Thomas Chabot Fires Back at Brady Tkachuk's Decision to Leave Ottawa

The Ottawa Senators are gearing up for training camp and the 2026-27 season, but the elephant in the room isn't going away anytime soon. Brady Tkachuk's departure to the Florida Panthers this past June left a mark on the locker room, and his former teammates aren't exactly sugarcoating how they feel about it. At the Senators Foundation Charity Golf Tournament on Tuesday, several players opened up about the trade that sent their captain packing, and Thomas Chabot had some particularly pointed words.

Chabot Doesn't Hold Back

The veteran defenseman, now entering his 10th full season in Ottawa, made it clear that Tkachuk's trade request stung. Chabot told reporters that he and his teammates always feel slighted when a guy decides he doesn't want to be part of the group anymore. He said he'd be lying if he claimed he was happy when Tkachuk chose to leave, especially at a time when the Senators felt they were on the verge of building something special.

Chabot acknowledged that Tkachuk is a tremendous player and a good friend, but he didn't shy away from the underlying message: if you don't want to be here, that's fine, but we're moving forward without you. He mentioned calling Tkachuk after the deal went down to wish him well in Florida, where Brady will now play alongside his older brother Matthew. Still, the tone was unmistakable. Chabot takes pride in what the Senators are building in Ottawa, and he's not about to let one player's exit derail the mission.

Tim Stutzle echoed similar sentiments, admitting he was "pretty surprised" by the trade request. The top center said the team simply can't dwell on it and needs to focus on the roster they have now. Drake Batherson, who arrived in Ottawa the same year as Tkachuk back in 2018-19, called his former teammate a unique player who stuck up for guys and brought a physical edge that's hard to replace. But Batherson also acknowledged the reality: the team has to collectively fill that void, and they need to figure it out fast.

What's Next for Ottawa

The Senators received a significant haul in return for their former captain, landing two first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a second-rounder in 2027, and a conditional first-round pick in 2029. The offseason also brought in new faces like forwards William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky, along with goaltender Samuel Ersson. There's genuine excitement in the room about this retooled roster, even if the sting of losing a franchise cornerstone hasn't fully faded.

One of the bigger storylines heading into camp is the captaincy. Tkachuk wore the "C" for the past five seasons, and general manager Steve Staios has indicated Ottawa could potentially start the season without naming a new captain. Chabot, the longest-tenured Senator on the current roster, said it would be an honor to take on the role but noted that several players in the locker room are natural leaders.

There's also the matter of Batherson's contract situation. The 28-year-old forward is entering the final year of his deal and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. He made it clear he wants to stay in Ottawa for the long haul, and both sides are hoping to get something done before camp opens next week.

Ottawa has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons after a seven-year drought, though they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in the first round last spring. The Atlantic Division remains a gauntlet, and the Senators will open their season on Oct. 3 in Toronto. With or without Tkachuk, this group believes they're building toward something significant. Chabot's message was loud and clear: the door is open for anyone who wants to be part of it, and closed for anyone who doesn't.