Who will be the Senators' next captain after Tkachuk trade?

“But I think the team is on a great path. I love playing here; I love playing with these guys. I think we have something really good going and I think we’re going to be good for a long time.” Could he handle the added pressure? Stutzle was beyond frustrated against the Hurricanes, having only one assist in the series and being partly responsible for the power play going 1-for-21.

The anger seemed to overwhelm him and creep into his game. Would wearing the ‘C’ turn out to be a detriment to his play or is he ready? Jake Sanderson There’s one particularly valid concern here: Franchises unable to take the next step have been losing their American captains and stars at an alarming rate the past year. Around the same time that Tkachuk bailed on all he had help build in Ottawa, it was Dylan Larkin requesting a trade out of Detroit.

Only months ago, the Quinn Hughes era ended in Vancouver. It looks like Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck will be next and potentially even Zach Werenski in Columbus. Sanderson, a Montana native, was part of the same U.S. men’s national hockey team that Tkachuk, Hughes, Larkin, Hellebuyck and Werenski helped win gold at the Milano-Cortina Olympics.