Golf with celebrities is one way to spend an NHL offseason. Training with UFC champions is another. Brady Tkachuk apparently has time for both - and with another season of the Battle of Florida approaching, the Tampa Bay Lightning might want to pay attention.
Schedule
The Florida Panthers’ first pre-season game will take place Sept. 20 against the reigning Stanley Cup champions. The Cats will start their regular season on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes and then fly to California for a three-game stretch. Later, the Florida crowd will welcome the team for the October 10 home opener. That’s also when the Panthers fans will get their first real chance to rate everyone’s pre-season preparation.
Especially Brady Tkachuk’s. Why?
It turns out the former Ottawa Senators captain is taking his big Florida homecoming way too seriously. And he is ready to step it up a notch.
Ready for another run
The Florida Panthers are known for their physical style and aggressive forecheck. That sort of game won the team back-to-back championships and took them to three consecutive NHL Finals. But that success came with a price: three short offseasons, limited time for proper rehabilitation, and, eventually, a 2025-2026 campaign filled with injuries.
So, this summer, getting ready isn’t just about getting back on the ice.
While Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad, and Carter Verhaeghe have been skating at the Panthers’ practice facility for weeks - some of them even taking part in summer league games - others are pushing for more work away from the ice.
From golf to fightning shape
Brady Tkachuk enjoyed some peaceful offseason time playing golf with celebrities. And then, apparently, it was time to get serious. So, what exactly is he getting ready for in one of the best MMA gyms in New Jersey?
Boxing, MMA, and a warning?
Boxing sessions are great cardio. But there is much more to it: resilience, patience, body positioning, and pain tolerance. And knowing how much Brady Tkachuk is always ready to step up for his team, some gym time with UFC champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev is also a sign that it will be a very challenging NHL season for opponents who don’t necessarily have their rosters that deep.
The Battle of Florida is awaiting
The Battle of Florida has never needed help getting physical. But Brady Tkachuk might be preparing to take it to another level - and his offseason work with UFC champions should give the Tampa Bay Lightning something to think about. Especially since the Bolts will have to face their neighbors without upgrading their roughness during the offseason.
Last season, the Florida Panthers finished third in the league among penalized teams with 922 PIM, 328 minor, 21 major, and 9 misconduct penalties, averaging 11.2 PIM per game.
The Tampa Bay Lightning led the “Bad Boys Club” ranking with 1,207 PIM, 345 minor, 45 major, and 20 misconduct penalties, averaging 14.7 PIM per game. The Boston Bruins was in between the two Florida frenemies with 978 PIM.
In the 2025-2026 preseason and regular-season head-to-head matches, the in-state rivals earned 885 penalty minutes. The hockey neighbors’ seven fierce on-ice meetings have turned this rivalry into one of the most watched and entertaining in the league.
Is this what Brady Tkachuk is getting ready for?
Ready to rumble?
But things will probably change with the return of Radko Gudas (1,124 PIM in 885 NHL games) and the signings of feisty Garnet Hathaway (739 PIM in 672 games) and fearless Brady Tkachuk (821 PIM in 572 NHL games).
The Lightning don’t have the depth to match the Panthers’ UFC-influenced squad.
And with everyone healthy, hungry for wins, and back in the Cup hunt, the Florida Panthers look to be in domination mode before the season even starts.
Maybe Brady knows exactly what he’s getting ready for.
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