Florida wasted no time after landing Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, posting “Brady Tkachuk is a Florida Panther” on X. The trade became official Sunday: Ottawa sent Tkachuk to the Panthers for NHL Draft picks No. 9, No. 25, a conditional first-rounder in 2029, and
On Sunday, the Brady Tkachuk trade finally became real — and Florida’s reaction was almost comically simple.
The Ottawa Senators traded left wing Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for the No. 9 and the No. 25 picks in this week’s NHL Draft, along with a conditional first-round pick in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027.
The move ended a situation that had been discussed for several weeks. Tkachuk made it clear he didn’t see a future with the Senators, and that message pushed the front office to ship him out.
It also means Florida is taking in a star with plenty still left on the clock. Tkachuk, 26, has two seasons remaining on a seven-year contract worth $57.5 million.
The transition, at least on the ice, shouldn’t be difficult. The Panthers will get the younger brother into a lineup where his older brother, Matthew Tkachuk, is already part of the group.
Florida’s own message on X was exactly six words: “Brady Tkachuk is a Florida Panther.”
That straightforward caption moved fast. The post had garnered over 361,000 views as of the time of writing, sparking a surge of reactions from fans who didn’t all see the same upside — or the same risk.
Some comments landed on frustration. One user called Tkachuk “Possibly the most overrated player in the NHL. But congrats,” while another said Florida is “The most exciting team and also the most hated team in the league next season.”
Others leaned into the rivalry angle, writing that “The league is gonna love pounding the crap out of these guys.” Another added a pointed reference to Jordan Staal, suggesting: “Tell him to remember to wish his daddy Jordan Staal a Happy Father’s Day.”
Even the idea of chaos found its way into the thread. “I predict a Florida bench brawl next season. Just their bench,” one commenter wrote.
Behind the social media noise, the Panthers’ pitch was clear. General manager Bill Zito said he was thrilled to add Tkachuk, calling him a “dynamic competitor,” as quoted by the NHL.
Zito added: “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. We’re thrilled to welcome Brady to South Florida to join our group as we continue our pursuit of championship hockey.”
For Tkachuk, this comes after a season that showed up on the scoresheet in a big way. He tallied 22 points and 37 assists in 60 games this season.
And for the Senators, the timing lands with additional sting. Ottawa was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
In a single week, Florida went from speculation to certainty — and from uncertainty to a viral six-word announcement that already has fans arguing about what happens next.
Brady Tkachuk Florida Panthers Ottawa Senators NHL trade NHL Draft picks Matthew Tkachuk Bill Zito X post viral
six words huh wow
I mean good for Florida but 57.5 million for 2 seasons left??? that seems like a lot like they’re buying the hype. Also why are people mad already, it’s not even played yet.
“most hated team”?? lol Panthers been hated for years. I heard Brady only wanted out cause Ottawa was tanking or whatever, but then they got 9 and 25 so maybe it’s not even that bad. Conditional 2029 first round makes it sound like they’ll never actually pay for it though.
Overrated or not, trading him away and the caption is literally just his name… idk feels lazy. Like did they even negotiate properly? Also doesn’t his older brother being there mean Brady’s gonna disappear? I’m confused why everyone acts like this guarantees success.