Doug MacLean Suggests Brady Tkachuk Could Join Panthers Before NHL Draft

Rumors surrounding Brady Tkachuk’s potential move to the Florida Panthers are heating up, and former Panthers head coach Doug MacLean has weighed in. MacLean, who guided the Panthers to their first two Stanley Cup Playoff appearances in 1996 and 1997, made his thoughts known during a recent appearance on the Real Kyper and Bourne Show on Sportsnet 590.

As the conversation shifted toward the upcoming NHL Draft, MacLean made a compelling case for why Tkachuk, the Ottawa Senators’ captain, could be a prime target for the Panthers. “One final thing,” he said. “Think about this. Everybody’s trying to get in the top ten (at the NHL Draft). Florida has the ninth pick in the Draft. Where is Brady Tkachuk going to want to go? Think about this. The ninth pick of the draft, the top ten guys are great players. Florida will never have another top 10 pick for two or three years. This is the time when you’ve got to move on Florida. You pick up a couple of quality players, you pick up the ninth pick, and you know Brady wants to go to Florida. You know he’s gonna probably go there within two years. Two years is the magic number. The two playoff series. I wouldn’t be surprised that Brady Tkachuk is in Florida at the Draft.”

Earlier this offseason, reports indicated that the Senators might explore trading Tkachuk, who is under contract for two more years with an average annual value exceeding $8.2 million. With the NHL Draft Lottery concluded, the Panthers have secured the ninth overall selection, marking their first first-round pick since 2021.

This draft pick may be pivotal, especially since it is the last first-rounder the Panthers are expected to hold until 2029. If Ottawa is receptive to a trade, Tkachuk, who possesses a full no-movement clause, would have significant leverage in determining his future. Given that his older brother, Matthew Tkachuk, is already part of the Panthers’ roster, it’s reasonable to assume that Florida would be a favored destination for Brady.

As the NHL Draft approaches, the hockey community will be watching closely to see how these rumors develop and whether the Panthers will make a move for the talented forward. The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on June 26 and 27.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.