Senators trade captain Tkachuk to Florida Panthers
Brady Tkachuk heads to the Panthers for three first-round picks and a second-round selection, ending his time as Ottawa's captain.
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The Ottawa Senators have traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, the club announced Sunday afternoon. In return, Ottawa receives three first-round picks — the No. 9 and No. 25 selections this year, plus a pick in 2029 — and a second-round pick in 2030.
Tkachuk had indicated to the Senators he did not plan to re-sign after his contract expired, prompting president of hockey operations Steve Staios to deal him rather than lose him for nothing. The move allows Tkachuk to play alongside his brother Matthew in Florida.
The trade comes despite Staios previously stating publicly that he had no intention of trading the captain. Tkachuk had two years remaining on a deal paying just over $8.25 million U.S. per season and held a full no-move clause, giving him complete control over his destination. The Minnesota Wild made a competitive push to acquire him, but Staios opted to maximize asset value instead.
Statios had explored acquiring return players from the Panthers — including Carter Verhaghe and Anton Sledell — but those negotiations did not materialize. The only other options presented were the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.