Brady Tkachuk Passes Dany Heatley, And Now Ready To Reel In Another Ottawa Senator Great

For those of us who've been covering the Ottawa Senators forever, it feels like Brady Tkachuk just got here. Still only 25, it's hard to believe the Sens captain is already halfway through his seventh NHL season.

That is until you start to see his name pop up among franchise leaders.

On Sunday against Utah, Tkachuk moved onto the Senators list of top-five goal scorers with the 181st of his career. And it was vintage Tkachuk, standing near the net, battling a defender for body position, and cramming home a rebound.

The goal also ended a personal ten game goal drought and Sens fans responded by chanting his name. Tkachuk appreciated the love.

"Yeah, the support as always been absolutely amazing," Tkachuk told the media after the game. "And yeah, it's been a struggle the last couple of weeks. (No) confidence whatsoever. So just to hear that, just made me feel good. I always love appreciate the support, and honestly, it meant more than they realize."

The goal now vaults Tkachuk past Dany Heatley into the Sens top five all-time and by the end of the season, barring injury, he'll move onto the Mount Rushmore of Sens goal scorers.

Marian Hossa stands at number four with 188 goals so Tkachuk needs just seven more to catch him. He'll probably move into the top five in career points as well, passing Hossa, Radek Bonk and Wade Redden.

Tkachuk's excellence and relative longevity are all over the Senators' career leaders page.

Games played: 490 (12th)
Goals: 181 (5th)
Assists: 207 (9th)
Points: 388 (8th)
PP Goals: 52 (6th)
OT Goals: 10 (1st)
PIMS: 724 (3rd)
Shots: 1882 (2nd)

Remember, the guy is only 25. What might his numbers look a decade from now?

If he stays in Ottawa long-term, Brady Tkachuk will probably fully re-write the club's record book. For now, though, he has only one goal. And that's to get all those zeroes off his playoff resume.

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