EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOTTAWA -- Brady Tkachuk knew it was coming.The Senators former captain made his return to Ottawa on Wednesday for the first time since requesting a trade last spring and being moved to the Florida Panthers in a June blockbuster. It was an acrimonious split that came on the heels of Tkachuk having publicly pledged, just weeks earlier, his commitment to the franchise while privately meeting with Senators' management about being sent out of town.Returning to face a disenchanted fanbase was inevitable. And Tkachuk was ready to accept this fate.The Senators faithful certainly didn't hold back once he took the ice for Wednesday's tilt -- not even in warmups. Tkachuk triggered boos that rained down from the rafters the second his skates touched ice, and he heard one chorus of them after another each time he handled a puck in preparation for the game ahead.Tkachuk, of course, had a broad smile immediately plastered his face. It was no secret what awaited him in this particular enemy territory. The hostility went on all night -- and Tkachuk kept soaking it in.When he was announced as part of the Panthers starting lineup -- boos. Before the anthems began - -chants of "Brady sucks!" Once the puck was done, more creative choruses directed at Tkachuk included "We Don't Need You," "Little brother," and "F--- You, Brady." Even something as innocuous as Senators' defender Artem Zub knocking Tkachuk over along the board drew a spirited anti-Tkachuk response from a building that had been waiting months to let their old friend know he wasn't welcome.And if it weren't clear enough -- there was a tribute video to come.The Senators put on a "Welcome Back, Brady" missive during the game's first TV timeout, and it was nearly inaudible amid all the boos accompanying it from the crowd. Tkachuk -- smiling wide -- lifted his stick to acknowledge the fans anyway, reacting to their animosity as if were deafening cheers.Tkachuk still tallied the first goal of the night anyway, a power play strike halfway through the first period to spot Florida a 1-0 lead. It was the Panthers' first shot of the game, and Tkachuk celebrated with his arms to the sky, relishing his role as a villain. Then he found himself in a familiar spot -- the penalty box -- for roughing it up with former teammate Nick Cousins.That got the crowd going all over again. And the fact Senators forward Tim Stutzle had responded for Ottawa on the power play to make it a 1-1 game through 20 minutes also gave the Senators fans something to revel in.What didn't happen out of the gate was any former No. 7 Senators sweaters hitting the ice in protest of Tkachuk's departure. Tkachuk had pledged to donate any outwear that reached the ice to a local chapter of the Boys and Girls club, but there weren't many sent flying as it seemed fans weren't inclined to see any of their old wears back in rotation.Tkachuk had two years remaining on his seven-year, $57.5 million deal when he approached the Senators' front office -- days after Ottawa was swept in a first-round playoff series by Carolina -- about wanting to leave town. He was fresh off winning Olympic gold with Team USA and his brother Matthew happened to already be headlining Florida's top six as part of two Stanley Cup-winning runs with the club. Tkachuk wanted it on the action and would waive his full no-move clause to make it happen.Despite what he'd declared about wanting to remain in Ottawa, Tkachuk wasn't looking to stick around.He said going into Wednesday's game that while multiple narratives claimed he was influenced by Matthew and father Keith -- an NHL legend -- to get out of Canada's capital, Tkachuk said he was a "big boy" who made his own decision about the trade request. And he wasn't going to be blindsided by some bad feelings when the game got underway."There's professional reasons, personal reasons, why I wasn't going to re-sign here," Tkachuk said. "And a lot of those things are going to remain private between [Senators' GM Steve Staios] and I. I know how I feel about this city, about this fanbase, and how thankful and appreciative that I am. And that no matter what the reaction is, it's not going to change how I feel about this city and the fanbase."
