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Brady Tkachuk thought he could handle Ottawa's boos, but Senators fans had other plans

Reflecting on Tkachuk's first time playing in Ottawa as a Panther
ByTyler Beauchesne
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Oct 21, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators jerseys of former team captain Brady Tkachuk are thrown onto the ice throughout a game between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Tkachuk now plays left wing for the Florida Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn
Oct 21, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators jerseys of former team captain Brady Tkachuk are thrown onto the ice throughout a game between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Tkachuk now plays left wing for the Florida Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

I had the opportunity to experience Brady Tkachuk’s debut as a Florida Panther in Ottawa. It is clear now that Tkachuk had absolutely zero clue about how Senators fans truly felt about him coming into yesterday’s game. Tkachuk has had times where he thrives off competitive banter and boos, but he has never experienced what he got in his return to Canadian Tire Centre.

Senators' fans made Brady Tkachuk's return hostile from the very beginning

As expected, the video tribute was booed to the point where I could not hear a second of it. He came out to do a stick lift to a roar of boos, but it went way beyond that. There was booing whenever Tkachuk was on the ice and throughout the game. They were chants ranging from traitor, quitter, we don’t need you, and others that cannot be repeated in polite company.

Tkachuk did score the first goal of the game on the power play. He probably thought that would have silenced Senators fans. It changed nothing. The Senators came back with five unanswered goals in domination that frustrated the Panthers bench, especially Tkachuk.

Booing Brady Tkachuk does work

On the Wingmen podcast, Tkachuk would explain from time-to-time how often Canadian markets boo him. He stated before the return game that he believed the video tribute would get booed but “nothing too crazy." 

Throughout his time in the league, Tkachuk had often stated that boos and chants “fuel him more." He claims his performance thrives off hate from the crowd. I used to believe it myself when he was in Ottawa. After the trade, I saw the light on what kind of player he truly was.

Tkachuk’s performance against the Senators was emblematic of his time as captain. All he wants is to fight. Yeah, he got the goal he wanted, but what about afterwards? They allowed five unanswered goals, and he got frustrated. On four separate occasions, he was roughing up Nick Cousins, Dylan Cozens, and Ridly Greig twice. This led to him being ejected from the game with 1:18 left down 5-1. It brought me back to 2022.

The situation, opponent, and atmosphere really got to him. I am sure he will claim otherwise on his podcast next week, but we know the truth. now. There were people worried about booing and how it will cost us. Look at the result that came of it. Senators fans, never let anyone tell you your voice doesn’t matter. Brady did not just lose to the Senators, he lost against the city of Ottawa as well.

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