from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

Brady Tkachuk is as sick of this same old song and dance every spring as you are hearing him talk about another early summer.

As the Ottawa Senators gathered at the Canadian Tire Centre to hold exit meetings with Steve Staios, the president of hockey operations and general manager, the club’s captain was trying to come to grips with another spring of missing the playoffs.

This departure day was the most difficult to swallow because this season started with promise and hope, but ended in a disastrous fashion.

“We took a couple of steps back, it’s frustrating and it’s difficult,” Tkachuk said Wednesday. “I’m not going to lie to you, I had high hopes coming into this year and, for it not to happen, it’s pretty disappointing. I’m sad, frustrated and all the words you can use here.”

“Whether you want to be vocal or not, everybody knows I just finished year six and I haven’t done a thing,” Tkachuk said. “I haven’t played in those meaningful that I’ve imagined and the rest of the group has imagined.

“But in saying that, I have full faith and trust in Steve, the rest of management and (owner Michael) Andlauer.”

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