Senators' Coach Travis Green 'Surprised, Mad' At Brady Tkachuk

The Ottawa Senators are entering their post-Brady Tkachuk era, one that completely caught head coach Travis Green off guard.

Green wasn't aware of Tkachuk's intentions during the season, and admitted once general manager Steve Staios got him up to speed a few weeks after the season, Green was very frustrated with his then captain. "It was probably about a month after the season, three weeks that (general manager Steve Staios) brought me up to speed, and you asked me if I was surprised? Oh man, a little bit, of course," Green recently said on the 100% Hockey Podcast, per Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "He was a big part of your team, captain of your team. When I came to Ottawa, I was really excited to coach the team, and for a lot of different reasons, there were a lot of good young players. He was one of them."

He would have been part of that reason that I came there and the progression that our team was on. I really like where it's going, and he's a big part of that. So to hear that he had asked to be traded, or he was going to be moved at some point, unfortunate is a word I probably will use a lot. I can't speak for Brady, but I was a little surprised. Would I say mad? A little bit. But also understanding that players have to make decisions, and you move on, though.

Tkachuk asked out, gave Staios a list of teams he'd approve a deal to, and the rest is history. Brady joined his brother Matthew in Florida, and now the Senators have to matchup against their former captain in the Atlantic Division.

Looking ahead, Green is confident in management's moves this summer, and feels the next chapter is going to be a very positive one for Sens Nation. "There are always changes. Much like when we have injuries, you move on, and we've lost a good player. We've gained a couple of good players," Green said. "We've got a real good young player in Eklund, and I've got a lot of faith in our group. I still think we're improving. It's going to be different with Brady not there, but that's part of the NHL. There's change all the time, and we move on, and we'll be ready to go next year."