The biggest blockbuster of the summer was undoubtedly Brady Tkachuk joining forces with his brother, Matthew, in Florida. The trade originally appeared to come out of nowhere, as Brady consistently shut down rumors that he would ask out of Ottawa. Well, once the trade was completed, it was revealed that Brady did indeed ask out of Ottawa and basically forced his way to Florida to play with his brother.
Last night, Brady made his return to Ottawa. To say the game was electric would be a vast understatement. Fans had posters plastered to the glass during warmups eviscerating their old captain. The boos rained down like water during a hurricane. Chants of โF your podcastโ and โF you Bradyโ echoed throughout the evening.
Brady responded perfectly. He smirked and acknowledged the crowd during his tribute video, scored the game’s first goal (Jordan shrug afterward), and ultimately got sent off for roughing late in the third period. Ottawa walloped the Panthers 5-1, and the team and its fans definitely needed that victory.
It’s the middle of October, but I’m not sure we see another game with such great theatre for the rest of the season. You had a crowd foaming at the mouth to voice its displeasure with an individual on another team. You had that player responding like he’s the Joker. You had fights galore and everything else you could have wanted out of the evening.
If every game were played like this, incarceration rates would increase for the patrons and mortality rates would increase for the players.
Last night was not something that can happen every day, but it is something we need more of in all sports. If Winnipeg eventually trades Connor Hellebuyck, we could get a similar game when he returns, and I cannot wait.
Hate is good for sports.
