Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios told reporters Monday that forward Brady Tkachuk asked for a trade.
Staios stopped short of saying why Tkachuk asked out of Ottawa, instead directing those questions toward the Sens’ former captain. Staios also did his best to quell the notion that players don’t want to play for the Senators.
“If you think people don’t want to play in Ottawa, that’s not the case. This is a unique situation if you see where he was traded,” he said.
Staios had previously called trade rumours involving Tkachuk “nonsense.” When asked on Monday what changed, Staios reiterated Tkachuk’s trade request was the driving force behind a deal.
The Senators and Panthers finalized a deal Sunday night sending the star winger to Florida in exchange for the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in this week’s draft as well as a conditional first-rounder in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027.
The move pairs Tkachuk with his brother, Matthew, and ends an eight-year run for the St. Louis native in Canada’s capital.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reported in The Athletic that Tkachuk told the Sens he would not re-sign in Ottawa two summers from now and presented the Sens with a list of four teams he would be interested in joining. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes in addition to the Panthers were Tkachuk’s preferred destinations. However, LeBrun added Tkachuk never promised to waive his no-move clause to join any team except the Panthers.
Staios said Monday he was satisfied with the return for Tkachuk, pointing out Ottawa did not have the privilege of shopping him around the league.
“It was clearly pointed at one team at the end. I feel comfortable with the return given the circumstances,” he said, adding interest in the No. 9 and 25 picks in this week’s draft has been “robust.”
The deal came after months of rumours about Tkachuk’s future in Ottawa as well as speculation of his desire to team up with his brother following their gold-medal victory on Team USA together this past winter at Milano-Cortina 2026.
Tkachuk was drafted by Ottawa No. 4 overall in 2018 and made an immediate impact for the Senators, making the All-Rookie first team in 2019 and the All-Star Team the year after. He made two more All-Star teams as a member of the Sens and currently sits fourth on the franchise’s all-time goal list (213) and fifth in points (463).
Tkachuk and the Sens were coming off a 99-point season in 2025-26 – their highest total since 2014-15 – but lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row.
“I have no intention of this team taking a step back,” Staios said of Ottawa’s direction moving forward.
Talks commence with other players
Staios said the Senators have plenty of other things on the agenda outside of the Tkachuk trade.
He told reporters he’s had discussions with veteran forward Claude Giroux, who is scheduled to be a free agent on July 1 coming off a one-year, $2 million deal.
He also mentioned preliminary talks between defenceman Artem Zub and forward Drake Batherson, both of whom are will become eligible for extensions on July 1.
Zub is entering the final year of a four-year, $18.4 million deal at $4.6 million per season while Batherson is finishing up a six-year, $29.85 million pact with a $4.975 AAV.
