Fans admired watching them while both represented the nation. And it came from the sight of Brady Tkachuk lighting it up together with Matthew Tkachuk during the Four Nations Face-off. Well, those four goals and an assist between them just brought the chemistry and left fans questioning big—when is Brady moving to the Florida Panthers? That chemistry sparked wild speculation—from contract shuffles to LTIR moves—as fans imagined the brothers joining forces on the ice full-time. Is the Ottawa Senators captain flying to Florida?

Not anytime soon, maybe. But here’s him making it pretty much clear—“I mean, it’s obviously it’s a lie,” he said in an interview with Sportsnet, while the network shared the clip on their official X handle. “All those, you know, article stories, it’s just not true,” Brady bluntly stated, shutting down the rumors as he continued to reel from the Senators’ NHL playoff exit.

After all, what came as a bitter end was the Battle of Ontario that the Sens lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the Sens got bowed out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in a decisive Game 6, Auston Matthews’ squad won a tough one—4-2 that defined everything, as William Nylander celebrated his birthday with two goals that sealed Ottawa’s fate. And for Brady? Well, it was another missed opportunity that boiled the frustration among players and supporters even more.

Despite the Panthers rumors flaring up again after Ottawa’s latest playoff disappointment, Brady didn’t just end the outside noise but revealed his emotions. “Everybody wants to accomplish and win the Stanley Cup, and I know we have a great group in here, and I know we’re just going to get that much better, and I know there’s going to be some amazing times and memories here down the road, but I think with all that stuff, it’s obviously not true. I want to play here,” the captain opened up, not just silencing the speculations but reaffirming the loyalty and belief he built for his team—the Ottawa Senators.

Despite the fans continuing to dream about a Tkachuk brothers reunion in the Sunrise, here’s the younger one not planning to jump ship anytime soon. While his road did seem to be a tough one, his mission is far from over, and to rebuild his team’s legacy, the elder one stepped in to lift up the spirits of his brother, who is deeply saddened by the loss.

Matthew Tkachuk calls Brady Tkachuk’s loss a big learning experience

Let’s admit that Matthew Tkachuk just never fails to be the big brother. Because, despite gearing up for his own playoff battle, Matthew didn’t waste any time bringing the spotlight to Brady. What did he do exactly? Matthew made a timely appearance, and he did it on the Spittin’ Chiclets on May 2! While the podcast circled around the conversations related to the playoffs and finals knocking, the Panthers’ alternate captain mentioned that he connected with the younger one after such a brutal exit.

“I just texted him last night. It was pretty late, so I haven’t got on the phone with him, just by text,” Matthew said, highlighting their brotherly bond in a difficult moment. But he didn’t just stop there; he sent a clear message to Brady, assuring him of his great potential! “I’m proud of the way he played. He played great. It was, I think, a very big learning experience to see it firsthand with those guys. I thought he really led the charge with their team,” he further stated. And honestly, he’s right because the Sens captain did show the mental strength to withstand the storm!

But these moments of support and playing together suggest only the bond they share and not something that highlights either one of them leaving their respective teams and playing together. While that is very much anticipated by everyone in the hockey community, it didn’t shift their priorities, right? And while Brady Tkachuk fielded the trade rumors while enduring a tough playoff loss, Matthew quietly stood by him, reminding everyone where his heart lies. And this just shows the two brothers carving their respective paths but rooted in mutual respect.