Travis Green unleashes at Senators fans hating on captain Brady Tkachuk

Apparently, Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green has had a belly full from all the abuse being thrown at the team, but especially at team captain Brady Tkachuk.

Tkachuk's style of play was a question put to Green during a news conference Monday, one that wrought a passionate response.

Green used the opportunity to underline just how important Tkachuk is to the Senators and the city of Ottawa alike.

At times struggling to keep his cool, Green began by underlining how lucky the club is to have a player of Tkachuk's ilk.

He added that any hockey team, at whatever level of the game, would die for someone like Tkachuk.

Green then went on, though, to say Tkachuk is far from perfect, as no one in hockey, even less at the NHL level, is, but he really made it clear to people that one needs to comprehend what Tkachuk brings onto the ice and into the locker room.

Finally able to speak directly to the fans in Ottawa, Green made a point of mentioning just how much appreciation is needed, seeing as Tkachuk deserves it with all of his talent and passion.

Frustrated, he called for the critics to step back and reassess judgment. Green added he'd bank any day on having a player like Tkachuk, who wears his heart on his sleeve, instead of some player who just goes through the motions during the games.

He finished by stating it was wholly unfair criticism and, for all intents and purposes, ridiculous.