Brady Tkachuk speaks as the new member of the Florida Panthers hockey team Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

The offseason trade that sent Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers is still one of the biggest storylines heading into the 2026-27 NHL season. The move also ended Tkachuk’s tenure as Ottawa’s captain and immediately raised questions about the direction of leadership for the franchise.Now, Giroux has answered those questions publicly. The veteran forward said the trade came as a surprise but stressed the Ottawa Senators remain committed to building on last season’s progress and making a push for a better season under head coach Travis Green.

Giroux spent four seasons playing with the former captain and said the decision was an emotional one for him as well. “You just don’t think that that’s going to happen,” he said. “Brady was captain here. He was great in the community, he did a lot for this community, and you just don’t think that kind of trade would happen. Obviously it did.”Giroux stressed that roster changes are part of professional hockey and the organization must now embrace its next chapter, despite the surprise.

Giroux’s own future was subject to rampant speculation after Tkachuk’s exit until he agreed to return for another year.

“It didn’t take long to go through all the options,” the veteran said, “because I thought the Senators had built up some positive momentum down the stretch last year.Giroux noted the team’s better play following the midseason grind as a sign of hope, saying the organization is ready to take another step toward becoming a consistent playoff contender.

Ottawa is heading into training camp without a captain, as Brady Tkachuk is no longer wearing the captain’s ‘C’. Giroux is expected to have a bigger leadership role, even if he doesn’t get the “C”.His experience and 240+ points since he arrived in 2022 provide stability to a roster that is now younger in age and looking to find itself.The Senators also know they’ll be seeing Tkachuk regularly because the Florida Panthers remain a division rival. Those matchups are expected to get extra attention during the upcoming NHL season as Ottawa begins a new era while Tkachuk begins the next chapter of his career in Florida.