Florida Panthers

Brady Tkachuk Says He Didn’t Pick Florida Because of Matthew

Brady Tkachuk revealed why he chose the Florida Panthers.

by
Jackson Weber
June 23, 2026

We’re just over 36 hours removed from the blockbuster trade sending Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, and now we’re starting to hear from the man himself.

Before appearing on The Pat McAfee Show and holding his introductory press conference with the Panthers, Tkachuk joined his brother Matthew on their Wingmen podcast to open up about the stunning move.

While many assumed Brady chose Florida primarily because it gave him the chance to play alongside Matthew, he revealed on the podcast that he actually took the family connection out of the equation when making his decision. Instead, he pointed to the Panthers’ winning culture as the biggest factor.

Tkachuk said:

“I’ve always said this, if we weren’t even brothers, Florida’s always been the toughest games these past couple of years playing against them. Just the way you guys play, and then the winning background kind of shows it’s all about winning. We have guys that came from different spots, came from different teams, and have found a lot of success.

And I made this decision with taking you out of it. It wasn’t about you. You know how much I love you, but every single time, after playing you guys, it’s just like holy cow, that team is incredible and they have a chance to win every single year,”

The 26-year-old has two years remaining on the seven-year, $57,564,958 contract extension he originally signed with the Senators in 2021. He recorded 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in just 60 games last season.

It’s hard to argue with Tkachuk’s reasoning. The Panthers have, of course, won two of the last four Stanley Cups, reaching the Stanley Cup Final three times during that stretch, and their window remains wide open.

That said, it certainly doesn’t hurt that it also comes with the opportunity to play with his brother in Florida, combining to create a dream scenario for the Tkachuk family.

Next: The Larkin Trade: Red Wings Not Expected to Make Same Mistake Senators Made