Brady Tkachuk will make his return to the Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday for the first time since the Ottawa Senators traded him to the Florida Panthers in June.
“I am definitely putting no expectations on it,” he said Monday, per NHL.com. “If they boo, well, it just shows the passion that they have for their team, their city.
“I loved playing in front of them because of that passion. Just know I gave every ounce of blood, sweat and tears for that team, that city, for eight years. I can hold my head up high for the effort that I gave. I just appreciate all that they have done for me and making me who I am today.”
Tkachuk, who was captain of the Senators from 2021 until the trade this summer, informed the Senators after last season he would not be signing an extension with the team in the future. The 27-year-old was dealt to the Panthers in exchange for the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the draft in June as well as a conditional first-rounder in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027.
The Senators, who reached the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, quickly worked to fill the hole in their lineup left by Tkachuk, flipping the ninth overall pick to the San Jose Sharks for a package headlined by William Eklund. Eklund posted one goal and two points in four games this season before suffering an ankle injury that will keep him out for 10-12 weeks.
Ottawa has managed to weather a series of early-season injuries to start the campaign 6-3-0, equal in points with the 5-2-2 Panthers.
Tkachuk went without a point in his first five games as a Panther, but has caught fire with six goals and 10 points in his past four games, including back-to-back hat tricks last week.
The Scottsdale Arizona native led the Senators in goals (213), points (463), power-play goals (62), shots (2,202), hits (1,921), winning goals (28), multigoal games (30) and penalty minutes (821) over the course of his tenure with the club, which began when was drafted fourth overall in 2018.
The Panthers will arrive in Ottawa on Tuesday, allowing Tkachuk some extra time to see old friends and former teammates.
“I will be able to see the guys, get to see the staff at the morning skate,” Tkachuk said. “We will have a group of guys for dinner, and I will get to see so many great people who aren’t with the team. It will be nice to get back, and I will try to see as many people as possible. It’s just a special place.”