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Brady Tkachuk: The NHL offseason is off to a roaring start.
The Florida Panthers have acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators, officially uniting him with his brother Matthew in South Florida.
Ottawa received three first-round picks and a second-round pick in the deal. The trade was announced Sunday, just days before the 2026 NHL Draft.
The Senators secured the ninth and 25th overall picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round selection in 2027. It is one of the most significant trades in recent NHL memory.
Brady, 26, posted 59 points on 22 goals and 37 assists across 60 regular-season games with Ottawa this past season.
Despite the strong regular season, he went pointless in four playoff games as the Senators were swept by the Cup-champion Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
Florida's decision to pull the trigger now was driven by uncertainty over Brady's future in Ottawa.
There was growing indication that Brady might not be willing to re-sign with the Senators beyond his current deal, prompting Ottawa to facilitate the trade rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.
Brady is in the sixth season of a seven-year, $57.5 million contract carrying an annual cap hit of $8.21 million, with unrestricted free agency set for after the 2027–28 campaign.
Ottawa's general manager made clear the move was about the franchise's long-term direction.
"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," said GM Steve Staios.
"We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster."
Florida GM Bill Zito was equally enthusiastic about the acquisition. "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," Zito said.
The Panthers missed the playoffs this season after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, but with a full roster expected to return in 2026–27, the team is positioning itself for another championship run.
The brothers already share a strong on-ice connection. They are teammates on the U.S. national team and co-host a podcast together called "Wingmen."
Both helped the United States capture gold at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics earlier this season.
Reports also indicate Ottawa has its sights set on reinvesting its new assets aggressively.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Senators are expected to make a strong push for Dallas Stars restricted free agent Jason Robertson as they look to convert their draft capital into established NHL talent.
Elsewhere around the league, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann signed a six-year extension with the Seattle Kraken, while Edmonton Oilers center Jason Dickinson agreed to a five-year contract extension with the club.
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