Brady Tkachuk's departure from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers was influenced by more than just the opportunity to play with his brother Matthew, potential tax savings of about $1 million per year, and the contrast in winter weather, according to a column by Brian Lilley in the Toronto Sun. Lilley argues that anti-American sentiment in Ottawa helped push the American-born captain out of the city.
Anti-American Sentiment a Factor in Tkachuk Trade
Born in Scottsdale, Arizona, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Tkachuk is a proud American. For most of his eight seasons with the Senators, including six as captain, that was never an issue. But after Donald Trump was re-elected as president of the United States, many Canadians seemed to lose their collectivist minds, Lilley writes. Any American who showed affinity for their home country was pilloried, ostracized, and made to feel unwelcome — and Tkachuk was no exception.
Booing of American Anthem Sends Message
Lilley points to the booing of the American national anthem at Canadian Tire Centre on frequent occasions in 2025 when U.S.-based teams visited. He also notes the reaction when Tkachuk played alongside his brother Matthew at Bell Centre in Montreal as part of the 4-Nations Face-Off. The message sent to the captain of the Senators — and to virtually every American player on a Canadian NHL team — was that they aren't welcome here.
Olympic Gold and White House Visit Amplify Backlash
The reaction to Tkachuk representing Team USA at the Olympics only reinforced that message. Winning gold and accepting an invitation to visit the White House, along with attending the State of the Union address, amplified the backlash. Even the Tkachuk brothers appearing on Fox News with Bret Baier sparked outrage in some circles, with local CTV and CBC newscasts running stories highlighting how “controversial” these actions were, often portraying Tkachuk in a negative light.
From 'Fully Committed' to Fed Up
Constant rumours that he was leaving became a distraction. “I feel like I’ve answered this hundreds of times,” Tkachuk said at the end of last season. “It’s becoming a distraction and I have been fully committed to this team, to the city and it’s just becoming a distraction — frustrating to deal with.” Eventually, it became enough of a distraction for him to ask Senators management for a trade.
Trade Brings Assets to Ottawa, Peace to Tkachuk
With two years left on his contract, the Senators received three first-round picks and a second-rounder in exchange for the talented left winger. For Tkachuk, the trade brings peace: he is closer to family, benefits from lower taxes, can shelve the parka except for road games, and escapes the constant chirping about himself and his country. Lilley concludes that while anti-American sentiment in Ottawa isn't the only reason Tkachuk left, it played a significant role.
