Brady Tkachuk’s trade sent shockwaves through the Ottawa Senators’ locker room and left veteran forward Claude Giroux stunned.
Tkachuk was only 26 years old, the Senators’ captain, and the face of the franchise. For many around the team, the idea of Ottawa trading him seemed almost impossible.
Claude Giroux Reacts to Brady Tkachuk’s Trade
The Senators eventually sent Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in a blockbuster trade that reunited him with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk. In return, Ottawa received a significant package that included the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and a conditional 2029 first-round selection.
Speaking after signing a one-year, $2 million extension with the Senators, Giroux admitted that he never expected Tkachuk to leave Ottawa.
“You just don’t think that that’s going to happen,” Giroux said. “Brady was captain here. He was great in the community, he did a lot for this community and you just don’t think that kind of trade would happen. Obviously it did.”
Giroux’s comments showed just how shocking the move was inside the Senators’ organization.
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics played a major role in putting the wheels in motion.
Brady and Matthew Tkachuk helped Team USA win its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years. Playing together on the international stage also made the possibility of becoming NHL teammates seem far more realistic.
The brothers later discussed the experience on their Wingmen podcast, explaining that sharing a locker room during the Olympics changed the way they viewed the idea of playing together.
What had once seemed like a distant dream suddenly became something Brady genuinely wanted to pursue.
As the offseason went on, the uncertainty surrounding Tkachuk’s future became harder for everyone to deal with. With the captain asking for a trade, moving him eventually became the best option for both the Senators and the player.
Giroux’s teammate Shane Pinto also admitted that the trade caught the Senators by surprise. “Took everyone kinda by surprise. He’s been such a big part of this organization; obviously the face of it. He’s obviously one of my good buds too, so to see him go, it sucks. I think he just wanted to go down a different path and I totally understand that,” Pinto said.
The reactions from Giroux and Pinto show just how unexpected Tkachuk’s departure was.
He was not only Ottawa’s captain but also the face of the franchise, making the trade difficult for both his teammates and the fanbase to accept.
Tkachuk’s desire to play with his brother and Ottawa’s need to end the uncertainty ultimately made the trade the best outcome for both sides.
