Brady Tkachuk’s first trip back to Ottawa as a Florida Panther will carry plenty of noise before the opening faceoff Wednesday, but once the puck is down, the Senators know exactly what kind of opponent they will see across the ice at Canadian Tire Centre.
Key takeaways
- The Senators host the Panthers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game available on Prime and SCRIPPS.
- Tkachuk has surged after a quiet start in Florida, posting six goals and four assists over his past four games.
- Florida brings a three-game winning streak and a 5-2-2 record into Ottawa; the Senators are 6-3-0 through nine games.
- Ottawa received three first-round picks and a 2027 second-round selection in the June 21 trade that sent its former captain to Florida.
- Former teammates expect an emotional, hard-checking Atlantic Division matchup with early playoff implications.
A reunion off the ice, then a divisional test
Several Senators planned to sit down with Tkachuk for dinner Tuesday while the Panthers were in town. There is no bitterness from the players who spent years beside him in Ottawa, even with the former captain now wearing Florida colors.
Drake Batherson entered the NHL in the same era as Tkachuk and shared the ice with him for eight seasons. Batherson said a change of address will not alter their friendship, noting that players have the right to make decisions about their careers.
That warmth will be put aside Wednesday. Florida and Ottawa are expected to be in the thick of the Atlantic Division race, making the two points more than a sentimental footnote in October. Batherson said the matchup had drawn attention since the schedule was released and that the divisional stakes will create enough competitive edge on their own.
Dylan Cozens expects the building, both benches and both clubs to bring emotion into the night. He called it a game Ottawa must be ready for and predicted a physical contest.
Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson acknowledged the unusual sight awaiting Ottawa: Tkachuk on the opposite side. The Panthers forward spent his first eight NHL seasons with the Senators after the club selected him fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. He wore the captaincy for five of those seasons and produced 213 goals, 250 assists and 473 points in 572 games.
Tkachuk requested a trade after last season, seeking the opportunity to play alongside his brother Matthew Tkachuk in Florida. Ottawa moved him on June 21 for two first-round selections in 2026, a conditional first-rounder in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027.
Tkachuk arrives in scoring form
The Panthers forward did not record a point in his first five games with Florida, but he has quickly changed that picture. Tkachuk enters his return with 10 points in four games, including back-to-back natural hat tricks.
Speaking earlier this week from Florida, Tkachuk said the return will be emotional for him and for the crowd. He said he wants to direct that energy properly, describing Ottawa as a city that helped shape him during eight memorable years.
Senators coach Travis Green said a player’s first game back in a longtime NHL home is naturally charged, particularly when that player had been captain. Green also welcomed the extra edge expected in the rink, saying certain home dates have a different feel and players enjoy those nights.
Green had signed a multiyear extension through the 2030-31 season Monday and reflected on the intensity of coaching in a Canadian market. He said the passion of the fan base is part of what makes the job special, even when it can make everyday trips for coffee or dinner more complicated during difficult stretches.
For Ottawa, the central task is no mystery. Batherson said Tkachuk remains the same dangerous, heavy player the Senators watched every day for years. The reunion will have its moments, but the Senators expect the game itself to resemble a playoff-type battle.
