The Four Nations Face-Off provided the excitement, but it was not smooth sailing for Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers star played through pain to help Team USA qualify for the final and by Thursday’s game against Canada, he was struggling. With just 6:47 of ice time, the injury won. By Saturday, he was out against the Kraken, due to a lower-body injury. Still, don’t rule him out—Panthers coach Paul Maurice said on 560 AM WQAM that Tkachuk will play this season. The big question? Will he make it back before or after the playoffs kick off?

Meanwhile, the buzz around Tkachuk’s status kept growing. During the episode of The Joe Rose Show, Maurice suggested that the injury, which has been speculated to be a groin strain, could be more prolonged than expected, but he quickly added, “But he’s playing for us this year.” Just a day before, he was more cautious and stated, “I don’t know that anything changed in that game from the game prior.” But now, a former NHL player is taking a shot at both Matthew and Brady Tkachuk for their “emotional” Four Nations decision—asking if Matthew Tkachuk should have dressed for that final game.

In a video by Sportsnet, former NHL player Nick Kypreos had a lot to say about the Tkachuk brothers and, to put it mildly he said, “You couldn’t find two more emotional guys than the brothers, right?” he noted, stressing on the fact that they both display a lot of passion on the field. And while he admitted, “I probably went a little over the top last week,” after calling Matthew’s move “a little selfish,” he still thinks there’s truth to it. But when it comes to Brady? Kypreos sees a leader in the making. “Brady’s learning how to control his emotions and be a leader,” he explained. “I think there’s lots of growth there for him too.”

But as for, the older Tkachuk’s decision to play Thursday, Kypreos left no room for debate: “In hindsight, not a chance Matthew Tkachuk should have played Thursday night.” But even after these statements, Kypreos made it evident—he is a supporter. “Two guys I would love to have on a hockey club,” he admitted, because let’s be real, their energy is the kind that can change a game. In the end, Kypreos is not detracting from what the Tkachuk brothers bring to the table for the ice.

Brady Tkachuk had an unfortunate fall at Four Nations Face-Off and was seen falling hard during the game against Sweden at TD Garden that ended 2-1. He lost an edge on a rush, charged directly into Sweden’s Samuel Ersson and bam–net dislodged and Brady was out with a lower body injury. But leave it to him to turn a setback into something wholesome.

While on the bench, he ensured the fans were not left out as he autographed jerseys and showered the fans with love. As for the Tkachuk brothers, they’re the heart and soul of their squads—true game-changers with that signature fiery energy. And their impact? Yeah, even other legends are weighing in on just how important these two are to the game.

Legends reflect on Brady and Matthew Tkachuk

It all started with Four Nations Face-Off and Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney did not hold back while commenting on Tkachuk brothers. Bissonnette was not shy when he described Brady and Matthew as “the most marketable players in the NHL right now.” And with all the comparisons to the Bash Brothers and the Mighty Ducks, he made one thing very clear, the Tkachuk name is built different. Their dad, Keith? Yes, he is a Hall of Fame player without any doubt in my mind. Scoring 500 goals speaks for itself.

But what really makes these two such a big deal? It’s not just the skill—it’s the sheer entertainment value. That USA vs. Canada showdown had everything: fire, passion, and a little bit of chaos. Paul explained that, apart from the fights between brothers, the Tkachuks have the zeal that fans enjoy. It is in their blood–hockey is part of this family and they have chemistry on the ice that is practically tangible.

Whitney joined in, supporting fully the opinion of Biz. He couldn’t get over their post-fight banter, calling it something straight out of a backyard brawl between kids. “How was mine?” Matthew asked, like a nine-year-old looking for approval. “Unbelievable.” Brady hyped him right back. The high-fives, the glass-banging—it was gold. Whitney even joked that those two fights alone probably made them millions in marketability. And honestly? He might not be wrong. This game? Yeah, it’s going down in the Tkachuk history books.