Panthers fans can finally talk, breathe, and consume hockey again. The sport is officially back - even if it is only preseason.
Florida opened its schedule with a 6-3 victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night. The result will not count in the standings, but the game offered the first look at what could ( and surely will) become one of the NHL’s most interesting storylines this season: Brady Tkachuk’s transformation into a Florida Panther.
A New Hockey Life in Florida
Brady spent most of the summer learning what it feels like to be an American hockey player playing on American soil. That matters.
After years in Ottawa, he now joins one of the NHL’s most visible teams - and shares the Florida spotlight with his older brother, Matthew Tkachuk. The Big Chucky will no longer carry the responsibility of promoting the Panthers and helping grow hockey in South Florida alone.
The siblings have already embraced their new role together. They attended a college football game, hosted the inaugural Tkachuk Cup youth hockey tournament at the Panthers’ practice facility, and opened their first NHL training camp as teammates.
Brady Opens and Closes the Scoring
Brady did not disappoint in his first game wearing a Panthers uniform. In fact, he nearly opened and closed Florida’s side of the scoresheet.
He nailed his first Panthers goal on the power play, with assists from Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. The 27-year-old forward later assisted on Barkov’s goal that gave Florida a 2-1 lead in the second period.
Brady also dropped the gloves in the third after standing up for the captain, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick in his first preseason appearance with Florida.
Then, with the game nearly over, he delivered one final message: It was time to go home. Brady scored into the empty net at 17:45 of the third period, sealing the Panthers’ 6-3 victory.
Already looking like a Panther
Brady Tkachuk was busy becoming a Panther from the moment the puck dropped. He produced offensively, brought his trademark physical edge, and immediately stood up for his captain and teammates.
Did anyone expect anything less?
Ultimately, the Panthers’ new era is officially underway. And it was just the first preseason game.
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