The Ottawa Senators are entering a new era without Brady Tkachuk. After spending eight seasons in Ottawa, including five as team captain, the Senators traded the veteran American forward to the Florida Panthers in June.

The move came after Tkachuk indicated that he wanted out. His full no-movement clause gave him considerable control over where he would go.

In a recent conversation with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Sens owner Michael Andlauer linked Brady Tkachuk's departure to the influence of his father, Keith Tkachuk, and his brother, Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.

“Blood is thicker than water, and let's just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen,” said Andlauer. “Ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother. It's a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa. And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady — even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind.”

Ottawa selected Tkachuk fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, and he became a central part of the franchise before his departure.

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In his final season with the Senators, Tkachuk recorded 22 goals and 37 assists in 60 games. He was held without a point during the playoffs as Ottawa was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes, who eventually won the Stanley Cup. During his Senators tenure, the team reached the playoffs twice.

Tkachuk also won Olympic gold with Team USA in February before leaving Ottawa for Florida.

With the captain out the door, the Sens wasted no time doubling down on its core by signing Drake Batherson to an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $10.75 million. Batherson had a career-best 33 goals and 38 assists in 79 games during the 2025-26 season.

The Senators begin their regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 3. Ottawa will face Tkachuk and the Panthers for the first time in the 2026-27 regular season on Oct. 21, when Florida visits the Canadian Tire Centre.