On Wednesday night, Florida Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk will return to Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, the place he called home for eight seasons. Drafted fourth overall by the Senators in 2018, Tkachuk played 572 games with the franchise, serving as captain for five seasons before a blockbuster trade reunited him with his brother Matthew in Florida in June 2026.
With Wednesday marking another Panthers superstar's return to familiar territory, let's revisit five other players who faced their former clubs and how they performed in those reunions.
Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins drafted Brad Marchand in the third round of the 2006 Draft, and he would go on to play 16 years with the organization, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. As one of the greatest statistical players in franchise history, and after ascending to the captaincy after Patrice Bergeron retired, Marchand ended up in Florida at the 2025 Trade Deadline. He would help the Panthers win the Stanley Cup a few months later. On Oct. 21, 2025, he made his return to TD Garden and picked up two assists in a 4-3 Florida victory.
Matthew Tkachuk - Calgary Flames
As a sixth overall pick for the Calgary Flames at the 2016 Draft, Matthew Tkachuk played six years with the Southern Alberta team before a summer blockbuster brought him to Florida in 2022. Following a 104-point season with the Flames, he registered 109 points during his first campaign with the Panthers, helping the club reach the first of three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. When Tkachuk suited up against his former team at Amerant Bank Arena on Nov. 19, 2022, he scored a goal and added an assist in a 5-4 shootout loss.
Sam Bennett - Calgary Flames
Sam Bennett played with Tkachuk in Calgary, having been the fourth overall pick in the 2014 Draft. Eventually, the organization traded him to the Panthers for a draft pick and Emil Heineman. In 2025, he won the Conn Smythe as Florida celebrated back-to-back championships. When Bennett faced off against the Flames and Tkachuk on Jan. 18, 2022, he had the Panthers' lone goal in a 5-1 loss.
Sam Reinhart - Buffalo Sabres
Interestingly, Florida has an abundance of top-10 draft picks in their lineup, including Sam Reinhart, whom the Buffalo Sabres selected fourth overall at the 2014 Draft. He played seven years with the organization, never skating in the playoffs. Within four years, Reinhart became a 50-goal scorer and two-time Stanley Cup winner. Because of the realigned divisions for the shortened 2020-21 season, he didn’t get to play against Buffalo until Dec. 2, 2021, when he had a goal and three assists in a 7-4 win.
Throwback - Roberto Luongo - Vancouver
Franchise icon Roberto Luongo played with the Panthers from 2000 to 2006 before a massive trade sent him to the Vancouver Canucks. In Canada, he helped the franchise win the Presidents’ Trophy, and then he took them to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, where Marchand and the Bruins won. Eventually, Luongo made his way back to Florida in 2014 in a trade that sent current netminder Jacob Markström to Vancouver. Since he was traded on Mar. 4, 2014, it didn't take long for him to face his former teammates, as the Canucks defeated the Panthers 4-3 in a shootout on Mar. 16, 2014, with the Hall of Famer making 29 saves.
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