Ottawa Senators Trade Brady Tkachuk To Florida Panthers

The trade sends Brady to play with his brother Matthew in South Florida.

Heading back to the Senators in the trade are multiple first- and second-round draft picks. Florida will send Ottawa both of its first-round picks (9th and 25th) in 2026, a 2029 Top 10-protected first, and a 2027 second-round pick. 

"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," Ottawa general manager Steve Staios said when announcing the deal. "We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster."

On the other side of things, Panthers general manager Bill Zito praised Brady Tkachuk's skill as a forward and his leadership ability.

"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 said. "We're thrilled to welcome Brady to South Florida to join our group as we continue our pursuit of championship hockey."

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Brady Tkachuk heads to Florida after spending eight seasons in Ottawa. During his time in Canada’s capital, Brady Tkachuk had 463 points in 572 games. He also led the the team to the playoffs the last two seasons, though they failed to get out of the first round eacha time.

After losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, many questioned whether Brady Tkachuk would remain with Ottawa. When posed with the question during locker cleanout, the 26-year-old called questions on his future “frustrating.”

“I’ve never said (that I want to be traded), teams never said it, I’ve always believed in this team, I’ve always believed in playing for this city, and the city’s always been good for me,” Brady Tkachuk said in late April. 

“I don’t know what else to say other than what I’ve said countless times, but I still have to answer to it. A lot of that stuff has never come from my mouth.”

Two months later, Brady Tkachuk is heading to a new team. 

According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, it wasn’t just Florida that Ottawa spoke with. In a post after the trade, LeBrun said the Senators had talks with Vegas, Carolina, and Minnesota. Ultimately, Brady Tkachuk, who had a full no movement clause in his contract, made the decision to go to the Panthers.

He’s under contract until 2028.