Former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was officially introduced as a Florida Panther on Tuesday, and he insisted that he didn't take his decision to request a trade lightly.
"There's definitely a lot of different things that have happened throughout my time there, and for me, I think it was just time for the next chapter," Tkachuk said, per Sportsnet. "It wasn't an easy decision. It was something that I took a little bit more time than what's been out there to make that decision. It was a very hard decision. There's a lot more things that go into it, but for me now, I'm very thankful for what they've done for me, not just as a player but molding me into the human I am today."
Tkachuk, who spent eight seasons with Ottawa, began his press conference by thanking the Senators organization.
"I just want to take this time to thank Michael Andlauer, Steve Staios, the whole management crew, every coach that I've played for, the staff, teammates, and the fan base," Tkachuk said. "Just want to say thank you for those eight years. I came in as a 19-year-old and became a husband in that time, a father of two. It was very formative years in my life, so they'll always have a piece of my heart."
Tkachuk was traded to the Panthers on Sunday for a package of draft picks that included three first-rounders. The bombshell move came less than two months after Tkachuk affirmed his commitment to Ottawa but mentioned that constant trade rumors were becoming a distraction.
Tkachuk reportedly requested a trade after the Senators were swept in the first round of the playoffs. He gave Ottawa a list of four teams he'd waive his no-movement clause for but was particularly motivated to join his older brother, Matthew, on the Panthers.
The pair won Olympic gold together in February and also represented the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off last year. Brady notched 59 points in 60 games last season and is widely considered one of the league's top power forwards.
The Panthers missed the playoffs this past season but had reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals before that, winning twice.
Ottawa is reportedly expected to flip the picks it received in the trade to add an impact player.
