Keith Tkachuk delivers a blunt message to Senators fans

Keith Tkachuk has a message for Ottawa Senators fans who are still upset about Brady Tkachuk's departure from the nation's capital: It's time to move on.

The Hockey Hall of Fame inductee recently addressed the hostile reception his son received when he returned to Ottawa for the first time as a member of the Florida Panthers. And while Keith understands that Senators supporters weren't exactly thrilled to see their former captain wearing another team's jersey, he clearly believes the situation has gone on long enough.

Speaking with The Athletic's Chris Johnston, Keith reflected on Brady's return to Ottawa and the reaction from the home crowd.

“Yeah, it was interesting,” Keith said. “Hey, I don’t have any animosity toward anything. It’s still your son. I wish (the Panthers) played better. I was a little more upset at how disappointing they played, and Ottawa played well. They voiced their opinion.

“Brady’s moved on. We’ve moved on. It’s time Ottawa moves on.”

Those comments are unlikely to win Keith many friends among Senators fans, particularly those who haven't forgiven Brady for forcing his way out of Ottawa and ultimately landing in Florida alongside his brother, Matthew.

Brady's departure was a particularly difficult pill to swallow for the Senators faithful. He wasn't just another player leaving town. He was the team's captain, a fan favourite, and someone many supporters believed would be the face of the franchise for years to come. Seeing him return in a Panthers uniform was always going to generate an emotional response.

And that's exactly what happened. Ottawa fans made their feelings known, giving Brady a hostile reception during his first appearance back at Canadian Tire Centre.

The controversy followed Keith all the way to Toronto, where he was loudly booed during the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday night. Rather than receiving the usual celebratory applause reserved for hockey legends, Tkachuk was greeted with a chorus of jeers.

It's worth remembering that Keith built a Hall of Fame career entirely on his own merits. Across 1,201 NHL regular-season games with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers, he recorded 538 goals and 527 assists for 1,065 points. He also represented the United States internationally, winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and an Olympic silver medal in 2002.

Nevertheless, the Tkachuk family has become a polarizing topic in Canadian hockey, particularly following Matthew and Brady's success with Team USA and Brady's decision to leave Ottawa.

Keith's latest comments make it clear that he isn't interested in revisiting the circumstances surrounding his son's departure. From his perspective, Brady has started a new chapter in Florida, and the family has moved forward.

Whether Senators fans are ready to do the same is another matter entirely. They have every right to be disappointed with how things ended, and Keith's comments aren't likely to change those feelings overnight.

But his message couldn't be much clearer: Brady has moved on, his family has moved on, and he believes it's time Ottawa did the same.

Tighten the repeated move-on wordingMake the opening more news-focused