'It's become a distraction': Senators' Brady Tkachuk growing sick of trade rumors

This is another instance of Tkachuk reaffirming his commitment to the team. In February, he fielded a question about his future with the Senators after helping Team USA win a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. 

"That's not even something that's crossed my mind," he said, via Claire Hanna of TSN. "I love playing for this team, I love the guys in this room, I really believe in what we're all about, and that thought has never crossed my mind."

The thought may not be entering Tkachuk's mind, but the Senators should at least consider reevaluating their future with the forward. In the eight seasons Ottawa has rostered him, it has experienced no postseason success. During this span, the team has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs twice but has failed to advance past the first round.

Tkachuk, who has been selected to the All-Star Game three times, has yet to deliver a signature performance in the postseason for the Senators. He has just seven points (four goals and three assists) in 10 playoff games for Ottawa. In the series against Carolina, he had no points, and his plus-minus was -4 in four games.

"I don't think anybody is more frustrated with how everything went than me," he said of his less-than-stellar postseason performance.

Tkachuk added he believes he can be a big-time player in the postseason. Even if he does, the Senators may not be in a position to surround him with the supporting cast needed to hoist the Stanley Cup. Spotrac estimates Ottawa will have $18.256M in cap space this offseason, not enough to splurge in free agency.

Tkachuk wants to stop discussing the trade chatter, but it's only going to grow louder unless the Senators become a surefire Stanley Cup contender. As things stand, they aren't one, even with one of the best players in the NHL.