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Amid a shower of deafening boos, Brady Tkachuk flashed a cheeky smile.
Once an Ottawa fan favorite, the Senators faithful instead greeted Tkachuk as if he was Public Enemy No. 1 in his first game back since requesting a trade before ultimately being shipped to the Panthers in June.
It made for a rather awkward scene Wednesday night, with a tribute video instead turning into an outpouring of angry emotions, capped by Tkachuk seemingly embracing the villain role by smiling from ear to ear while he raised his stick in acknowledgment of the reaction.
“Were they ruthless?” he joked to a reporter about the reception after scoring Florida’s only goal in a 5-1 road loss. “It was good, shows the passion that they have. One chapter closed and, like I said, just an exciting, new chapter that we’re living in. It was nice be in front of that passionate fan base.”
Tkachuk, 27, had served as one of Ottawa’s stars for eight years after being drafted fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft before a series of events changed his standing with the Ottawa fan base.
After the Hurricanes swept the Senators in the first round, Tkachuk, who had signed a seven-year, $57.5 million extension and become team captain, stated publicly his commitment to the franchise.
Behind closed doors, though, he asked to be traded and the opportunity arose to play alongside older brother and fellow NHL star Matthew Tkachuk with the Panthers.
The Senators ultimately traded him in June for four draft picks, including three first-rounders.
He pushed back Wednesday against a notion that he asked for a trade after being urged by his brother and his father Keith, a former NHLer.
“There’s professional, personal reasons why I wasn’t going to re-sign here,” he said before Wednesday’s game. “A lot of those things remain private … Just happened to work out this way.”
He added: “There was some stuff out there that wasn’t true and I guess questioned where my mind has been at for the last little bit. That was probably the hardest part of this process, with how untrue that was … I’m excited for this next chapter and the future memories that will come with that.”
The Senators attempted to do right by their former star with the tribute video, which included his off-the-ice ventures, but the fans wanted nothing to do with it.
His former teammates tapped their sticks while he took the ice, but the crowd’s vitriol only grew louder while he did a skate with a sheepish grin to acknowledge them.
Fan later chanted “F–k you, Brady,” “Brady sucks,” and “Little brother,” at him during the game, according to ESPN.
He scored the game’s first goal in the 10th minute, his seventh of the young season, before Ottawa responded with five straight.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Whatever their emotions there may be, they’re entitled to it,” Tkachuk said pregame. “I know, for me, it’s not going to be taken personally. I know how I feel about this city, about this fan base, and how thankful and appreciative that I am. No matter what the reaction’s going to be, it’s not going to change how I feel about this city and this fan base.”