DALLAS – Boston University left wing Brady Tkachuk was taken by the Ottawa Senators at No. 4 overall in the 2018 NHL Draft Friday night at the American Airlines Center.
Questions immediately surface as to whether the 18-year-old will return to Hockey East, turn pro, or choose another route. But he was tightlipped in that regard, instead basking in the moment he's long waited for.
“They’re run by great management with great facilities," Tkachuk said of his visit to Ottawa prior to the draft. "I was super happy leaving there and it was definitely a spot I wanted to go to."
Tkachuk was the first American off the board. He’s the son of former NHL star Keith Tkachuk (Medford, Mass.) and the younger brother of Calgary Flames star Matthew Tkachuk, the sixth overall pick in 2016.
“It feels good,” Tkachuk said when asked about having bragging rights among his family in terms of draft position. “Give it to Matthew and my dad. After today, I have to start working again.”
Tkachuk, who grew up in St. Louis, Mo., scored eight goals and added 23 assists in 40 games as a freshman for the Terriers in 2017-18. He played some of his best hockey of the year at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo. That's where he registered three goals and six assists in seven games en route to the U.S. capturing a bronze medal.
The USA Hockey NTDP alum is known for his size – 6-foot-3 and 192 pounds – and his ability to dominate the play below the dots. When he’s at his best, Tkachuk is driving the net and winning puck battles along the wall and below the goal line. His skating isn’t elite, but he has a powerful stride and is hard to knock off pucks. His speed should improve as he continues to gain lower-body strength.
"Brady has great hockey sense," said Albie O'Connell, who was promoted to head coach at BU earlier this month. "He's a true competitor. His game is still getting refined right now, but when he's 22-23, he's going to be a hard guy to deal with in the corners and in front of the net. Plus, he can make plays, he can score and he can do a little bit of everything."
Tkachuk became the third Terrier in four years to be selected in the top 10, joining Jack Eichel (Buffalo) in 2015 and Clayton Keller (Arizona) in 2016.
"It says a lot. BU has always had great players over the year," O'Connell said. "It's about building a good program and having a development model for those guys. They want to be coached the right way and it's a good academic school. It sells itself."
The Buffalo Sabres selected Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at No. 1, while the Carolina Hurricanes snagged Russian center Andrei Svechnikov out of Barrie in the OHL at No. 2.
