Andlauer explains the departure
In an interview with TSN's Pierre LeBrun ahead of the NHL board of governors' meetings in New York, Andlauer said "blood is thicker than water" when describing the influence of Tkachuk's father and brother on the decision. "Let's just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen," Andlauer said. He added that "ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother," and framed the outcome as something the organization couldn't fully control. "It's a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree," Andlauer said. "But you have to want to play for Ottawa."
Chabot draws a line
"If we keep answering those, we'll answer about Brady all season long," Chabot said. Asked directly about the reasoning behind Tkachuk's exit, Chabot deferred to the player himself. "The only person who can answer that question is Brady," he said. Still, Chabot was careful to note there's no bitterness left in the room toward his former teammate. "Like I've always said, I stand by his decision," he said. "We don't hold anything against Brady."
Green: not a topic in the room
Head coach Travis Green offered a similar message, saying the Tkachuk trade simply isn't part of daily conversation inside the Senators' facility. He called it "not a topic at all in our room," suggesting the coaching staff has been deliberate about keeping the group focused on the season ahead rather than the departure behind them.
Where Tkachuk landed
Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, where his brother Matthew Tkachuk also plays. Their father, Keith Tkachuk, is a former NHL player, giving the family a long history in the league that Andlauer's comments tied directly to Brady's choice to leave Ottawa.
What led here
The renewed attention comes as the Senators wrap up training camp and preseason play. The team dropped a preseason overtime game to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, part of the final tune-up before opening night, and players have spent recent sessions building what ottown's earlier report described as a more physical identity under Green. None of that camp work has centred on Tkachuk, according to Chabot and Green, even as ownership's remarks keep the subject alive publicly.
Next meeting circled
Ottawa fans won't have to wait long to see the Tkachuk brothers' new team in person. The Senators and Panthers are scheduled to meet for the first time since the trade on October 21, 2026, in Ottawa, a game that will inevitably reignite the storyline Chabot is trying to put to rest before the regular season even begins.
Sources: Yahoo News Canada (Postmedia/Ottawa Citizen), Heavy.com, The Hockey News
