Brady Tkachuk and Auston Matthews have shared a history playing together and against one another throughout their hockey career’s. The two have a linkage stronger now more than ever both being captains of their respective Canadian franchise’s and having been teammates for Team USA in the 2025 4 Nations Faceoff.
Tkachuk’s Ottawa Senators and Matthews’ Toronto Maple Leafs spared off in this years 1st round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Leafs coming out on top. A rare playoff series win for the Matthews led Leafs was short lived as the squad went on to get bounced in the 2nd round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in 7 games, a familiar sensation for Auston and co.
Matthews has been a face of constant criticism and scrutiny from Toronto media and fans apiece as his club has come up short in the playoffs time and time again. Brady would not have been familiar with what that feeling was like until this past season, with it being the first time he has experienced playoff hockey during his career with the Sens thus far. Now, he can appreciate the pressures Matthews has faced being the star player for a Leafs squad that is expected to perform in the clutch moments down the stretch.
This is an experience Brady saw up close and personal suiting up besides Auston as a teammate on the American team that lost to Canada in the final game of the 4 Nations Faceoff this past season. The two will likely be teammates again next February as the NHL returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Tkachuk recently had some positive comments on his time spent with Matthews and how he conducts himself as a player on the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast. Brady mentioned how “dialed in” the Leafs player is on a consistent basis and the way he goes about his business is something to emulate for him.
We’ll see what lessons Tkachuk takes away from observing Matthews as both a teammate and opposing competitor. Both players have high expectations placed on them for their NHL teams and on the World stage this upcoming year.
