It’s been a topic of conversation ever since several members of Team USA who won Gold at the 2026 Olympics put in trade requests or expressed uncertainty about their futures with their clubs, and whether they’re plotting to be on the same team and win in the NHL. Could some of these moves be viewed as tampering?
Now it is hard to prove, given players talk all the time, but how Brady Tkachuk ended up on the Florida Panthers alongside brother Matthew Tkachuk made many people wonder.
Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Ottawa Senators Michael Anlauer, in an interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, didn’t mince words: Brady Tkachuk was influenced not only by Matthew Tkachuk, but by Keith Tkachuk as well.
“Blood is thicker than water, and let’s just say that his father and his brother got in his kitchen,” Andlauer said, referring to soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk and Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, though Brady has denied that playing with his brother was why he requested a trade. “Ultimately, the decision was made to go and play with his brother. It’s a decision that was out of our control to a certain degree. But you have to want to play for Ottawa. And right to the end, our fans were behind Brady — even after Team USA won gold. I have no doubt in my mind.”
Though Anlauer praised Brady Tkachuk for his time in Ottawa, his family clearly had some influence, given that he did “The Wingmen Podcast” alongside his brother Matthew, despite what Brady Tkachuk said.
According to sources close to Full Press Hockey, “neither club really liked the idea of the podcast happening, especially the Senators.”
It has been publicly documented that Brady Tkachuk’s former teammates had issues with it, but the episode that everyone is pointing to is the episode where Matthew Tkachuk and their dad, Keith Tkachuk, would roast Brady Tkachuk about having to deal with the media in Ottawa and why don’t you come down to Florida to play.
Other factors also contributed to Brady Tkachuk leaving the Ottawa Senators. Most of it has to do with the “white noise,” or “rat poison,” as Nick Saban likes to call it. But he didn’t want to deal with the constant questions about off-ice stuff, so he asked to leave.
During an appearance on The Green Zone with Jamie Nye, they discussed what happened on “The Wingmen Podcast” being considered tampering, and whether the NHL still has a problem with tampering, given that some prominent Team USA players want to be traded to most of the same teams.
Full Press Media Transcriptions
Jamie Nye: Jim, what do you think happens first with the league? Because this has got to be driving (Gary) Bettman nuts, because it’s clear and outright tampering. Do you think they deal with that, or do you think he eventually succumbs to the fact that there is an imbalance of power for the teams that are no-tax. Do you think he deals with this tampering issue, or do you think he deals with the no-tax issue first? Pure speculation, I understand that, but it’s a conversation people are going to start having.”
New York Rangers: New York Rangers Will Be Patient Following Igor Shesterkin Season-Ending Injury
Detroit Red Wings: What Comes Next for the Detroit Red Wings After the Alex DeBrincat Extension?
Winnipeg Jets: Could Connor Hellebuyck Return to the Winnipeg Jets? Will It Even Happen?
Columbus Blue Jackets: Could Zach Werenski Offseason Noise Pick Up Again in Columbus?
PODCAST: NHL TRADE RUMORS EXPLODE! Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck, Simon Edvinsson + More
WANT MORE PODCASTS? NHL RUMORS EXPLODE! Simon Edvinsson, Connor Hellebuyck & New York Rangers Goalie Search
Jim Biringer: “I think you got to deal with the tampering issue first. The no-tax situation, that’s on the states themselves. The National Hockey League really can’t do anything about what local governments and local state officials say about no state income tax or a state income tax. That’s the state’s prerogative, down here south of the border.
And also, let’s be honest, for 30 years the Florida Panthers weren’t good. They had that advantage. Teams in Major League Baseball, the NBA, and the NFL have the same advantages as National Hockey League teams and still stink, so I think that can be thrown out the window.
I do think they have to deal with the tampering, but the problem is these guys can talk in hypotheticals all they want, and what are they going to do, tap phones? It’s kind of hard to do that, but I think the fact of the matter is players are talking more and more when they’re going and representing their country and being in the same locker room and say, oh, hey, wouldn’t it be cool if we’re here, wouldn’t be cool there.
I think the bigger issue is it’s outright open on a podcast; I think that’s the problem, because if you look at it, Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk have a podcast. Keith Tkachuk is on there. They’re talking about, ” Oh, you should come down and play in Florida. That’s the bigger issue. And I think that’s something that they’re going to have to corral moving forward.
Players can talk all they want; that’s what they do, but I think when it’s outright in the open, they’re going to have to take a stance on it.”
Remember, the NHL watches tampering closely, given that it sent a memo to all 32 clubs ahead of the 2025 offseason. They didn’t like all those signings right away, especially after the free agency period opened at 12 pm on July 1st, 2024.
The League warned the Chicago Blackhawks this past offseason about tampering involving Ilya Mikheyev. So they take it seriously. It came up when former Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said Quinn Hughes wanted to play with his brothers and that he could get the other two there in the spring of 2025.
Again, players talk all the time, but it’s worth watching, given that Quinn Hughes hasn’t extended with the Minnesota Wild yet. Say Quinn Hughes was traded to the New Jersey Devils and signed an extension right away this past July 1st; tampering talks could have been swirling.
That is part of why Rasmus Andersson didn’t extend right away with the Vegas Golden Knights. So tampering is easy to say, but hard to prove. But the threat of tampering is real, given how all these players talk.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? We are posting weekly podcasts, hot takes, and rumors from around the NHL. Come along for the ride.
