Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stutzle offered a straightforward explanation for skipping dinner with Brady Tkachuk ahead of the latter's return to Canadian Tire Centre as a member of the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night.

“I haven't seen him,” Stutzle told reporters following Ottawa's morning skate. “I mean, I have a chef at home, so I didn't go for dinner. Yeah, but I didn't see him.”

“I have a chef at home.”

Tim Stützle had a simple answer for skipping dinner with Brady Tkachuk last night. pic.twitter.com/YlOvB3BPCH

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) October 21, 2026

Tkachuk, who spent eight seasons with the Senators, requested a trade earlier this year. While Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson were among the players willing to meet their former teammate for dinner, Stutzle and Thomas Chabot have previously expressed frustration surrounding his exit.

Selected fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, Tkachuk spent five seasons as Ottawa's captain and helped the franchise reach the playoffs in 2025, ending a seven-year postseason drought. However, tensions developed during his final season, with criticism surrounding his family's “Wingmen” podcast and his attendance at a White House celebration following the United States men's Olympic gold medal.

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Trade speculation intensified toward the end of the campaign. Tkachuk acknowledged the rumours during the Senators season-ending press conference in April, maintaining that he remained committed to the team. However, less than two months later, he was traded to Florida.

Despite the anticipation surrounding Tkachuk's return, Stutzle insisted that securing two points was what mattered most. The matchup is expected to generate a hostile reception from Ottawa supporters, with hundreds of tickets still unsold ahead of the game.

The Panthers entered Wednesday's contest with a 5-2-2 record and a three-game winning streak. Tkachuk earned the NHL's first star of the week after recording natural hat tricks in consecutive games. The Senators, meanwhile, sit at 6-3-0 following a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.