Brady Tkachuk Defends Dad After Media Twists Keith Tkachuk Comments

Ottawa captain says his father's podcast remarks about NHL toughness were clearly about the Florida Panthers, not the Senators

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the multifaceted perspectives on the Tkachuk family controversy.A cubist interpretation of the heated debate over Keith Tkachuk's comments on modern NHL toughness.Buffalo Today

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is defending his father, NHL great Keith Tkachuk, after comments he made on a podcast about the toughness of modern NHL players were misconstrued by the Ottawa media. Keith Tkachuk was a guest on Brady and his brother Matthew's podcast, where he joked about the Panthers' perceived lack of toughness, but the Ottawa press interpreted his remarks as a dig at Senators goalie Linus Ullmark. Brady says it was clear his father was talking about the Panthers, not the Senators, and that the media is making a 'mountain out of a molehill'.

Why it matters

This latest off-ice distraction comes as the Senators are in a tight battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Brady Tkachuk has enough to worry about without having to defend his father's comments, which were clearly meant in jest about his brother's team and not intended as a slight against the Senators.

The details

During an appearance on Brady and Matthew Tkachuk's podcast, their father Keith Tkachuk joked about the perceived lack of toughness in the modern NHL, using the Florida Panthers as an example. He referenced former Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr playing 76 games in a season, contrasting that with today's 'rest management' and players sitting out back-to-back games. However, the Ottawa media interpreted Keith's comments as a dig at Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, leading them to grill Brady about the remarks. Brady says it was clear his father was talking about the Panthers, not the Senators.

  • Keith Tkachuk made the comments during an appearance on his sons' podcast.

The players

Brady Tkachuk

The captain of the Ottawa Senators, who is defending his father's comments.

Keith Tkachuk

A former NHL player and the father of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, who made the comments on his sons' podcast that were misconstrued by the Ottawa media.

Matthew Tkachuk

Brady's brother, who plays for the Florida Panthers and was also present on the podcast when their father made the comments.

Linus Ullmark

The goaltender for the Ottawa Senators, who the Ottawa media incorrectly thought Keith Tkachuk's comments were directed at.

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What they’re saying

“Being a part of it and after watching it back, I thought it was pretty clear he was talking about Florida. I don't really know how it got turned or misconstrued, but you know what happens. But I mean, I know in there I thought it was clear as they were talking about Florida, but a lot of all that other stuff, and just people taking it and twisting it, just nothing I can do about it.”

— Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators Captain

What’s next

The Senators will continue their push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with Brady Tkachuk trying to keep his team focused on the ice amid this latest off-ice distraction.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges professional athletes face in Canadian media markets, where even innocuous comments can be twisted and blown out of proportion. Brady Tkachuk is right to defend his father's remarks, which were clearly meant in jest about the Panthers and not as a slight against the Senators.