'It Sucks': Brady Tkachuk On Verge Of Tears After Senators Trade His Best Friend

Brady Tkachuk was visibly emotional as he spoke about the Ottawa Senators' decision to trade his close friend and longtime teammate Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres.

Fighting back tears, Tkachuk struggled to find the words to describe what Norris meant to him both on and off the ice. "It’s pretty tough," he said. "It sucks losing a guy like that. Obviously, everybody knows how much he means to me."

He mentioned that he spent as much time as possible with Norris before he left, trying to make the most of their final moments together as teammates.

An emotional Brady Tkachuk shares his thoughts on now former teammate Josh Norris being traded to Buffalo pic.twitter.com/f8msV3N9Gv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 7, 2025

The trade sent Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to Buffalo in exchange for forward Dylan Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert, and a 2026 second-round pick.

While the move bolsters Ottawa’s roster, the loss was felt deeply in the dressing room. Tkachuk, who has been Norris’ teammate for years, struggled to keep his composure. "He was the number one guy that I would go to with anything, not just playing, but just anything outside of hockey. We were always there for one another," he said, his voice shaking.

Other teammates, including Drake Batherson, expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging their sadness while welcoming Cozens to the team.

Stop I’m gonna cry damnit. 💔

Via Brady Tkachuk on IG pic.twitter.com/IcqcSOdVXQ
— Locked On Senators (@SensCentral) March 7, 2025

Despite his emotions, Tkachuk understood the business side of hockey. He made it clear that he would do his best to welcome the new players, even as he processed the departure of someone he considered family.

"It’s the unfortunate reality of it being a business. We’re getting back important pieces that are really going to help us," he said. "I feel bad this is the initial reaction, but I think they’ll understand why it’s a bit of a whirlwind for me personally. That being said, it’s all about being a good captain and making sure they have everything they need."