Former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk says Ottawa is “still a special to me” as he prepares for his first game at Canadian Tire Centre since last summer’s trade, and he has plans for any jerseys tossed onto the ice. Tkachuk will play his first game in Ottawa on Wednesday night since he requested a trade at the end of last season. The Senators host the Florida Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Speaking on his Wingmen podcast with brother Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk was asked what he would think if he saw the “old number 7 on the ice” during the game. “I mean, now, just talking with our team and going to be talking with the Boys and Girls Club that, you know, every jersey that gets thrown on the ice, it’s going to get donated to a friend at the Boys and Girls Club in Ottawa,” Tkachuk said in the episode released Tuesday morning. “So, I don’t recommend doing it.” Matthew responded, “I want to see 10,000 on the ice then.” Brady Tkachuk added, “the Boys and Girls Club in Ottawa is truly a special place. So many amazing people.” “We are so happy to be a part of that for the last little bit and a place that we always love visiting.” Brady Tkachuk was traded by the Senators to the Florida Panthers on June 21 in exchange for three first-round draft picks. Senators general manager Steve Staios said Tkachuk asked to be traded. Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa doesn’t appear to be a hot ticket ahead of Wednesday night’s game at Canadian Tire Centre. There were approximately 2,000 tickets available for the game as of Tuesday morning. Matthew asked Brady for his thoughts on the “big game this week.” “It will hit when we land and when we’re there, just like seeing it from a different lens of not being home anymore,” Brady Tkachuk said. “The place is still special to me. Eight years, I’ve experienced so much. I’m excited. Became a father and husband during my time. It’s just a special place. Like. I’ve made so many special relationships, not just with my teammates over the years, but like some of my best friends are like the trainers and the staff members, and they just have such amazing people that make that organization tick. And I’m excited to see them.” Tkachuk said he will have dinner with a bunch of people after the Panthers arrive in Ottawa on Tuesday. Tkachuk and Florida will also be in Ottawa on March 18 for a 7 p.m. game.
