Grading the Florida Panthers’ Blockbuster Trade for Brady Tkachuk – The Hockey Writers – Florida Panthers

Well, we have our first blockbuster trade of the 2026 NHL offseason. Early Sunday evening (June 21), the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers linked up on a deal that sent star winger Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers in exchange for three first-round picks and a second-round pick. Here are the full details:

Panthers receive:

Senators receive:

• 2026 first-round pick (9th overall)
• 2026 first-round pick (25th overall)
• 2029 first-round pick
• 2030 second-round pick

This is a crushing blow for the Senators, who have been a team on the rise for the last couple of seasons. They don’t have to tear it down and rebuild, but the playoffs may be a tall task next season. As for the Panthers, the rich only get richer, and the Tkachuk brothers are now reunited in Sunrise.

Senators Made the Best of the Situation

Bruce Garrioch reported that Tkachuk told Senators management he had no intention of re-signing with the team when his contract expires in two years. That led general manager Steve Staios to trade him to Florida to play with his brother, Matthew.

Usually, I like to start these trade grade articles with the team getting back the player, but let’s begin with the Senators. All things considered, Staios did well to extract as much value as he could. Tkachuk had a no-move clause and gave the Senators a list of four teams that he’d move to (Florida, Vegas, Carolina, and Minnesota) (From ‘Panthers closing in on trade for Brady Tkachuk with Senators: Sources’ – The Athletic, 6/21/2026).

To acquire three first-round picks is a tidy bit of business for the Senators. They’ll now go into this week’s NHL Draft with three first-round picks (ninth overall, 25th overall, and 32nd overall). Staios can use all three picks to add more high-end talent to their prospect pool, or he can flip one or two of them to add NHL-ready talent to the Senators’ roster.

I know this is a tough blow for Senators fans in the short term. Their playoff odds for next season took a hit in a loaded Atlantic Division. But there are still good players to build around in Ottawa, and adding three first-round picks and a second can help Staios retool the Senators without heading into another prolonged rebuild. They made the best of a tough situation.

Senators Grade: B+

Panthers Load Up Once Again

The Panthers may have missed the playoffs this season, but I wouldn’t bet on that happening again in 2026-27. They need to find a solution in net, but adding Brady Tkachuk gives them one of the strongest top-sixes in the NHL.

Brady is not quite the player his brother is, but he’s a top-line forward capable of 30-35 goals and 70+ points per season. He’s one of the best agitators in the game, and he’s an elite net-front presence. His finishing ability has improved over the years, as has his playmaking.

Did the Panthers need another Tkachuk? Absolutely not, but if the opportunity arises, you can’t pass it up. Adding another Tkachuk to the mix should give the Panthers one of the most annoying groups of players to play against with Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Matthew Tkachuk. And don’t forget, Aleksander Barkov will be healthy to begin next season.

Imagine a first line of Tkachuk, Barkov, and Tkachuk. Even the best defensive units will have their hands full trying to defend them. And I’m sure GM Bill Zito has a couple of other moves up his sleeve before the offseason fireworks wind down.

The Panthers paid a high price for Brady, but they’re in win-now mode. Draft capital is irrelevant until their window closes, and adding Tkachuk, who’s 26, extends their window while making their roster a bit younger. It’s a no-brainer for Zito as he looks to retool his roster on the fly to make the playoffs next season.

Panthers Grade: A+