“It sucks”: Brady Tkachuk is heartbroken and holds back tears as Ottawa Senators trade Josh Norris

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk struggled to hold back tears while addressing the trade of his close friend and teammate, Josh Norris, to the Buffalo Sabres. The deal also included defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, with Ottawa receiving forward Dylan Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert, and a second-round draft pick in return.

BradyTkachuk and Josh Norris had been teammates for six seasons, forming not just an on-ice partnership but also a deep personal friendship. They spent years pushing each other to improve, sharing countless moments both professionally and personally. Losing Norris was especially tough for Tkachuk, who described it as one of the hardest moments of his career.

“It’s pretty tough. Yeah, I don’t want to… Yeah, it sucks,” stumbled the team captain while talking about losing his teammate to the Buffalo Sabres in a final day trade. “Obviously everybody knows how much he means to me, so… Yeah, next question,” Brady Tkachuk added.
“Just spent the whole day with him… Kind of take advantage of every minute the rest of the day,” said Tkachuk, still fighting to hold in the tears. Despite the emotional impact, Tkachuk acknowledged that trades are part of the business side of the NHL. He expressed confidence in the Senators' future and emphasized his role as captain in helping Cozens and Gilbert integrate into the team. While still processing the loss, he remains focused on leading Ottawa forward as they prepare for their upcoming game against the New York Rangers.
The Sabres' general manager explained that they chose Josh Norris because he is the type of player who elevates the entire team with his skill and presence. “Just a really good hockey player that is a true center who we think is going to be a guy that can come in and give us a boost and make the guys around him better. And that’s why we targeted him,” Kevyn Adams told reporters about Brady Tkachuk’s former teammate.
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The trade may have been difficult for Tkachuk and the Senators, but the Sabres see Norris as a valuable addition who can make a significant impact. As both teams move forward, Ottawa will adjust to their new lineup while Buffalo looks to benefit from Norris’ abilities.