The Ottawa Senators traded Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, and it’s the kind of move that reshapes a franchise for years. Tkachuk joins his brother Matthew on a team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, and while Florida missed the playoffs last season due to injuries, they’re expected to be a powerhouse when 2026-27 starts.
Steve Staios, the Sens’ president and GM, didn’t waste time turning the return into new pieces. The trade netted Ottawa the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the upcoming draft, plus a first-rounder in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027. Staios flipped the No. 9 pick to San Jose for forward William Eklund, forward Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to defenseman Brandon Svoboda.
William Eklund is the real prize here
Eklund is 23 and already has three full NHL seasons under his belt, plus parts of two others with the Sharks. He’s not a big guy — 5-10, 185 pounds — but he’s been trending up. Two years ago he had 17 goals and 41 assists, including six on the power play. Last season he dropped to 15 goals and 38 assists. Solid production, but it feels like there’s more there.
His skating is the standout tool. He’s got legitimate speed, but more than that he’s got balance and strength on his skates that you don’t expect from a smaller player. He can fight off bigger defensemen when he gets going, and he wins puck battles in the corners. That’s rare for a guy his size. Offensively, he’s a pass-first guy with a good left-handed shot. The Senators might push him to shoot more, especially if he lands on the top line with Tim Stutzle on his right and Fabian Zetterlund on the left.
He has the tools to become a star. He’s not there yet, but the raw ability is obvious.
Halttunen and Svoboda are longer-term plays
Halttunen is 21, huge, and loves to mix it up in the corners. He’s got a powerful shot and plays with an aggressive edge. His skating needs work, but the raw physical package is intriguing. Svoboda, also 21, projects as a reliable NHL defenseman. He’s better on the defensive side of the puck but can make a clean first pass and skate the puck out of trouble when needed. Both are a couple years away, but they give Ottawa depth in the pipeline.
Ottawa should keep hunting for more help up front
Eklund is a solid starting point after trading a star like Tkachuk, but the Senators shouldn’t stop here. They might have been interested in St. Louis’s Jordan Kyrou, but he got traded to Washington on Tuesday. So they need other targets.
Anaheim’s Mason McTavish is a name that keeps popping up in trade rumors, and the 23-year-old fits what Ottawa needs. He had 17 goals and 24 assists last season, which is fine but not great. He’s got strong offensive instincts and isn’t afraid to fight for space in the dirty areas of the ice. He’s also from Ontario, which never hurts. There’s room for his production to jump.
Jake DeBrusk, now 29, has been a consistent 20-goal scorer for most of his career. He hit 23 last season with Vancouver after years in Boston. He’s fast and has a nose for the net, but he’s streaky. He’ll score in bunches and then disappear for weeks. Adding him could work, as long as Ottawa understands they’re getting a hot-and-cold guy who might go cold at the wrong time.
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