Another former Ottawa Senators teammate has weighed in on Brady Tkachuk’s move to Florida, and this time it was Tim Stutzle who put the departure in perspective.
Speaking Friday during the NHL/NHPA European Player Media Tour in Munich, Germany, Stutzle said the Senators were caught off guard by a major change involving one of their franchise pillars.
"I feel like you’re always surprised over a big move like that," Stutzle told The Hockey News' David Alter during the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour in Munich on Friday.
He added that Ottawa will have to move forward without the player who had become one of the faces of the organization.
"Yeah, we’re going to miss him, but at the end of the day we have to focus on what’s ahead and what we have in Ottawa. We have a lot of guys who love being in Ottawa - and I’m sure he did too. It was just time for him to move on and we’ve got to accept that."
Tkachuk’s run in Ottawa was a long one. The Senators took him fourth overall in the 2018 NHL draft, and he went on to spend eight seasons with the club, including five as an assistant captain. Over 572 games, he piled up 213 goals and 473 points, both marks that stand alone atop the Senators since his debut.
Ottawa shipped Tkachuk to Florida on June 21 in a deal that brought back the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the 2026 NHL draft, a conditional first-round pick in the 2029 NHL draft, and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL draft. The Senators later sent the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks for forward William Eklund and used the No. 25 selection on Jonas Lgerberg-Hoen.
The reaction around the team was immediate. Teammates and fans were stunned, though some, including Stutzle, were quick to speak publicly about what Tkachuk meant to the room and to the franchise.
"I want to thank 'Chucky' for what he’s done for me, for my teammates," said Stutzle. "He took me in when I was younger and did everything in a possible way to make me feel welcome and he was always a good teammate and obviously a really, really good player."
The Senators are trying to stay in the playoff mix in a loaded Atlantic Division, but losing Tkachuk is a heavy hit. Ottawa is banking on additions like Eklund and Andre Burakovsky, along with the arrival of some of its younger players, to help keep the team competitive.
Florida, meanwhile, is counting on Tkachuk to bring his physical edge, his work around the crease and his scoring touch to a roster that was hit hard by injuries last season.
For both sides, the real verdict comes later.
In Other News...
Flames Face A Real Morgan Frost Decision Before His Price Climbs
Morgan Frosts future in Calgary is already drawing attention because he is a pending unrestricted free agent after the season, and that usually means the clock starts ticking earlier than most teams would like. For a player who could also become a trade target, the Flames are facing the familiar dilemma of deciding whether to lock in a young forward now or let the market, and his next stretch of play, push the price higher.
Around the league, teams are already keeping an eye on roster openings of their own, including Floridas need for forward depth while Brad Marchand recovers from surgery. Patrik Laine has surfaced as one possible name in that mix, though any path to camp could require a professional tryout, and there is also a chance the Panthers take a longer look at Sandis Vilmanis in a bottom-six role. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Prospects Just Earned A Credibility Boost Fans Should Notice
The Panthers got a little more outside validation for their prospect pool this week, as The Athletic slotted Sandis Vilmanis and Simas Ignatavicius among the NHLs best players under 23, placing both in the middle-six winger category. For a Florida system that has leaned heavily on development, getting two young forwards mentioned in that company is the kind of recognition that can matter later, especially when the organization is always looking for affordable scoring help to keep the roster balanced.
The same piece also dug back into Jaromir Jagrs memorable run in Florida, a reminder of how much value the Panthers have gotten from wings who can stretch an offense without needing top-line usage. Around the league, there were other roster notes too, with Detroit acquiring Sutter Muzzatti from Nashville and the Rangers bringing back Scott Morrow, but the Florida angle is the one worth filing away. If these prospects keep trending the way evaluators now see them, the Panthers may have more wing depth on the way than the broader market has been assuming. [Read more 🡒]