A lot has changed for Brady Tkachuk in the last few days. The four-time NHL All-Star is no longer the captain of the Ottawa Senators. He is also starting a new journey with the Florida Panthers, where he will play with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk. One of the biggest changes is his jersey number.

Sportsnet reported that Tkachuk will wear No. 8 with the Panthers. He could not keep his usual No. 7 because defenseman Dmitry Kulikov already wears that number. No. 27 was also not available because Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen has it.

Because both numbers were taken, Tkachuk chose No. 8 for his new team. The new number also has a special connection to Tkachuk's family.

The same report by Sportsnet says his father, Hockey Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk, wore No. 7 for most of his NHL career. However, he switched to No. 8 during a short 18-game run with the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2006-07 season.

Florida shared a lighthearted post to introduce Tkachuk's new No. 8 jersey to fans after the trade became official.

They posted on X, "He 8 with this jersey.”

The jersey change comes during a special week for the Tkachuk family. Just one day after Brady joined the Florida Panthers, his father, Keith Tkachuk, earned a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.

The announcement added another big moment to an already exciting week for the family. As Brady starts his career with the Panthers, he will wear a number that also has a connection to his father's NHL career.

Brady Tkachuk joins Matthew in Florida after blockbuster trade

The trade was one of the biggest deals of the NHL offseason. NHL.com reported that the Florida Panthers acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators. In return, Ottawa received the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027.

The Panthers' general manager, Bill Zito, praised Tkachuk after the trade. Zito called him a dynamic competitor and one of the league's most physical and hard-working forwards. He also said he is excited to add Tkachuk to Florida's push for more success in the coming seasons.

Tkachuk joins the Panthers after a strong season in Ottawa. He recorded 59 points, including 22 goals and 37 assists, in 60 games. The 26-year-old served as the Senators' captain for the last five seasons and has collected 463 points in 572 NHL regular-season games since Ottawa selected him fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.

The trade also brings Brady together with his older brother, Matthew Tkachuk. Matthew has helped Florida reach multiple Stanley Cup Finals since joining the team in 2022. That reunion is expected to be one of the biggest storylines of the 2026-27 season.

With a new team, a new jersey number, and the chance to play alongside his brother, Brady Tkachuk is beginning an exciting new chapter in Florida.

What do you think? How much impact do you think Brady Tkachuk will make for the Panthers in his first season wearing No. 8? Comment down below. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi