Possible tampering storm brewing around Matthew Tkachuk after Brady’s trade

The concept of tampering in professional sports typically conjures images of executives or general managers making backdoor deals. But in the NHL, the rules around player tampering present a far more nuanced and rarely enforced landscape that deserves closer examination. In one of their articles (originally in French), TVA Sports relates that, according to the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, players themselves can technically be found guilty of tampering. The provision exists on paper, giving the league the authority to investigate and penalize individuals who improperly communicate with or recruit players under contract to other teams.

But here is the catch. Despite the rule’s existence, successful enforcement against players remains extraordinarily rare. The burden of proof is significant, and the league has historically shown little appetite for pursuing such cases aggressively. Which means that Matthew Tkachuck is unlikely to be accused of tampering and won’t even face any consequences when it comes to the controversial trade of his younger brother Brady from the Ottawa Senators to his Florida Panthers earlier this summer.

Brady Tkachuk was traded south in June after spending the first eight seasons of his NHL career in Ottawa. The 26-year-old had served as the Senators’ captain for five seasons and appeared to be firmly established as the face of the franchise. Yet after Ottawa’s first-round playoff exit, Tkachuk requested a trade and ultimately used his no-movement clause to make sure he joined his brother Matthew in the Panthers’ dressing room. And therefore, fans and pundits pointed to Matthew’s role in the transaction.

Senators owner Michael Andlauer recently spoke about the circumstances that ultimately led to the trade, and his comments raised eyebrows.

“Blood is thicker than water, and let’s just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen,” Andlauer said to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun referring to soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk.

“Ultimately the decision was made to go and play with his brother. It’s a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa. And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady — even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind.”

Brady has denied that playing with his brother was why he requested a trade, though the boys have openly been discussing hockey, their experiences and the Senators on their “Wingmen” podcast. Their father, Keith Tkachuk, also appeared on the podcast and publicly questioned how Ottawa was using Brady during the 2025-26 season. Keith criticized his son’s ice time, while Matthew questioned why Brady appeared to receive more responsibility with Team USA than he did with Ottawa.

In the end, there is no evidence that Matthew or Keith /forced/ Brady out of Ottawa, but the family connection to Florida is tough to ignore.

But when it comes to tampering accusations, TVA Sports basically reminds us not to hold our breath. The distinction between casual conversation and deliberate recruitment is notoriously difficult to pin down. Players interact constantly during games, at league events, and through personal relationships that predate their professional careers. Drawing a clear line between friendly banter and targeted tampering is a challenge that has long frustrated league officials.

While teams have occasionally faced scrutiny and even penalties for tampering violations at the management level, the player side of the equation remains largely untouched. The practical reality is that proving intent and establishing a direct connection between a player’s words and a subsequent roster move requires evidence that is almost impossible to gather. That does not mean the league ignores the issue entirely. The rules serve as a deterrent, and the possibility of punishment reportedly keeps most conversations within acceptable boundaries. However, the expectation that a player will face serious consequences for recruiting a friend to join their team remains, by most accounts, unrealistic.

I mean we have no clue if Keith and Matthew actively encouraged Brady’s decision and I guess that something only the family knows and will discuss at family gatherings.