Matthew Tkachuk and Keith Tkachuk (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Keith Tkachuk is well aware that the Florida Panthers have something special on their hands.
Tkachuk is the father of Matthew Tkachuk, who has led the Panthers to three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances and two Stanley Cup titles. Since his son’s arrival, Florida has become the powerhouse of the NHL, with the younger Tkachuk emerging as a fan favorite in South Florida following his arrival via trade from the Calgary Flames.
The 53-year-old Tkachuk himself is one of the greatest American hockey players ever, going to the All-Star game five times and being one of just four American skaters to score at least 500 goals.
Tkachuk and his two sons, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, are on the cover of the deluxe edition of NHL 26. Matthew is the main cover athlete for this year’s game.
He gives major credit to the Panthers organization for what they’ve managed to assemble and accomplish in recent years.
“It’s a combination of everything, the ownership, the general manager being very creative to bring these guys down,” says Tkachuk to RG. “You gotta remember all these guys they traded for — Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Matthew, these are all high draft picks from other teams, and they found a way to make those acquisitions. The coach Paul Maurice is a players coach and lets the guys kind of do what they do in the locker room and on the bench, and the players are all buying in.”
There appears to be no end in sight, with the Panthers having a very realistic chance of becoming the first three-peat Stanley Cup champion team since the early 1980s New York Islanders. The Panthers return their entire core from last season, including the likes of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones, two huge veteran acquisitions during last season’s trade deadline.
Marchand scored two game-winning goals during the playoffs, including in Game 3 in a must-win for the Panthers over the Toronto Maple Leafs and again in the Stanley Cup Finals in double-overtime in Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Those goals proved to be pivotal as the Panthers eventually emerged victorious in both series.
The Panthers are considered the Stanley Cup favorites entering next season.
“When you can add a guy like Brad Marchand, was a huge impact for that team,” says Tkachuk. “They’re top to bottom. They can beat you with skill, physicality and just that swagger. I expect them to be like that in the next three or four to five years.”
Panthers’ Depth is Key
Florida will face a whole different challenge this season with Tkachuk out for the first few months due to a torn adductor muscle. He initially suffered the injury during the 4-Nation Face-Off in February. After missing the remainder of the regular season, he returned in time for the playoffs to help lead the Panthers to another Stanley Cup.
Tkachuk says that the Panthers are so “deep,” that they should be able to play well despite his son’s absence.
“They’re deep, you gotta remember they’ve still got some talented players,” says Tkachuk. “Bark to me is one of the best players in the league, Reinhart, you’ve got those guys (Anton) Lundell, (Eetu) Luostarinen, and Marchand were incredible last year in the playoffs. Their fourth line, (Gustav) Forsling, it’s amazing that he doesn’t get more publicity. But I don’t think he cares, he’s so talented.”
It’s also worth noting that outside of the Marchand re-signing, the Panthers also brought back Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad, the second-longest tenured player on the roster.
“Bringing back (Aaron) Ekblad was huge,” says Tkachuk. “Mikkola was a great acquisition and you can go down and down, Seth Jones. Look at what he did last year, he’s probably in the running — it’d be crazy not to take him on the other Olympic team. He played so well in the playoffs and when you have (Sergei) Bobrovsky in there, he knows how to win. They have a lot of elite players. They just know how to find a way. They’re a tough out in a seven-game series.”
Cats Are Cup Favorites, Says Tkachuk
When asked if they’re the favorites to win the Cup this season, Tkachuk says yes they are, but that can always change after the season starts. The key is staying “healthy.”
“Yeah, they won it the last two years, they’re the defending champions, so out of respect, they have to be — but things can change,” says Tkachuk. “They have to stay healthy, that’s important. Matthew will be gone for a little bit of time, so hopefully that gets straightened out, and you never know what could be thrown at you at the last second.”
“That’s why I still love them, because they don’t care,” Tkachuk continues to say about the Panthers. “They know how to win, and they know they’re going to deal with injuries and deal with different things, and they just want to get to the playoffs and be ready to go.”
Tkachuk says the thing that may prevent the Panthers from winning again is “wear and tear.” He also mentions that his son, Matthew, considers the Tampa Bay Lightning the toughest team to play against in the Eastern Conference.
“The biggest issue they might have is the wear and tear over the last three years of going as deep as they did,” says Tkachuk. “Plus what all the guys in the Four Nations did last year and what’s going to happen in February in the Olympics. Fatigue might set in, but I think they’re mentally strong, and their culture is too good, but you never know what could happen in the playoffs. The beasts are out in the west. I think the East, what Matthew always says is Tampa is always the toughest team to play against, because they do have that greasy skill game.”