Brady Tkachuk heard every boo in Ottawa tonight, and the Panthers forward answered the jeers with a big grin and a royal wave.
The Senators played a tribute video on the big screen, and the arena drowned it out with boos from every corner of the building.
He stood there smiling, looked up at the crowd and gave them the royal wave.
That's the Tkachuk brand in one clip. The family has always seemed to enjoy playing the villain, and tonight was no exception.
Booing a player like that is like trying to put out a campfire with gasoline. The louder it gets, the brighter he burns.
Ottawa earned the right to boo. A franchise cornerstone asking out, then landing with his brother in Florida, was always going to make this return ugly.
He has denied that playing with Matthew drove his trade request. Michael Andlauer has said otherwise, claiming his father and brother “got in his kitchen.”
Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers walk into a hostile Ottawa building
Fair or not, his exit has become the face of a narrative that American stars would rather play south of the border than in Canada.
Several Team USA players have requested trades or voiced uncertainty about their futures since the Olympic gold, and the Tkachuks didn't exactly discourage it.
On the ice, Florida has gotten exactly what it wanted. Brady has six goals and 10 points through nine games.
Matthew has 14 points, 11 of them assists, and he's been setting the table all
season.
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The Panthers rolled into Ottawa on a three-game winning streak at 5-2-2.
Ottawa matches Florida with 12 points in the standings. Tim Stutzle has carried the offense with five goals.
Linus Ullmark gives the Senators a real chance most nights with a .945 save percentage.
Will the boos ever fade? Not while he keeps smiling back, and the next time Florida comes to town, Ottawa will be ready for round two.
Did Ottawa fans have every right to boo Brady Tkachuk during his tribute video?
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Brady Tkachuk in the middle of post-whistle scrum as Panthers visit Senators
