Brady Tkachuk

Brady Tkachuk
Tkachuk with the Ottawa Senators in 2023
Born (1999-09-16) September 16, 1999
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 226 lb (103 kg; 16 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Florida Panthers
Ottawa Senators
National team  United States
NHL draft 4th overall, 2018
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2018–present

Braeden Tkachuk[1] (/kəˈtʃʌk/ kə-CHUK; born September 16, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a left winger for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Tkachuk was chosen by the Ottawa Senators as the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft, and played his first eight seasons with the Senators, serving as captain from 2021 to 2026. Prior to turning professional, Tkachuk played one season for the Boston University Terriers, earning All-Hockey East Rookie Team honors. He is the brother of Panthers teammate Matthew Tkachuk and the son of Keith Tkachuk, who played in the NHL for 18 years.

Internationally, Tkachuk has represented the United States at the 2017 World U18 Championships, 2018 World Junior Championships, 2024 World Championship and the 2026 Winter Olympics where he won gold alongside his brother.

Playing career

Ottawa Senators (2018–2026)

After playing for the St. Louis AAA Blues U16 and committing to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), Tkachuk agreed to play for Boston University (BU) once he had completed two seasons with the NTDP.[2] In his play for the BU Terriers, he recorded four goals and 10 assists in 19 games as a freshman before making the United States junior team for the 2018 World Junior Championships.[3] Nearing the end of the 2017–18 NCAA season, Tkachuk was selected for the Hockey East Rookie Team after ranking fifth on the team in points.[4][5]

Leading up to the 2018 NHL entry draft, Tkachuk was ranked second overall among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.[6] He was eventually drafted fourth overall by the Ottawa Senators. Tkachuk signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Senators on August 13, 2018, forgoing his remaining three years of NCAA eligibility.[7][8] After participating in the Senators' preseason games, Tkachuk was sidelined for Ottawa's first two regular season games with a groin injury. He eventually made his NHL debut on October 8, in a 6–3 loss to the Boston Bruins.[9] The following game, on October 10, Tkachuk recorded his first NHL goal, and first multi-goal game, in a 7–4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.[10] He became the fastest Tkachuk to record his first NHL goal, surpassing his brother and father.[11] On October 17, after skating in four games for the Senators, it was announced that Tkachuk had a torn ligament in his leg and was set to be out for a month to recover.[12] Tkachuk eventually returned to the Senators lineup on November 8, for a game against the Vegas Golden Knights.[13] On March 28, 2019, in a game against the Florida Panthers, Tkachuk tied the Senators' franchise record for most shots on goal in a game with 12. In the same game, he scored his 20th goal of the season to tie Alexandre Daigle for the Senators' record for most goals by a teenage player in a season.[14] Tkachuk finished the 2018–19 season with 22 goals, the second-highest among NHL rookies, behind Elias Pettersson's 28.[15]

Tkachuk (center) battling for position with Brian Dumoulin of the Seattle Kraken in 2024.

Tkachuk was named an alternate captain in the 2020–21 season.[16] He was selected to replace the injured Auston Matthews on the Atlantic Division roster for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game on January 22, 2020.[17] Tkachuk finished the season with 17 goals and 36 points in 56 games and established himself as a pest to opposing teams and a leader to his own.[18]

On October 14, 2021, Tkachuk signed a seven-year, $57.5 million contract with the Senators.[19] On November 5, Tkachuk was named as the 10th captain in Senators franchise history.[20] On November 27, Tkachuk was bit by Brendan Lemieux of the Los Angeles Kings during a scrum in the corner.[21] Lemieux was assessed a match penalty and was suspended for five games.[22] On December 11, Tkachuk scored his first NHL hat trick against Brian Elliott in a 4–0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.[23] On April 5, 2022, Tkachuk recorded a goal and two assists in a 6–3 win over the Montreal Canadiens.[24]

At the outset of the 2022–23 season, Tkachuk was expected to play on the first line with Josh Norris and Drake Batherson.[25] However, shortly after the season began, Norris suffered a season-ending injury on October 22, 2022.[26] This forced the Senators to shuffle their forwards, placing Tkachuk on a line with Tim Stützle.[27] On December 2, in Tkachuk's 300th NHL game, the Senators captain recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring his 100th and 101st career goals, with the 101st being the game winner in overtime and an assist in a 3–2 overtime win over the New York Rangers.[28] Tkachuk was named to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, representing Ottawa. He played alongside his brother, Matthew, on the Atlantic Division team.[29] On February 27, 2023, in a 6–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Tkachuk skated over to the Red Wings' bench at the end of the second period and challenged the entire Red Wings team. Tkachuk scored a goal in the win, which helped move the Senators closer to a possible playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.[30] Towards the end of the season, as the Senators sought to get one of the last playoff spots in the conference, on March 27, Tkachuk registered a goal and an assist in a 5–2 win over the Florida Panthers, who were also vying for a playoff spot.[31] However, the Senators were eliminated from playoff contention on April 7, in a 7–2 loss to the Panthers.[32]

During the 2025–26 season Tkachuk was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opponent, in the form of a minor penalty of slashing, while sitting on the bench during a game against the Buffalo Sabres on April 2, 2026.[33]

Florida Panthers (2026–present)

In May 2026, Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios visited Tkachuk in New Jersey and had a meeting with him about his future with the team. Tkachuk indicated that he would not re-sign with Ottawa at the end of his existing contract. Staios asked Tkachuk, who had a no-move clause in his contract and could block a trade to any team, for a list of teams he would accept a trade to. Tkachuk's agent, Craig Oster, provided Staios with a list of four teams; the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.[34] Ultimately, on June 21, 2026, Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for the ninth and 25th overall picks in the 2026 NHL entry draft, a conditional 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.[35][36]

Following his trade multiple Ottawa sports teams including the Ottawa Titans and Senators offered for fans to trade in Tkachuk's jersey for either a different jersey from that team or a discount on future purchases. Multiple fans took the teams up on the offers, sold or destroyed their jersey's, expressing their anger over the trade following Tkachuk's April 2026 statement that he was committed to the team and tired of the questions about potential interest in playing for an American NHL team.[37][38][39]

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
Winter Olympics
Gold medal – first place2026 Milano Cortina
4 Nations Face-Off
Runner-up2025 Canada/United States
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2018 United States
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 Slovakia

Tkachuk was the captain of the gold-winning United States under-18 national team at the 2017 World U18 Championships.

He was selected to the United States junior team for the 2018 World Junior Championships, winning bronze.[40]

Tkachuk captained the United States senior team in the 2024 World Championship, where they placed fifth. He later represented his country in 2025 at the 4 Nations Face-Off, finishing as runners-up in the tournament.

On June 16, 2025, he was one of six players named to United States' preliminary roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics,[41][42] in which he would defeat Team Canada to win gold alongside his brother.[43] Amid backlash regarding the inclusion of FBI director Kash Patel and laughing to President Trump's comments of being impeached if he did not invite the women's team, Tkachuk attended the State of the Union and toured the White House with a majority of his team. During the call, Tkachuk reportedly could be heard yelling, "Close the northern border." He has denied those claims. He also spoke out against Trump using an AI image of Tkachuk and a replica of his voice in a video posted to the White House TikTok shortly after the game. Tkachuk specifically called out the video, which states, "They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating [sic] fuckers a lesson," claiming it was something he would never say.[44][45][46] Despite the controversy and playing for a Canadian NHL team, he was applauded at the first Senators home game after the Olympics.[47]

Personal life

Tkachuk with some of his teammates speaking with President Trump during their visit to the White House in February 2026

Tkachuk's father is an American former NHL player Keith Tkachuk, and his mother is Canadian Chantal Oster from Winnipeg, who married in 1997.[48] He was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, during his father's tenure with the Phoenix Coyotes.[49][50] He was raised in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, Missouri, after his father's 2001 trade to the St. Louis Blues.[51][52][53] His older brother, Matthew, is an alternate captain for the Florida Panthers, and his younger sister, Taryn, played field hockey for the University of Virginia.[54] Both Tkachuk brothers attended the former Oak Hill School at Villa Duchesne[55] and Chaminade College Preparatory School.[56]

Tkachuk is of Ukrainian descent on both his maternal and paternal sides; the surname Tkachuk translates to weaver in Ukrainian.[57][58] He is also of Irish ancestry on his paternal side.[58]

The Tkachuk family has been referred to as one branch of "a giant hockey family tree" and Tkachuk is related to several other current and former NHL players and league industry members through both his father's family, originally from Medford, Massachusetts, and his mother's family, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.[59] Tkachuk is a second cousin of Tom Fitzgerald, former NHL player and former general manager of the New Jersey Devils, as well as a second cousin once-removed to Casey Fitzgerald and Casey's brother, Ryan, who plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). He is also a cousin of NHL player Kevin Hayes and his brother, Jimmy Hayes. Tkachuk's maternal uncle is NHL player agent Craig Oster, who represents numerous NHL players, including Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, as well as both Tkachuk and his brother.[60]

Tkachuk married his longtime girlfriend Emma Farinacci in July 2023.[61] Farinacci is the sister of Boston Bruins prospect John Farinacci.[62] They met in Boston while Brady was at Boston University, where they were both students, and married in 2023. They relocated to Ottawa when Brady became a Senator. The couple launched "Tkachuk's Captains", a program to support underprivileged children in March 2023. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, on September 16, 2024 (sharing his birthday).[63] and their second child, a daughter was born on April 26, 2026.[64]

Tkachuk and brother Matthew launched a joint podcast called "Wingmen" which hosts guests and speak about topics. An episode with Tkachuk's father Keith, reportedly drew concerns and frustrations within the Senators locker room after Keith Tkachuk talked negatively about the team.[65][66]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2015–16 US NTDP Juniors USHL 3244836 —————
2015–16 US NTDP U17 USDP 559162556 —————
2016–17 US NTDP Juniors USHL 2412112373 —————
2016–17 US NTDP U18 USDP 61252954129 —————
2017–18 Boston University HE 408233161 —————
2018–19 Ottawa Senators NHL 7122234575 —————
2019–20 Ottawa Senators NHL 71212344106 —————
2020–21 Ottawa Senators NHL 5617193669 —————
2021–22 Ottawa Senators NHL 79303767117 —————
2022–23 Ottawa Senators NHL 82354883126 —————
2023–24 Ottawa Senators NHL 81373774134 —————
2024–25 Ottawa Senators NHL 72292655123 64376
2025–26 Ottawa Senators NHL 6022375971 400013
NHL totals 572213250463821 1043719

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2015 United States U17 6th 52354
2017 United States WJC18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 716712
2018 United States WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 73692
2024 United States WC 5th 876134
2025 United States 4NF 2nd 43035
2026 United States OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 632512
Junior totals 196152118
Senior totals 181382121

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team 2018 [5]
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team 2019 [67]
NHL All-Star Game 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024

References

  1. ↑ Egan, Kelly (December 29, 2021). "Brady Tkachuk's 'rollercoaster' ride: from A to C, 7 years for No. 7". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ Dilks, Chris (May 12, 2015). "Brady Tkachuk Commits to Boston University". SB Nation College Hockey. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ Rodriguez, Miguel. "Brady Tkachuk making name for himself with U.S. Junior Team". Buffalo News. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Six Terriers Earn Hockey East Year-End Honors". goterriers.com. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Hockey East announces All-Star Teams, All-Rookie Team, seven individual awards". uscho.com. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ Morreale, Mike G. (April 16, 2018). "Svechnikov stays No. 1 in Central Scouting final rankings". National Hockey League. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Senators sign Brady Tkachuk to entry-level contract". National Hockey League. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Senators sign Brady Tkachuk to entry-level deal". Sportsnet. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  9. ↑ Benjamin, Amalie (October 8, 2018). "Tkachuk savors debut with Senators against Bruins". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  10. ↑ Fraser, Callum (October 10, 2018). "Flyers score seven in win against Senators". NHL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ Schuller, Rudi (October 10, 2018). "Senators rookie Brady Tkachuk scores first NHL goals". The Sporting News. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Tkachuk out one month for Senators". National Hockey League. October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  13. ↑ Medaglia, Craig (November 8, 2018). "Game Day Notes: Sens vs. Golden Knights". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  14. ↑ Wallace, Lisa (March 28, 2019). "Tkachuk ties two records in a losing cause as Senators fall against Panthers". North Shore News. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  15. ↑ Obernauer, Michael (October 5, 2019). "Game Day: Georgie Jumps In as Rangers Hit the Road". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Sens add Tkachuk as fifth alternate captain". TSN. October 14, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Brady Tkachuk replaces Auston Matthews for NHL All-Star Game due to wrist injury". Global News. January 23, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  18. ↑ Spiegel, Jackie (September 22, 2021). "Brady Tkachuk, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes remain 2021-22 NHL RFAs unsigned". The Sporting News. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  19. ↑ Satriano, David (October 17, 2021). "Tkachuk signs seven-year, $57.5 million contract with Senators". NHL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Senators name Brady Tkachuk 10th team captain in franchise history". National Hockey League. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Senators' Tkachuk calls Kings' Lemieux 'gutless' after bite in scrum". Sportsnet. November 27, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  22. ↑ Gretz, Adam (November 30, 2021). "Kings' Brendan Lemieux suspended 5 games for biting Senators' Brady Tkachuk". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  23. ↑ Tidcombe, Matt (December 11, 2021). "Tkachuk scores hat-trick as Sens beat Bolts". Ottawa Senators. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  24. ↑ D'Amours, Tristan (April 5, 2022). "Tkachuk's 3-point game helps Senators avoid season series sweep against Canadiens". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ Luszczyszyn, Dom; Goldman, Shayna (September 24, 2022). "Ottawa Senators 2022-23 season preview: Playoff chances, projected points, roster rankings". The Athletic. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Senators' Norris suffers apparent upper-body injury vs. Coyotes, will undergo MRI". Sportsnet. October 22, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  27. ↑ Mendes, Ian (January 28, 2023). "Josh Norris' injury gives Senators unwanted — but interesting — look at Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk as linemates". The Athletic. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  28. ↑ Warren, Ken (December 2, 2022). "Aye, Captain: Brady Tkachuk carries spirited Ottawa Senators team to comeback victory against New York Rangers". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  29. ↑ Garrioch, Bruce (February 5, 2023). "Garrioch: The Tkachuk family has an all-star weekend to remember in South Florida". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  30. ↑ Williams, Thomas (February 27, 2023). "Senators captain Brady Tkachuk talks trash to entire Red Wings bench". Yahoo! Sports Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  31. ↑ Desaulniers, Darren (March 27, 2023). "Senators pounce on Panthers in playoff push while Brady wins battle of Tkachuk brothers". CBC Sports. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Tkachuk brothers both fight, Senators eliminated after nasty loss to Panthers". Sportsnet.ca. April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Tkachuk fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct in Senators game". NHL.com. April 3, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  34. ↑ LeBrun, Pierre (June 22, 2026). "Inside the Brady Tkachuk trade and what it means for a powder-keg NHL trade market". The Athletic. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Brady Tkachuk joining brother following trade to Panthers by Senators". NHL.com. National Hockey League. June 21, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  36. ↑ "TSN Doesn't Hold Back On Brady Tkachuk After Shock Trade To Panthers". heavy.com. Heavy. June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  37. ↑ Wallace, Lisa (April 29, 2026). "Brady Tkachuk says it's distracting to have to reaffirm his commitment to Ottawa". CBC. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Dozens trade in Brady Tkachuk sweaters at Ottawa Titans game". CBC. July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  39. ↑ McKenzie, Julian (July 7, 2026). "How Senators fans are moving past the Tkachuk trade: Facebook jersey sales, 'Forget Brady Day'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  40. ↑ Campbell, Ken. "2018 WJC: Bronze Winner Tkachuk Will be Huge Part of Team USA in 2019...If He's Not in the NHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  41. ↑ "United States names 1st 6 players to preliminary Olympics roster". NHL.com. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Team USA announce 25-strong men's ice hockey roster for Milano Cortina 2026". olympics.com. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  43. ↑ Pakarinen, Risto (February 28, 2026). "The Tkachuk brothers came, saw, and they won". IIHF.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Brady Tkachuk decries White House's AI video of him insulting Canadians after US gold". The Guardian. February 26, 2026. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  45. ↑ Karpa, Alex (February 26, 2026). "Team USA women's captain calls Trump's White House invite 'a distasteful joke'". CP24. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  46. ↑ Superville, Darlene (February 24, 2026). "US men's hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women's team will be honored 'soon'". AP News. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  47. ↑ Knight, Chris (March 3, 2026). "Auston Matthews booed in Toronto when Leafs announced him as a gold medalist for Team USA". National Post – via yahoo.com.
  48. ↑ "All About Olympic Hockey Players Matthew and Brady Tkachuk's Parents, Keith and Chantal". people.com.
  49. ↑ "Inside the Tkachuk family tree: How brothers Matthew, Brady followed dad Keith's footsteps in NHL". sportingnews.com. June 17, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  50. ↑ Ortiz, Jenna (June 16, 2025). "Auston Matthews headlines U.S. Olympic hockey team". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  51. ↑ Anderson, Kirsten. "Brotherly love at the 2018 NHL Draft". The Calgary Sun. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  52. ↑ Hurley, Christopher. "Brady Tkachuk drafted by the Ottawa Senators". Medford Wicked Local. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  53. ↑ Keller, Katlyn. "Former Blues forward Keith Tkachuk sells his Creve Coeur home for $1.85 million". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Taryn Tkachuk". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. May 25, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  55. ↑ "Stuck With The Tkachuks: Chris Weinke Helps Matthew & Brady Run Football Drills" (video). YouTube.com. Sportsnet. June 23, 2020.
  56. ↑ Austin, Daniel (February 23, 2019). "Matthew and Brady Tkachuk facing off on opposing hockey teams for first time". Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Tkachuk Family Helping Matthew Settle In". Calgary Flames. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  58. 1 2 "Lowell Court Officer: 'I Can Honestly Say I've Loved This Job'". The Lowell Sun. October 25, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  59. ↑ Shinzawa, Fluto (October 22, 2018). "A Giant Hockey Family Tree With Roots Running Across the NHL Grows in Charlestown". The Athletic. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  60. ↑ McKenzie, Julian (November 15, 2022). "The story of the Matthew Tkachuk-Jonathan Huberdeau trade: 'Are you kidding me?'". The Athletic. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  61. ↑ @ehtkachuk; (July 24, 2023). "Mr. & Mrs". Retrieved July 24, 2023 – via Instagram.
  62. ↑ Kumar, Ankit (August 16, 2023). "Is John Farinacci related to Brady Tkachuk? Exploring the relation between Bruins' newest signing and Sens captain". Sportskeeda. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  63. ↑ "From Dating To Marriage To Parenthood: Ottawa Senators Star Brady Tkachuk And Wife Emma Together For Over Eight Years". playersbio.com. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  64. ↑ "A tough ending, and a meaningful beginning". nhl.com. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  65. ↑ Gaudio, Julian (July 10, 2026). "Matthew Tkachuk Reveals Panthers GM Bill Zito First Gave Him The Idea For The Podcast". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  66. ↑ McKenzie, Julian (April 3, 2026). "Brady Tkachuk, Senators dismiss dad Keith's controversial podcast comments as 'white noise'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  67. ↑ "NHL announces 2018-19 All-Rookie Team". National Hockey League. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
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