Ottawa Senators President and General Manager Steve Staios announced on Monday that team captain Brady Tkachuk had requested a trade, although the reason behind his decision was not disclosed. The Senators have completed a trade with the Florida Panthers, sending Tkachuk in exchange for four draft picks. Tkachuk will be joining his brother Matthew on the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida.
Staios revealed that Tkachuk had made the trade request around 10 days after the end of the Senators’ season, and emphasized that the team is focused on moving forward without taking a step back. While Staios did not elaborate on the specifics of Tkachuk’s request, he mentioned noticing certain changes in the captain’s demeanor over the past season, which led to the decision.
The trade marks the end of Tkachuk’s eight-season tenure with Ottawa, during which he scored 213 goals in 572 games and played a pivotal role in the team’s playoff appearances in 2025 and 2026. Staios expressed gratitude towards Tkachuk for his contributions both on and off the ice.
In return for Tkachuk, the Senators will receive several draft picks, including the ninth pick in the upcoming entry draft, Tampa Bay’s 25th-overall pick this year, the Panthers’ second-round pick in 2027, and a top 10-protected first-round pick in 2029. Staios mentioned the team’s openness to potential trades involving these picks, highlighting their commitment to enhancing the team’s roster.
Despite the loss of Tkachuk, Ottawa remains focused on strengthening its core players like Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson as they strive to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The trade also provides the team with additional salary cap flexibility to explore further roster improvements.