The Ottawa Senators traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers on Sunday. The Father’s Day deal sends the 26-year-old winger to Florida in exchange for four draft picks, including three first-round selections. The move concludes Tkachuk’s tenure in Ottawa after he informed General Manager Steve Staios during post-season exit meetings that he would not sign an extension when his current deal expires in July 2028.
Florida sent Ottawa the No. 9 and No. 25 overall picks in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in 2029, and a 2030 second-round pick. Tkachuk has two years remaining on his seven-year, $57.5 million contract. The deal carries an $8.21 million average annual value, according to the official NHL trade details. The Panthers finalized the acquisition to rebound from missing the playoffs this year, following their consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025.
Tkachuk utilized his full no-move clause to control the trade process, limiting Ottawa to four approved destinations. The Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, and Minnesota Wild were the other franchises on his list, as reported by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. By waiving the clause for Florida, the winger reunites with his older brother, Matthew Tkachuk. The siblings recently played together to help Team USA win a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The Senators reached the playoffs the past two seasons but were swept by Carolina in the first round this year, a series where Tkachuk recorded zero points.