Brady Tkachuk prepares for first Ottawa game since trade to Florida
The former Senators captain says leaving Ottawa was his decision and that the reception he receives on Wednesday will not change how he feels about the city and its fans.
Brady Tkachuk is set to return to Ottawa with the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, October 21, for his first game against the Senators since his June trade. The 7:30 p.m. ET matchup brings the former Ottawa captain back before the fans he represented for eight seasons, with their reception still uncertain.
Tkachuk said he did not know what emotions to expect when he stepped onto the ice or how Ottawa supporters would respond. ‘I know how I feel about this city, about this fanbase,’ he said, according to The Canadian Press. ‘And no matter what the reaction’s going to be, it’s not going to change how I feel about this city and this fanbase.’
Why Tkachuk left the Senators
The 27-year-old spent five seasons as Senators captain before moving to Florida, where he joined his older brother, Matthew. Ottawa owner Michael Andlauer had suggested that Matthew and their father, Keith, influenced Brady Tkachuk’s request for a trade. Tkachuk disputed that account, saying the decision to leave was entirely his own. He described the reasons as personal and professional but said he would keep the details private.
Tkachuk left Ottawa with 213 goals in 572 games, according to ESPN. His first visit back comes less than three weeks into his first season with the Panthers. The move also reunited him with Matthew, with whom he played for the United States at the Olympic Games in February, according to The Canadian Press.
Former teammates anticipate an emotional game
Ottawa forward Drake Batherson told ESPN he planned to have dinner with Tkachuk before the game. Batherson said their friendship would not change because Tkachuk chose to play elsewhere. Another Senators forward, Nick Cousins, told ESPN that the team had not discussed Tkachuk much, though he expected the occasion to be emotional for him.
Tkachuk called the return a once-in-a-lifetime moment and said he hoped both sides could move forward afterward, according to The Canadian Press. He also spoke of the support that Ottawa fans gave him and his family during his years with the Senators. Tkachuk told Matthew on their podcast that if fans threw his old No. 7 jerseys onto the ice, he would have them donated to the Boys and Girls Club in Ottawa, ESPN reported.
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Sources and context
- How Brady Tkachuk (and the Senators) are preparing for his Ottawa returnESPN
- Tkachuk braces for emotional return to Ottawa - Ottawa | Globalnews.caThe Canadian Press, republished by Global News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.