In a significant summer move, the Florida Panthers have finalized a blockbuster deal with the Ottawa Senators, acquiring forward Brady Tkachuk. This trade pairs Brady with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, who has made his mark in Florida over the last four seasons, including winning two Stanley Cups and reaching the final three times.
As part of the deal announced on Sunday night, Florida sent four draft picks to Ottawa. The package includes the No. 9 pick from this year's NHL Entry Draft, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick for this year (which the Panthers had obtained earlier on the same day by trading Mackie Samoskevich to Seattle), as well as Florida’s second-round pick in 2027 and a top 10-protected first-round pick in 2029.
This acquisition allows the Panthers to enhance their forward lineup with an elite player while retaining all of their top seven scorers from the previous season. Panthers hockey operations president and general manager Bill Zito expressed his excitement, stating, "Brady is a dynamic competitor and one of the most physical and relentless forwards in the league. A proven leader and exactly the type of player we want in our locker room, he strives to make everyone around him better both on and off the ice." Zito added, “We’re thrilled to welcome Brady to South Florida to join our group as we continue our pursuit of championship hockey.”
Brady Tkachuk, who has dedicated his entire eight-year NHL career to the Senators, will now play alongside his brother and Olympic teammate in Florida. Brady, 24, has two seasons remaining on the seven-year, US$57.56 million contract he signed in October 2021, at which time he became the captain of the Senators. Earlier this year, he expressed frustration over being mentioned in trade rumors following Ottawa's early playoff exit.
Senators general manager Steve Staios acknowledged the weight of this decision, stating, “This was not a decision we took lightly, but ultimately we did what we felt was best for the long-term future of our hockey club. We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster.” This concerted effort to rebuild will enable Ottawa to strategize for an improved future.
The Tkachuk brothers have enjoyed notable success playing together for USA Hockey, earning silver at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and gold in the Milan Cortina Olympics, marking the first Olympic victory for American men’s hockey since the famed "Miracle on Ice" in 1980. Their familial ties run deep, with their parents, NHL legend Keith Tkachuk and his wife, residing in Florida and frequently attending Panthers games. Additionally, Brady already has established relationships with various members of the Florida organization, some of whom he worked with during his international play.
During his time in Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk emerged as a key figure and leader. He ranked first among Senators players in multiple categories, including goals (213), points (463), power-play goals (62), shots (2,202), hits (1,921), winning goals (28), multigoal games (30), and penalty minutes (821). He was originally selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Now, four years after successfully acquiring Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers have reinforced their strategy by bringing another valuable member of the Tkachuk family into the fold. Alongside other key players such as Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, and Gustav Forsling, who have all been instrumental in recent successes, Brady Tkachuk could be poised for a promising future, potentially leading him to a championship title with the Panthers.
