I think we’re in a playoff spot before break and we dropped those games and all of a sudden we were you know we were point or two out. So, it’s like that was crunch time. And um I mean honestly that was the most stressful point of the season I think for me was um like you know that first taste you’re like oh I don’t want to like I I want to make playoffs so bad like this is this is the stretch I was going to make or break it. Um to be honest, let me rewind. I always said at the start of the year when we were looking at the schedule that Tampa, those two games in Tampa, I already like had it in my head, I’m like those were going to be like the make or break part of the season. And kind of had myself convinced like that if we two out of four or even three out of four like all right, that’s a guarantee. No matter what happens, we’re making it. And then when we drop those two and then drop to Florida going into four nations, I’m like, oh like this this is going to be this is going to be a stressful grind like every day is like going to be a challenge like it’s game that’s where the game seven came because every game’s got to be game seven for us to make it and and then we get you know the lose those two coming out of break and I was like okay like this is like we got we got to get going here like we got to make up some ground so I think that to your point was stressful I’m not going to lie to you because I remember in that San Jose game we were up two and then they scored a scored a late one there. I was like, “Oh no, there’s no way they’re going to tie this game up.” So, um Well, it should have been a penalty, too. The guy took Sandy’s head off. Yeah, I remember the cross check, but uh no, it was good like just to get I think it was Ammo’s game winner. That was a nice relief. And then that Washington game was I felt like just changed the tide for us. I think, you know, coming back against a team that was for the right there at the President’s Trophy and to be down three, I think that gave us so much confidence that we can come back against anybody and any given night. So, I felt like that really kind of changed the tide for us was was that game. What was the feeling like in the room when it was confirmed that you’re going to be playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs? Because obviously Battle of Ontario, there’s a lot of hype there. There’s the history of the playoff matches. You guys had the better of them in this season. Like what was that feeling like when it’s like, okay, we know we’re in the playoffs and now we know who we’re playing. I think it we found out um honestly I think I was still hurt so I I wasn’t really in the room or kind of with the guys. I was, you know, doing my skates as, you know, meetings and so I was kind of like almost isolated from the group a little bit for a part of that uh the stretch there to finish it off and you know what it was that’s kind of a regret is not being able to first you know share that you know excitement with with the guys about getting into the playoffs initially like in that Columbus called it the greatest loss in S’s history. Yeah. Yeah. And it and it was it was a tough loss. So, I remember I was watching the two periods and then I was like, “Okay, I’m flipping it to the Montreal game.” And I watched the Montreal and and Detroit game and I’m like, “All right, I’ll I’ll make up the third period tomorrow.” I’ll ask the guys like, “Ah, like what happened?” Like all this stuff and just uh um so once once Montreal scored the game winner, I kind of like started calling like, “Oh my god, we just just made playoffs.” So, um that was a pretty cool feeling. when I was texting some of the guys, but uh you know when it came to finding out we were playing Toronto, I don’t really think guys were like I don’t really think guys cared to be honest. It was just like it was just story book that that was all of our first, you know, playoff experience is the Battle of Ontario and and uh I just think it it was not funny how it happened, but it was a perfect thing for it to happen too is is that being our first playoff experience and um that rivalry where it was bigger than our teams is kind of more more important for I wouldn’t say more important, but it was as important to us as it was for the cities. And that’s what I felt like at the end was so disappointed and so emotional is that you almost feel like you let down, you know, not just, you know, your teammates, but you know, the people that support you on a dayto-day basis and how much pride that, you know, our community had and and us in that series that, you know, to not come out on top was was probably the most defeating and disappointing uh feeling that I’ve ever had in my career. And and that’s something that I never want to experience again. and and uh yeah, it was a it was a shitty feeling. Yeah. Well, I’d imagine it was at least nice seeing the ovation you guys got at the end. Man, that doesn’t happen everywhere. That was honestly, it made me so emotional. Like I had a couple tears after in the locker room. I tried keeping it together um on the ice. It was I’ve never felt, you know, that way. And obviously it’s a new experience that you know when you lose in the you don’t make playoffs you know the end is coming like you know the end date and it’s over and when you’re in playoffs there is no end date until it just happens. So that was first the the brutal feeling and then just to hear the the chant and the the go sends go and and just the support was honestly so emotional and um it was a really special thing to and that’s what makes our fan base, our community so great is is as disappointing of a loss uh and a feeling that they must have had. But just to feel their their support and feel how uh proud they were of our group was was something really amazing. How important was it or maybe not important but how much did playing in the Four Nations faceoff tournament and you even said it those were the most meaningful games of your career up to date. How much of that was like fueling for you to be like okay I got a taste of those meaningful games. I got a taste of those big moments up against Canada in the finals. I want more of this in the playoffs. And how did that motivate you? Obviously unfortunate that uh it didn’t work out uh for Team USA and for you in that tournament, but how how motivating was that for you to get more meaningful games? I I I said it after I just became so addicted with those those big games like that was the four nations. It felt like the whole world was watching and like just the pride from each country. like you could feel that and especially playing in Montreal versus Canada, you could just feel just you just didn’t matter if you were just hated and uh that was a pretty cool feeling. And then playing in Boston where usually, you know, I’m not the most well-liked person in that building when we play Boston and you know, same goes to Matthew that they hate him too that to feel the support and like feel it. It was insane honestly. just you felt kind of that, you know, national pride that you rep represent something bigger than yourself and which is super cool. Um, and you know what? It just I honestly learned so much from, you know, a ton from my brother just to be, you know, obviously I learned from him just what he says and his experiences, but to be able to share it and like being in the same locker room as him. Like I learned so much of how great of a leader he is and and honestly like everybody in that room I learned something different from cuz at the end of the day they’re captains, assistant captains of their own teams and you know there’s like 10 12 guys speaking up all the time. And so I thought that was super cool to be a part of and and uh no and it kind of same goes the mindset of playoffs is just you know we were down one nothing three out of the four games just about you know believing and sticking to it and just knowing that if we just play the way that we need to play that we’re going to win this game and you know had that belief right from game one right through the finals that I really thought we’re going to win that uh that tournament but I think it’s going to set up the you know the Olympics to be a mustsea event and know everybody’s going to have all their eyes on that. Yeah. What a what a tournament that was just for growing the game. I mean, hell, you were on like some of the most popular sports podcasts that really don’t talk often about hockey. So, even just to have that recognition, whether it was with the Kelsey brothers or Pardon My Take, all those guys are now talking about the game, leading their show with it, I mean, just that Pat McAfee, another one who just kind of what he says, the public in the United States will turn their focus to that. So, for it to be hockey is unreal. And you mentioned the Olympics. We might have to set some rules though cuz Germany and the United States are in the same pool. We’re going to have to have a no contact on Timmy rule. Are you okay with that? I I don’t I don’t know if we can agree to any of that. So, no, it’s Hey, it’s Hey, we’re teammates or buddies when we’re in Ottawa, but once that time comes, it’s I know he’s going to have the same feeling. There’s there’s no friends out there. There’s there’s no there’s no teammates. It’s it’s it’s game on. It’s It’s country verse country. And how about this? At least don’t drop the gloves with Timmy off the first face off. Can we at least agree to that? No. I I would never do that to him. He’s He’d be He’d be waking up in the hospital the next day. I hope he sees that. I just be chirping. Oh man. Uh man, speaking of Timmy, I actually wanted to ask you if he shot the puck, would he get a thousand points in a season? Like how do we get him to shoot the puck more next year? I mean, it’s just he’s I mean, he’s already such a great player that I feel like it’s it’s been harped on, I guess, and he’s even said like, “Oh, I got to work on my shot.” Like, you’ve got a nasty shot. Like, yeah. And just and he he already knows like he’s he’s his biggest critic and he’s the one who pushes himself as as you know, great as I’ve ever seen. And uh he just wants to get better. I think that’s radiating into our group that a player that good that he just wants to continue to find ways to get better and know I expect uh and I know he he’s going to just have a whole another level to his game and and I’m just so excited to be a part of it and uh be able to learn and grow with him as well. I actually want to get your take on this too because I found it hilarious. Everyone who watches Tim play throughout the season know that knows that despite being a quote unquote skill guy, like he’s got snarl to his game, he’ll finish hits. And I saw after game one, I think he had eight hits in the first game. And I was listening to some Toronto media and they’re saying he was being too physical and that it was hurting his game. What would be your response to that? Probably haven’t played the game in the in this type of setting before. So, I mean, I get it. People want to, you know, hear themselves and and hear their takes on things, and that’s what’s great about it. Everybody’s um able to say what they think and have their own opinions and stuff, but at the end of the day, the guys that really know what goes on, the guys that that play and all the rumors and all the kind of the crazy articles is that, you know, nobody really knows what they’re talking about unless they’re in the room playing the game and actually played the game before. So Brady, that’s actually where we have a good niche because we’re wrong most of the time and we’re right. No. Okay, that I’m putting that with Dean Brown saying rocks, you always know the right answer. I’m going to have a little a little um uh document file of of everyone telling me that I’m right. But no, if we’re wrong all the time, when we’re right, then all of a sudden it’s like, whoa, these guys actually got it right. So that’s how we’ve kind of beaten the system there. But doesn’t it as a guy on the bench when your skill guys are throwing the body, doesn’t that kind of send an even bigger spark through the team? Oh yeah. Like even like not just not just skill guys, but it’s like it’s guys you wouldn’t really expect to like like for me it’s like obviously you have guys who are physical and and throw hits, but like when I see like Timmy and like even G hit and just like knock a guy down, I’m like, “Oh, here we go.” Like I got to get my game going. like if I got to match these guys. So, and like even Drake like some of the time like where he just is on the for check and he just runs a guy right through the glass. I’m like, “Oh, I I just I love it. I like obviously I love it, but just it’s so great to see like when guys that I want to say usually don’t do it, but know do it.” And as you could see in playoffs, everybody was doing it. So, that was pretty pretty fun. Uh know first couple shifts to game one and game two that everybody was just running around. Yeah. True or false? The best hit in the playoffs was Cleven’s reverse hit on the forch check. Oh, that was that was nuts. I would have been choked if he if he did that to me. I’m just skating by him and all of a sudden you just get the the name bar right in your jibs. That’d be awful. Well, we heard from we had him on way back when he was at North Dakota for the first time and and his dad actually sent me a photo of his childhood bedroom. It just has a big photo of Nicholas Cronwall with the title Cronwald. So, he’s been learning that for years. Oh, yeah. He’s he’s a unit. So when he uses his frame, he’s he is a very tough guy to play against. Who do you think whether it was in the playoffs elevating or who do you think the most underrated less talked about than they should guy on your team? Unsung hero. Yeah, I mean there’s just so many guys like um it’s it’s hard to really pinpoint know one individual guy. Uh there’s just a lot of guys that elevated at the right time. Um and just it’s just hard to pinpoint because obviously everybody, you know, was a part of getting back in that series and trying to make it, you know, trying to bring it to seven. So I I don’t really know if there’s an individual that stuck out as an unsung hero. I just think our group was I was just super proud of the the way we were able to, you know, make it a more interesting series that than it could have been. Bad question, good answer. Pillsy, you’re um you got to be a part of the Amazon Prime documentary this year and um obviously one of those games where they were following you around was the Calgary game. I got to see you there. I was live at that game when you get a couple stitches and some chicklets uh falling out there and you still come back and score the game winner. What was that experience like being a part of that documentary and h like how involved are they? Are they literally following you around all day? No, they’re they’re they’re great. You know, Daniel, who’s the the producer kind of following me around, he’s, you know, such a great guy. And, you know, there’s different times like they came probably four times. Um, and then they’re there for Nations. They’re there kind of in the background of playoffs. But the four times they’re there, the regular season, they’re just, you know, sometimes they’re filming my, you know, off ice routine or they filmed at home with, you know, Emma and Ryder. They we went to Iceland there and and did kind of like a skate with with Ryder and just kind of a bunch of different activities that was great. And they’re not as invasive as, you know, people think like honestly what I was so not I was so shocked with is like, you know, fornations and playoffs. there’s like there’s so many cameras in the room for like the before the game, you know, just for a brief instinct in between periods like there’s there’s cameras everywhere and I was like I was kind of like what is going on right now. was kind of like, okay, like Four Nations especially, there’s cameras everywhere. And which was really neat because they, you know, there’s going to be some good footage of, you know, Amazon and and the players that were a part of Amazon at Four Nations that you’re going to get some really good insights and uh no looks that and I’m assuming the same thing with playoffs. So, I I I was more shocked at that of anything because I’ve never experienced uh anything like that. Yeah, it’s super cool. And I think it was like the day that they announced that you were going to that you were the first person that they announced and then the Calgary game happened and we’re like, “Yeah, that’s made for TV stuff right there.” During a winning streak as well. Yeah, that was uh that Calgary was was something special. It’s that’s that was probably the worst feeling I’ve just I was I couldn’t eat up until Christmas because that was a couple days before I was just I was on the struggle bus. So that was that was a fun Christmas where I was talking like Ted to to everybody over Christmas break just so that was that was a neat experience. Big smoothie guy, eh? Oh, it was it was honestly it was oatmeal and smoothies for the next I I think I had sushi too. I was like this is this is a grind because I already had in my mind we’re in Vancouver. I’m like you know what? I’m going to have some sushi for dinner and I couldn’t eat anything else. Miku right downtown. Is that the spot? So sick. Oh yeah. Oh unbeliev. I go there every time. Uh or I either have an Uber Eat straight to, you know, Quinn Hughes’s apartment. So, that’s usually my go-to. Hell yeah. They got one in Toronto, too. That’s the one I know more. It’s It’s such a sick spot. Yeah, that place is legit. Yeah. Uh Brady, this has been awesome. We always appreciate you taking time uh to chat with us, especially in your off season. So, I got a final question. What’s your go-to pregame Starbucks order? We always see uh guys coming in with their coffees, with their Starbucks. So, what’s what’s your do you have only one and you stick to it or you mix it up or how does that go? I usually, you know what, I think this year I mix it up a little bit. I mean, I always have my water with me, but uh honestly, I didn’t really have many Starbucks in the past. I would have no iced green tea um like the big So, it’s just something different. Um now I’m starting to get coffee because that’s the only way I can grind it out with the old little man now. So, I don’t know. I I might be dabbling some more cold brews, coffees, and and uh just figuring it out. Just seeing what works for me. Dude, I tried a Venti today in honor of this interview, and I don’t know how you chug that whole thing. I’m a grande guy. I’m a medium guy. I was I was Trena at one point. I had I had the big boys. Oh, yeah. Ice. Because I knew once I was drinking the ice cream tea, I’m like, well, I’m for sure hydrated. So, I never even heard of that. Yeah. I was Oh, yeah. There’s it’s special. Wow. Uh I got a few quick hitters uh for you here to wrap it up and again we really do appreciate but before that I mean we’d be remiss not to ask you about the offseason moves that the team made. One being Lars Zeller who I know played a little bit with your old man in St. Louis way back when seems like a common occurrence now. Back-to-back offseasons. David Baron coming in last year, Larseller this season. You guys add Jordan Spence at the draft. So a couple NHL bodies coming in. you draft another cornfed Midwestern American boy and Logan Hensler. What What were your thoughts as you saw everything move? Obviously starting wasn’t quite Lenus Allar at game seven of the cup final with the move, but getting the deal done with G, I’m sure started things off really nice uh feeling around the team. Yeah, I mean I just think that, you know, I think we have so much depth that, you know, I think top to bottom that with the additions and and with, you know, G resigning and and Kousy, too. It’s that know we’re a deep team and I think, you know, us young guys that we’re just going to continue to get better and, you know, even the older guys that just they’re so valuable in their experience and and able, you know, for me to just learn from them and and they’re all still really effective players. So, I think we have a great gel of of uh know a group and I’m really excited to meet, you know, Lars and Spence and uh and uh know just know share this experience with them and do something special with them. Yeah, it’s awesome, man. Everyone was pretty fired up how things went down at the draft. Trading back and then still getting the same player, but also getting an NHL player with the extra pick. Feels like you guys have to have a ton of confidence right now with Stoos and what the management sees you guys need to move forward. Yeah, and I also didn’t touch on it. It was it was a great, you know, selection and and uh no, great draft overall. I I’ve, you know, been talking to, you know, whether it was Steve or or just people kind of around that uh you know, know these kids are great players and and this the Senler, I love that nickname. So, I uh I think he’s going to be a great player for us. I think, you know, from the kind of the clips I’ve seen, he’s just such a great defenseman and the fact that his player model is Jake Sanderson is that I know we’re going to be in some good hands. So, um, no, I was fired up to see that. No doubt. Will we, uh, like Pillsy said, we appreciate your time. Last couple quick ones. What the hell are you saying to yourself during the anthem? I can’t tell you guys. It’s It’s I told Ross he wasn’t gonna give it away. That’s Yeah, I’m not I’m not giving away. I just say it’s something that even when I have a mic on, I don’t even I just kind of say it in my head because I don’t want anybody to know cuz it’s some outrageous Is that you turning into the animal you kept referencing? I I I think that helps the transition. Nice. So, what animal we are we had a full argument on this show? This is the kind of really hard-hitting journalism we do. What animal we think you’re trying to be? So, who do you got? What animal do you guys think? I’m I’m I think we settled on a moose. Yeah. All right. I try to be honestly like a I know this is a crazy answer, but either a lion or or just like a nice stallion. Just the seven horse. The seven horse is humming today. Uh you might need a bit more hair for both. I know. I’m not as shredded as as a moose, though. Oh, that’s awesome. Final final one. We talked about all time Senators franchise history. What all-time record do you think you have a better chance at? Alfie’s point total of,18 or Chris Neil’s penalty minute total of 2,522? Those are two very high numbers that uh we’ll have to wait and see. Obviously, those there’s always goals and um in mind, but at the end of the day, it’s you know, I think all that matters is winning the Stanley Cup. All right. Well, that’s something neither of those guys accomplished. They got real close in 2007 and we’re going to be with you riding every step of the way. Brady Kachchuck unlocked on centers. By the way, recurring guest means you have to come on whenever we ask now. So, you’re basically going to be a third co-host. Unfortunately, unpaid unpaid position. All good. I’m happy to happy to share that with you guys. I appreciate it. Hey, enjoy the rest of your summer, man. Thanks for doing this and I can’t wait to see you at camp ready to rock and roll and build off of a phenomenal last season. I appreciate it, guys. Thanks for having me and uh we’ll talk to you guys soon. Stick taps to Brady for joining us. Always love having his insight, passion, and determination on the show. He’s already turning the page to next year, eh? Yeah, I mean, he’s looking for big things. And man, having that taste of meaningful games in the Four Nations faceoff and then having the taste of playoff hockey, six games up against the Toronto Make Beliefs, those little amuse bouches, Ross, are going to make him a lot more hungrier for the full entree this season. I think we’re going to see Brady Kachchuck elevate to 88 points next season, which would be a careerhigh. Okay. It would also elevate him to fourth all time in Sen’s history in points. Right now, he’s in sixth. There’s Wade Redden, who’s within striking distance. He’s going to be gone by the end of October down the rankings. And then it’s Alexi Yashen, who currently sits in fourth place with 491 points. Brady’s only six away from tying Wade Redden for fifth. And if he does get to that 88 point plateau or when he does cuz he will do it only Eric Carlson, Jason Spettzson, Daniel Alfredson will have more points as an Ottawa senator. And oh yeah, Brady Kachchuck is turning 26 years old in September. So already a legendary Ottawa senator and he has an opportunity over the next 10 to 12 years to become a franchise icon that lives on forever. So, I just feel like as with him at the helm, with the way that he speaks about and then shows up, he says, “We’re coming back to Ottawa. They came back to Ottawa. It’s his house.” As you see in a lot of his celebrations, he takes, I think, a lot of pride in representing the city and I think that’s why he’s an easy guy to root for. So, hope you enjoyed that conversation with Brady. We’ll be sure to catch up with him again hopefully before training camp or during training camp when the Senators are getting set for their season. Next week we’re going to find out the Senators schedules. So that’ll be fun to check in on. And as Psey mentioned earlier in the show, we will have shows on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next week. It’s going to be a goalie friendly week. We’ll leave it at that for today. Have a great weekend everyone. We’ll chat with you on Monday. For Brandon Pillar, I’m Ross Levitan. This has been another edition of the Locked On Senators podcast. Your team every day.

What an amazing way to end off our full-time season than an interview with Ottawa Senators captain: Brady Tkachuk!

Brandon Piller and Ross Levitan are pleased to welcome Brady back onto the show! He tells us about his off-season so far, how motivating it was to play in the Four Nations Face-Off, his emotions playing in his first NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series and looking forward to getting back to action with the team next season!

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