Things are changing for four-time All-Star Brady Tkachuk.
Not only did this weekend see the former Ottawa Senators captain traded away from the only NHL team he has known to the Florida Panthers, but when the puck drops on the 2026-27 season, he’ll have a new number on his back.
Due to veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s presence on the Panthers, Tkachuk’s usual No. 7 is unavailable to be worn. The No. 27, which Tkachuk wore during his collegiate career with Boston University, is also taken by centre Eetu Luostarinen.
So, the newest Panther has had to make a change — to No. 8.
Though the eldest Tkachuk, dad Keith, wore No. 7 for the majority of his career, he did wear eight during his brief, 18-game stint with the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2006-07 season.
Tkachuk’s trade to the Panthers helped kick off a banner 24 hours for the family, with Keith announced as a member of the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.
Now, Brady will join his brother, Matthew, in Florida with one of his Hockey-Hall-of-Famer dad’s old numbers on his back.
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