Brady Tkachuk returns to Ottawa as a Florida Panther

Fantasy hockey: Tkachuk joins his brother Matthew in Florida, but his power-play role and ice time are uncertain on a deeper roster.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 21, 2026

Brady Tkachuk plays his first game in Ottawa as a visiting player Wednesday night, five months after the Panthers acquired him from the Senators for three first-round picks and a second-round selection. The former captain requested a trade despite having two years left on his deal, using his no-movement clause to join his brother Matthew in Florida.

The move creates fantasy uncertainty for managers who rostered Tkachuk in Ottawa. His new role with the Panthers carries less clarity than what he had as captain of the Senators, and his value depends on how Florida deploys him alongside an already established core.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Brady Tkachuk

With the Senators, Tkachuk averaged 0.87 points and 3.9 shots per game over 203 games in the model sample, playing 16:53 a night with 3:02 of power-play time. He ran Ottawa's first unit and averaged 0.37 goals, 0.50 assists and 2.7 hits per game. His underlying play graded 100 out of 100 among forwards, measuring shots, scoring chances and ice time. Every one of those numbers belongs to his time in Ottawa, before he joined Florida.

His power-play role is the question now. Florida's first unit currently features Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Seth Jones, so Brady's spot on that group is not guaranteed. Without the same guaranteed minutes he had in Ottawa, his fantasy value drops until his deployment becomes clear. The Panthers play four times this week (Wed, Thu, Sun, Tue) and twice next week.

Matthew Tkachuk

Matthew Tkachuk plays alongside his brother for the first time at the NHL level. He averages 1.11 points and 3.0 shots per game over his recent sample, playing 18:26 a night with 3:30 of power-play time. That power-play ice time ranks third among all Panthers skaters. His recent averages include 0.42 goals, 0.68 assists and 0.42 power-play points per game, with 1.2 hits.

His role remains unchanged by his brother's arrival. The Panthers' power-play structure already includes Matthew on the first unit, and Brady's addition does not alter that deployment. Matthew's underlying play grades 88 out of 100 among forwards, and he continues to produce at his established rate. Keep him active for four games this week and two next week.

What to do

• Hold Brady Tkachuk until his power-play role and ice time settle with the Panthers.

• Matthew Tkachuk's role is unaffected by the reunion; start him as usual.

• Monitor whether Brady joins Florida's first power-play unit over the next few games.

Schedule this week