The blockbuster trade sending Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers is easily the biggest move of the NHL offseason so far. In exchange for their captain, the Senators received a significant package of draft capital, including the No. 9 and No. 25 overall picks in Friday's draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and a top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick.
Here is how both teams fared in the deal.
Florida Panthers: A-
Bill Zito managed to add another major piece to an already strong forward group. Landing a 26-year-old power forward like Tkachuk without giving up a core roster player is impressive. On top of that, the Panthers now get to put Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on the same team, which is a pretty scary thought for the rest of the league.
The cost was significant, though. Giving up two first-round picks in a deep 2026 draft, a second-round pick, and another future first-round pick takes away a lot of Florida's draft capital over the next few years. The Panthers are clearly focused on winning now, but moves like this can limit what you're able to do later if another need pops up.
Ottawa Senators: B
Losing your captain is never easy, especially when he's been one of the faces of the franchise for as long as Tkachuk has. Still, Steve Staios did a good job getting value back in return.
Reports suggested Ottawa pushed for players like Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe, but Florida wasn't willing to move either of them. Instead, Staios stayed patient and came away with a strong package of picks.
The No. 9 and No. 25 selections give Ottawa plenty of options. The Senators can make those picks and add to their prospect pool, or they can use them as trade chips if they want immediate help. The deal also opens up a considerable amount of cap space heading into the draft and free agency.
There's no question Ottawa gave up the best player in the trade. But when you look at the return, Staios put the organization in a position where it has multiple paths forward, whether that's building through the draft or using those assets to improve the roster right away.
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