If Ottawa continues to underachieve, though, the questions will persist. The no-movement clause in Tkachuk’s contract kicks in on July 1, and it’s ultimately on the Senators to build a team that will prove Tkachuk right in committing and reaffirming his loyalty to the franchise.

Tkachuk revealed that Senators general manager Steve Staios had personally reassured him there was no validity to the rumors, which the player said "didn't even see" when they popped up following a report by Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

In response to the speculation, Senators GM Steve Staios lost no time and in an interview with Bruce Garrioch the Ottawa Citizen he strongly refuted the claims of a "blockbuster trade" being in the works involving the Rangers and Tkachuk, calling the rumors “total garbage.”

The Ottawa Senators are reportedly frustrated after Brady Tkachuk’s name surfaced in trade chatter involving the New York Rangers on Friday afternoon. According to a New York Post report, the Rangers were allegedly pursuing Tkachuk as part of a potential deal centered around defenseman Jacob Trouba.

I’m gonna be honest, it doesn’t really bother me because it’s coming from a place where obviously it’s not true,” Tkachuk told