When former captain Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, reuniting him with his brother Matthew, it sent shockwaves through the Ottawa Senators franchise.
As much of the discussion centered on how the move would affect the locker room, Senators defenseman Jordan Spence offered an honest perspective on how the players have handled the situation.
Brady Tkachuk’s Ex-Teammate Opens Up on Former Captain’s Trade to Panthers
Tkachuk’s de facto trade request came at the end of the 2025–26 season following months of speculation about his future.
The turning point may have come during the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where Tkachuk helped Team USA capture the gold medal alongside his brother, Matthew Tkachuk. Experiencing success on hockey’s biggest stage appeared to strengthen his desire to compete for the Stanley Cup immediately.
As rumors intensified, the possibility of the brothers eventually playing together became increasingly realistic. On June 21, 2026, general manager Steve Staios granted Tkachuk’s request and completed a deal with the Florida Panthers.
Appearing on the Coming In Hot podcast, Spence admitted that seeing a player of Tkachuk’s stature leave the organization was difficult.
“It is tough. I think all the guys on our team, we have belief in each other. We really do believe that we have a good team when we play our game and play to our identity. Whenever a guy like that leaves, it does hurt. Maybe there’s other reasons why he wanted to leave, but there’s also other reasons (like) maybe not having the belief that we all have as a team,” Spence said.
Despite acknowledging the disappointment, Spence made it clear that the team has already shifted its focus toward the future.
“When it comes down to it, I think that it’s going to make us better. It’s a big loss, but, you know, we’ve got to move on, and we still have a great team, and we’re really excited for what’s ahead,” he added.
The Senators have certainly acted as though they believe that.
Rather than beginning a lengthy rebuilding process, Staios quickly reinvested the assets acquired in the trade. Ottawa strengthened its lineup by adding players such as William Eklund, Andre Burakovsky, and goaltender Samuel Ersson while also leaving the door open for additional moves before the season begins.
The organization is now expected to lean even more heavily on its core, led by Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, and Thomas Chabot.
While losing a franchise captain unquestionably hurts, Jordan Spence’s comments highlight a locker room that feels unified rather than broken.
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The Brady Tkachuk era may be over, but the Senators believe their next chapter is only beginning.
