Brady Tkachuk Won't Make the Panthers a Dynasty, Stop Pretending He Will

I knew this would happen. I really did. But I thought I'd have to wait a few years for this.

Exactly one week after the NHL season ended with the Carolina Hurricanes as Stanley Cup Champions, the deal was made. Brady Tkachuk is out of Ottawa, as the Senators traded him to the Florida Panthers, who gave up two 1st round picks in this year's Draft, a 2nd round pick in next year's Draft, and a 1st round pick in the 2029 Draft (which is top 10 protected). So for the first time ever, Brady Tkachuk will be playing alongside older brother Matthew Tkachuk on an NHL level.

The trade's barely a day old, yet already, Panthers fans are getting even more full of themselves than they already are. They've been extra arrogant after Carolina won. Their favorite statement: "They only won because Florida was out of the way." Seriously? They're acting like Florida's two runs weren't cakewalks? And you only beat Carolina in one of your runs. The first time was 2023. You know 2023? The year when you upset the 65-win Bruins and made us laugh at them, and then you needed the refs to help you beat Toronto. Yeah, you swept Carolina, but what did you do with it? You lost to Vegas. Take a lap.

2024. Beat a Lightning team that the Avalanche broke (you're welcome, BTW), beat Boston because everyone not named the Toronto Maple Leafs does, needed the refs to help you beat the Rangers, and while you did beat the Oilers, you did so in seven despite the fact that you were up 3-0. Take a lap.

2025. Beat the Bolts again because they're still not over 2022 (again, you're welcome), needed the refs to help you beat Toronto, yeah, you beat Carolina, and yeah, you went on to repeat. But you didn't just win the Cup again, you beat Edmonton again. Everyone beats Edmonton. Well, everyone not named the Los Angeles Kings, that is. I repeat: take a lap.

This is the team that'll be a dynasty now that they have both Tkachuk brothers? A team who won Cups because they played burnt out teams, ham-and-eggers, and needed the refs against real teams? Even worse, it's not only Panthers fans saying this. Other fanbases are as well. The word "superteam" is being thrown around regarding the Panthers. I'm not joking. The Avalanche, Canadiens, and Wild exist, but the Panthers are a "superteam." Good grief.

As usual, I'm here to deliver the usual reality check, and here it is: the Panthers will miss the playoffs again in 2027.

During the last offseason, the bad news regarding the Panthers hit. Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksandar Barkov: injured. At least Tkachuk was out until around December or January. Barkov? Season. My thoughts when I heard this? "Well, there goes the three-peat. They're going to miss the playoffs." Sure enough, 84 points in the standings. Only finished ahead of the Leafs in the division because they stupidly traded Mitch Marner away, and only the Leafs and Rangers were worse in the entire conference.

So I was right. I'm getting tired of being right. Especially because people still seem to think they know better when they know nothing. You know why they missed the playoffs? Because Tkachuk and Barkov represent (at least) two-thirds of the entire team's offense. The only other player worth a damn on that team is Sam Reinhart. You seriously think Brady will make a difference on that team? Get outta here!

Speaking of Brady, the sentiment among Sens fans is that he quit on the team. He told anyone who'd listen that he wanted out of Ottawa, and he was a total no-show in the playoffs this past year. Also, he's now in Florida, and we know who that state (and the Tkachuks) support politically. Yeah. I hope Brady gets booed out of the building when the Panthers visit Ottawa.

Also, let's look at the current state of the Atlantic Division right now. The Sabres ended a long playoff drought, and from looks of it, that team has staying power. The Lightning always seem to find a way to make it, and the Canadiens are now a legit Cup contender. Remember: it takes at least third place in the division to automatically make it. This was the top 3 in the Atlantic Division this past season. Can you honestly say, without doubt or bias, that the Panthers will pass any one of those teams in the standings in 2026-27? You can't. The three teams are way too deep, especially Les Habitants.

Another way is in the Wild Card, and these are five teams I believe have a realistic shot. I didn't mention Carolina in that cluster, because they should win the Metro again. Regarding the Penguins, I can see them in second in the Metro, but that leaves four other teams. The Flyers and Bruins both made it, and while the Red Wings and Blue Jackets didn't, they were close. Can you honestly say, without doubt or bias, that the Panthers will pass any one of those teams in the Wild Card standings in 2026-27? Again, you can't.

Now, I am a fair man, and I will say this. There is only one way that the Panthers will ever have a chance at anything this upcoming season. They have to make a deal for this man:

I know what you're thinking. "But Clyde, Connor Hellebuyck is a playoff liability!" "He can't do it in the playoffs!" I know, I know, believe me, I know. I've written about it. I've seen it. I still can't fathom it, but I've seen it. Here's the thing, though. Connor Hellebuyck is on the right side of 30. Current goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is not getting any younger. He's only 10 days younger than the current Conn Smythe Trophy winner! And it's showing; Bobrovsky is declining. There has been some talk that Hellebuyck may want out of Winnipeg. After all, Nikolaj Ehlers got out, and look how it worked out for him.

We know what Hellebuyck can do in the regular season. And playoff woes don't last forever. Ask Alex Rodriguez or Clayton Kershaw. If the Panthers actually make the deal for Hellebuyck, I might say that the Panthers could actually contend.

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The bottom line is this: the Panthers are undermanned, they missed the playoffs this past year because they went too long without two of their very few good players, and they got a player who pretty much quit on his previous team. That will not help the Panthers. They need much more than what they have now. If they don't get it, expect this to be another doomed season for the Panthers, with only their Mickey Mouse Cups to fall back on.