During a recent appearance on the “Wingmen” podcast alongside his brother Matthew, Brady Tkachuk discussed his transition to the Florida Panthers. When asked to identify which teammate he was most eager to play with, the former Ottawa Senators captain found it difficult to choose just one, but eventually singled out Brad Marchand as his top pick.
Beyond Marchand, Tkachuk expressed excitement about joining a deep roster that includes Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, Sam Lafferty, and his brother, Matthew Tkachuk. The Florida Panthers acquired Brady in a major trade this past June, bringing him into the fold for the upcoming season.
Brady is currently signed through the 2027-28 campaign under a seven-year, $57.5 million contract, which carries an average annual value of approximately $8.21 million. His brother Matthew remains under contract with the organization through the 2029-30 season.
The move to Florida followed a period of speculation regarding Brady’s future. According to reporting by Jeremy Rutherford, the St. Louis Blues had expressed interest in acquiring the forward, but Tkachuk ultimately rejected the potential trade because he “didn’t want to come to St. Louis.” This decision was notable given the family’s deep ties to the city; both brothers grew up in the suburb of Creve Coeur, and their father, Keith Tkachuk, previously played for the Blues.
On the ice, Brady is coming off a 2025-26 season where he recorded 59 points, consisting of 22 goals and 37 assists, across 60 games for Ottawa. Throughout that season, he also focused on reducing his penalty minutes before the trade to Florida was finalized.
In other hockey news, Janet Gretzky, wife of Wayne Gretzky, recently addressed public criticism regarding her husband’s loyalty to Canada. Her comments followed a period of intense discussion surrounding the 4 Nations drama and support expressed by Bobby Orr.
