Brady Tkachuk and Brad Marchand spark controversy again days before the season starts

Brady Tkachuk is reportedly behind the trolling of his own Ottawa Senators replacement, and Panthers fans are loving it.

HFTV flagged a reply mocking Tim Stutzle's bid for the Senators captaincy, framing it as "trashing from Brady" aimed at the man who could take his old letter.

The reply itself, posted under Brad Marchand's account, read simply: "Hahahah ......stutzle....hahaha"

Tkachuk left Ottawa behind and now skates alongside Marchand in Florida, which makes the timing of that jab impossible to ignore.

He's coming off a 59-point season with the Panthers, 22 goals and 37 assists in 60 games, plus 5 power play goals.

His last 10 games tell a hotter story. Eight points, six of them assists, showing he's still finding chemistry in that Florida room.

Stutzle, meanwhile, is one of three finalists to replace him. Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson round out that group, according to an August 25 report.

Tkachuk's brother adds another layer to the Florida angle

Stutzle posted 83 points last season, 34 goals and 49 assists in 80 games, with 9 power play goals and 5 game-winners.

Sanderson closed hot too, racking up 8 points over his final 10 games and finishing with 54 points across 67 appearances.

Chabot brings a rougher trend into the decision. He managed 31 points in 57 games but slid to a minus-8 rating over his last 10.

Matthew Tkachuk, Brady's brother, is also on that Florida roster, putting up 34 points in just 31 games this year.

Three former or current letter-wearers in one locker room, and the guy who lost his "C" is apparently still weighing in on who gets it next.

Ottawa finished last season 44-27-11 with 99 points, ninth overall in the league, riding a six-win stretch over their final 10 games.

That's the resume the next captain inherits. Whether it's Stutzle, Sanderson, or Chabot, they're stepping into a winning room with Tkachuk still watching from a distance.