Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer has a good idea of why Brady Tkachuk wanted to go to Florida.
The Senators officially ended their Tkachuk era this off-season by trading their captain to the Florida Panthers for four draft picks, including three first-rounders.
The deal put a bow on what was a tumultuous end to Tkachuk's eight seasons with the Senators, as the trade rumours started flying in late April after Ottawa was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1.
Why did Tkachuk agree to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Panthers?
Andlauer has a theory.
"Blood is thicker than water, and let's just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen," Andlauer said to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, referring to brother Matthew and his father Keith. "Ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother. It's a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa. And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady, even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind."
Brady and Matthew, of course, teamed up at the 2026 Olympics in Italy to help the U.S. beat Canada in the gold-medal game.
Brady, who had two seasons left on the seven-year, $57.56-million contract he signed in October 2021, has said the decision "wasn't about" his brother on their "Wingemen" podcast.
He was Ottawa’s captain for the last five seasons, and he was — by far, in some cases — their leader in countless categories over his eight years with the Senators.
No player had more goals (213), points (463), power-play goals (62), shots (2,202), hits (1,921), winning goals (28), multi-goal games (30) and penalty minutes (821) in his tenure with the club, which acquired him with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft.
So while it wasn't the end that most Senators fans were probably hoping for, Andlauer still believes it's still important to appreciate what Tkachuk did during his time in Ottawa.
"In his eight years with the Ottawa Senators, and during his time as captain, he was an exemplary captain for us and leader and role model," Andlauer told The Athletic. "He cared about the community. He and his wife, Emma, did more than any other player. The Boys and Girls Club, he cared deeply. And the fans knew it. Our fans are loyal, and they're intelligent. And they loved Brady."
In the wake of Tkachuk's exit, the Senators did a huge piece of business by locking up Drake Batherson on an eight-year contract extension that was the largest deal in team history.
And Andlauer believes that deal should signal to fans that players want to be in Ottawa.
“We’ve created that culture, and the commitment that we made with Drake sends a strong signal to our fans and to our players that we want to win,” Andlauer said. “I know our fans have had a tough history when you think of Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone (also being traded), and hopefully the Batherson signing sends a clear message.
“Drake has been with the organization for nine years. Second-longest-serving Senator. He had a choice. Claude Giroux had a choice. He re-signed, as well. We have a really great core. The energy that I’ve experienced in this training camp, and I’ve seen it with our players, and the excitement, to me, is great news for our fans.”
