The Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers sent a shockwave through the NHL on Sunday, agreeing on a whopper of a trade that sent Brady Tkachuk to the Sunshine State for two first-round picks in 2026, a second-rounder in 2027, and an additional top-10 protected first in 2029.
There is plenty to unpack from each team's perspective, so let's dive in and hand out some grades on what may be the biggest trade of the offseason.
Senators
The shock value from the Senators' side of things is significant. The deal occurred less than two months after Tkachuk declared his commitment to Ottawa despite trade rumors being amplified in the wake of the club's first-round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. Tkachuk said the constant chatter about his future in Canada's capital was becoming a distraction, which proved more substantial than the outside world realized.
Although Tkachuk has two years left on his contract, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that recent discussions between the player's camp and the organization reached a point where Tkachuk indicated that he wouldn't sign an extension with the Senators. He subsequently submitted a four-team list he'd waive his no-movement clause for: the Panthers, Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild. Despite presenting Ottawa general manager Steve Staios with multiple options, Tkachuk's primary motivation was to join his brother, Matthew, in Florida, according to LeBrun.
Considering his hands were tied, Staios made out quite well with his return from the Panthers. The aftermath of this trade has revealed that Tkachuk's future with the organization had teetered toward a level of untenability. Instead of letting the uncertainty linger into next season, as we recently saw with Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks, Staios proactively obtained a haul of premium assets that he can flip to strengthen the Senators' lineup.
Staios said he'll pursue additional moves to keep Ottawa competitive, which should ease the blow for Senators fans who are upset about their captain orchestrating a move to a division rival. As the dust settles on a franchise-altering trade, it's easy to find a silver lining. The club has three first-round picks to dangle on the trade market, over $25 million in cap space with no pressing contracts set to expire, and a solid core of Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and Dylan Cozens still in place.
If Staios can leverage the return for Tkachuk to acquire a legitimate top-six forward and perhaps a top-four defenseman, the Senators will be in good shape. Since we don't know where Staios will pivot, Ottawa's grade can be considered incomplete with the potential to improve.
Grade: B
Panthers
For the first time in three years, the Panthers didn't reach the Stanley Cup Final. In response, general manager Bill Zito once again went all-in to make Florida arguably the Eastern Conference's top dog entering 2026-27.
From the Panthers' perspective, one initial reaction is that they boast arguably the deepest forward group in the NHL. The collection of the Tkachuk brothers, a healthy Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell is an embarrassment of riches in Paul Maurice's top three lines. Plus, all of those players - with the exception of Brady Tkachuk - are signed until at least 2030. It's fair to assume the younger Tkachuk will be open to extending in Florida as well, which he'll be eligible to do July 2027.
Zito has been hyperaggressive in trading since assuming control of the Panthers, and it's difficult to fault him for taking another big swing given his track record. Bringing in another star without subtracting from the roster is a coup for Florida, and Tkachuk's fit within the Panthers' imposing physical play style could be a match made in heaven. Few players in the NHL have a tool kit like Tkachuk's; he's elite at scoring in tight areas, averages more than 200 hits per season, and boasts a strong defensive presence at five-on-five. Some of Florida's acquisitions during its Cup-winning seasons were on the older side, but Tkachuk is only 26 years old. The team's contention window is already wide open and has likely been extended with the addition of another cornerstone player in his prime.
It should be noted that Zito's work is far from over this summer. Florida currently doesn't have a goaltender signed and has about $7 million in cap space to fill four roster spots. Trading a veteran to shed money may be necessary, but regardless of whoever is sent packing, the Panthers' offseason will be a net positive.
Their cupboard will be bare for a while, as the team isn't set to make a first-round pick until 2030. But if the Panthers hang a couple more championship banners over that span, who cares?
Grade: A
