Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators’ 2025–26 season ended on a sour note on Saturday afternoon, as they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes for a second straight first-round playoff exit.
Now that it’s over, the focus has quickly shifted to Tkachuk’s future with the team, and reports are already suggesting that an offseason trade could be on the horizon.
The captain was extremely emotional postgame, and it’s fair to wonder whether the thought of it being his final game as a Senator played a part in that.
With that in mind, let’s dive into a number of (American) teams around the NHL that could realistically trade for Tkachuk this summer.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Carolina Hurricanes
The team that just shut him down for four straight games would surely still have interest in acquiring him via trade. Eric Tulsky and the Carolina Hurricanes have shown they’ll be in on every big name that becomes available, so count them in on any Tkachuk sweepstakes.
His handshake with Rod Brind’Amour was certainly a friendly one…
With cap space, draft picks, prospects, and young players all at their disposal, the Hurricanes could absolutely put forth a package that intrigues the Senators. Depending on whether they fall short again this postseason, Carolina could be a sneaky aggressive player to land Tkachuk.
Florida Panthers
They just have to be on the list: the Florida Panthers. As we’ve seen at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Winter Olympics, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on the same team — and even on the same line — is pure chaos, and we know they absolutely love it.
Would the Senators want to send their captain to a division rival so he can play with his brother? Probably not. But a potential top-10 pick in this upcoming draft is a strong start in terms of trade bait, and Tkachuk has the power to force his way to Sunrise if he so desires.
New Jersey Devils
New York-area team No. 1, the New Jersey Devils. It was a disappointing year for the Devils, and with a new GM in charge, we could see some shake-up to the dynamic of the core as early as this offseason. Enter Tkachuk.
The Devils have the skill, but they need more of the will and edge that a player like Tkachuk would bring. The Hughes brothers are safe, but after that, very little feels off-limits. Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec, Dawson Mercer — what about Jesper Bratt? New GM Sunny Mehta has what it takes to make an immediate splash.
New York Rangers
New York area team No. 2, the New York Rangers. We’ve all heard the rumors linking Tkachuk to the Big Apple, and until he either gets moved or extends in Ottawa, they won’t be going away.
If the Rangers truly want to retool around Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and company, then a move for Tkachuk is one way to do it. GM Chris Drury has long been enamored with the idea of landing him, so you know he’d be willing to do almost anything to make it work. Not to mention Tkachuk’s well-documented love for playing at Madison Square Garden, which only adds to the intrigue.
New York Islanders
And New York area team No. 3, the New York Islanders. Matthew Schaefer has single-handedly changed the direction of the franchise, making Long Island an attractive destination for players around the league to come join him.
New GM Mathieu Darche had an active first year in charge of the Islanders, and he’s well-equipped with the assets to garner Steve Staios’ attention. After years of New York being rather conservative, expect that to change now that they have one of the most valuable building blocks in the sport on their hands.
Philadelphia Flyers
Last of the Eastern Conference landing spots are the Philadelphia Flyers. What player better suited to play for the Broad Street Bullies than Tkachuk? He recently gave high praise to HC Rick Tocchet, so you have to think he’d be just fine with the idea of playing for him in Philadelphia.
An unexpected late-season run to the playoffs has provided a glimpse of the future, and adding Tkachuk to that budding young core would only push the Flyers further into contention.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Chicago Blackhawks
Onto the Western Conference, starting with the Chicago Blackhawks. Reports suggest that GM Kyle Davidson is ready to get aggressive and add a proven star around Connor Bedard. A 26-year-old four-time All-Star winger sounds just like what the doctor ordered.
Very few, if any, teams have the combination of cap space, draft picks, young players, and prospects that match up with the Blackhawks, so they’ll be one team to keep a close eye on whenever top talent like Tkachuk hits the market moving forward.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are never afraid to make a big move, and if they fall short in their pursuit of a Cup again this season, then you know Jim Nill will be doing everything to help push his team over the top.
Cap space and assets aren’t as robust in Dallas, but could a deal based around Jason Robertson for Tkachuk make sense for both sides?
We’ve heard those rumors before, and both situations could be nearing a head this offseason, so it’s something to keep in mind.
Minnesota Wild
Speaking of not afraid, how about Bill Guerin and the Minnesota Wild? They have their hands full trying to find a way to convince their recent superstar acquisition Quinn Hughes to stay, but that won’t stop Guerin from pursuing other big-time talent in the process.
He’s admitted as much, and from Tkachuk to Auston Matthews, Guerin has his eyes on any potentially disgruntled Americans. Their stockpile of assets obviously took a hit in the Hughes trade, but that’s what being one of the better drafting teams in the league allows them to do—and to continue doing.
San Jose Sharks
Similarly to Chicago, the San Jose Sharks are on the upswing and want to put an end to their lengthy rebuild. With teenage superstar in Macklin Celebrini at the forefront, they have the opportunity to really speed up the process with a splash or two or three. Put Tkachuk on Celebrini’s wing, and this kid would be unstoppable— although he already might be.
San Jose is no stranger to acquiring a superstar and former captain from Ottawa, so why can’t history repeat itself almost eight years later?
In contention for the NHL’s best prospect pool with the Blackhawks, the Sharks are going to use that to land a few big names sooner rather than later, and it very well could begin this summer.
St. Louis Blues
He might have been born in Scottsdale, Arizona, but Tkachuk’s childhood was spent growing up in St. Louis, so they have to be included among the landing spots. The Blues can be a difficult team to get a read on, but Tkachuk is the kind of player who is worth acquiring no matter your situation.
Former GM Doug Armstrong has left Alex Steen with a full cupboard of assets, so if Tkachuk were to have interest in going “home,” they are fully capable of making it happen. It would be pretty cool to see him play for the team that Keith spent a large portion of his NHL career with.
Utah Mammoth
The transition to Utah has gone as well as the Mammoth could have imagined, and owner Ryan Smith is going to ensure it only continues to get better. From Sergachev to Peterka to Weegar, it’s quite clear what they’re trying to build, so like many of these other teams, Utah always has to be considered.
Their first taste of the postseason has gotten off to a great start, and that atmosphere should catch the rest of the league’s attention. Bill Armstrong has done a masterful job rebuilding this thing, with one of the best prospect pools in hockey to dip into whenever the time is right.
Honorable Mentions
While the 12 teams we’ve dissected all stand out as suitors, three others that shouldn’t be discounted are the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals. These three absolutely could pull off a trade for Tkachuk if they want to, so don’t think we forgot about them!
Next: These Playoffs Have Made It Clear: The Pittsburgh Penguins Need Another Game Breaker
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