Latest news with #Tkachuk
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Dumbest things': Matthew Tkachuk faces fan backlash after taking Stanley Cup to jail in latest celebration stunt
Matthew Tkachuk's Stanley Cup celebrations have sparked controversy (Getty Images) Matthew Tkachuk is no stranger to headline-grabbing antics, but his latest move with the Stanley Cup has fans sharply divided. After helping lead the Florida Panthers to their second straight championship in June 2025, the star forward has taken his victory lap to wild new heights—or depths, depending on who you ask. From ocean dips to jail visits, Matthew Tkachuk's Stanley Cup celebrations continue to defy expectations From dunking the Cup in the ocean last year ('zero hours of sleep, about 40 beers later,' as Tkachuk famously put it) to now bringing it into a jailhouse, the 26-year-old winger clearly isn't interested in playing by the NHL's unspoken rules. This week, a viral photo shared by Spittin' Chiclets on X (formerly Twitter) showed Mathew Tkachuk at the Brentwood Police Department—with none other than Lord Stanley by his side. 'Matthew Tkachuk brought Lord Stanley to JAIL 😂,' the post read. And fans had thoughts—lots of them. NHL fans accuse Matthew Tkachuk of disrespecting hockey tradition There's a longstanding tradition in the NHL that only members of the championship-winning team may touch, carry, or display the Stanley Cup—and even then, it's expected to be done with a degree of reverence. Tkachuk's jail visit, paired with his party-first reputation, didn't sit well with many purists. One commenter @KPBails blasted the scene: 'This is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Seniors in the Philippines Can Enjoy Affordable Private Health Insurance! (See List) Health Insurance | Search Ads Search Now Undo Another user @getmangled added bluntly, 'Lame.' One user @chuckEgoods even questioned the culture of the Panthers altogether: 'Nobody should ever wonder why normal hockey fans don't like that franchise.' Still, Tkachuk seems unfazed. Speaking during the team's post-win celebrations, he embraced the chaos with a swaggering quip: 'I would like to apologize to absolutely f—–g nobody, because the double champs does what the f— he wants.' A villain to some, a hero to others While critics see him as a showboating rule-breaker, many fans—especially in South Florida—view Tkachuk as the fiery heart of a once-overlooked team now basking in hockey glory. Whether he's tossing tradition aside or just having fun, one thing's clear: Tkachuk isn't changing anytime soon. And neither, it seems, is the Panthers' bold new identity. Also Read: Mathew Tkachuk injury fallout: Panthers face major setback as star may need surgery and miss 2026 opener FAQs Q: Why are NHL fans upset with Matthew Tkachuk? Fans believe Matthew Tkachuk disrespected tradition by bringing the Stanley Cup to a police station. Q: What did Matthew Tkachuk say during the Panthers' celebration? Mathew Tkachuk joked, 'I would like to apologize to absolutely f—–g nobody, because the double champs does what the f— he wants.' Q: Has Matthew Tkachuk broken Stanley Cup traditions before? Yes, in 2024 he famously dunked the Cup in the ocean after a wild night of partying. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Matthew Tkachuk gets married in lavish wedding to cap off Panthers' Stanley Cup victory lap
Matthew Tkachuk's Stanley Cup victory lap featured two very special words this year: 'I do.' The star Panthers forward married fiancée Ellie Connell over the weekend, according to videos shared on social media, roughly one month after winning the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season. The couple swapped vows at a church where Tkachuk, looking dapper in a dark tux, dipped his bride for a kiss as they walked down the aisle. 5 Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk wed Ellie Connell over the weekend. @FloridaPanthersDen/X Connell, who reportedly got engaged to the two-time NHL All-Star in 2024, stunned in a strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. Once the party got underway at the reception, it was the groom's father, Hockey Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk, who stole the spotlight as he was hoisted onto a chair as Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' blared in the background. The song was famously part of the Oilers' latest Stanley Cup run, which was thwarted in back-to-back years by the Panthers. 5 The groom's father, Keith Tkachuk, stole the spotlight at the reception. @evansannie/Instagram 5 The groom dipped his bride as they kissed. @SashaBarky/X Florida defeated Edmonton in six games this year after going to seven in 2024. 'We've got to be a dynasty now,' Tkachuk said in June. 'Three years in a row finals, two championships. This is a special group.' The Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final since 2023, losing in five that year to the Golden Knights. 5 Matthew Tkachuck in action for the Panthers during the Stanley Cup Final. NHLI via Getty Images Tkachuk was traded to the Panthers before the start of the 2022-23 season after spending the first six years of his NHL career with the Flames. Though Tkachuk was a factor in this year's Cup run — he scored eight goals across 23 playoff appearances — his postseason availability seemed murky after he sustained a lower-body injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off competition. 5 The Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup in back to back years. AP He had not played since February. 'I've had some ups and downs throughout the playoffs, (but) now I'm feeling the best I've felt,' Tkachuck said. 'Personally, I'm very happy with where the health is and everything.' And now, he'll have a championship ring to pair with his wedding band.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
The Panthers are nearly $4 million over the salary cap. How they can remedy that
The Florida Panthers, rightfully so, are enjoying their summer right now. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions handled most of their business already. President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito managed to re-sign the trio of defenseman Aaron Ekblad plus forwards Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand. Forwards Tomas Nosek and Mackie Samoskevich got new deals, too. Plus the Panthers got their backup goaltender (Daniil Tarasov) and depth defenseman (Jeff Petry) to round out the roster. So until training camp begins in September, the team is going to revel in its success just as it did last summer. But before the 2025-26 season begins on Oct. 7 and the Panthers attempt for a rare three-peat, some business will need to be tended to. Specifically, the Panthers will have to address their salary cap situation. According to PuckPedia, the Panthers' are currently carrying a $99.225 million cap hit for next season when factoring in their top 23 contracts — 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies. That's $3.725 million over the league's salary cap of $95.5 million for the season. Florida is one of three teams that is currently over the cap, along with the Vegas Golden Knights ($7.64 million over) and the Montreal Canadiens ($4.52 million over). At the moment, Florida is able to be over the cap. The league allows teams to be up to 10% above the cap — this offseason, that's $9.55 million — during the offseason, but teams have to be cap compliant by the start of the regular season. How will the Panthers handle the cap crunch? Only two options seem truly feasible at this point. Option 1: Matthew Tkachuk opens the season on long-term injured reserve, during which time his $9.5 million cap hit would not count toward the Panthers' salary cap. The star winger played through the entire Stanley Cup playoffs with a tadductor muscle that had torn all the way off the bone in addition to a sports hernia, both of which were sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Tkachuk, who got married to his fiancee Ellie over the weekend, said shortly after the Cup Final that there's a 50-50 chance he would need surgery this offseason. He has not yet had the surgery. Should that happen, it's likely Tkachuk would not be ready to start the season and they could use LTIR to provide temporary salary cap relief. Players on LTIR must miss a minimum of 10 games or 24 days of the season, whichever is longer. Option 2: The Panthers can trade players under contract for prospects or draft picks to offload salary. Looking at the roster, the only players making significant enough money that don't have a no-movement clause in his contract that would be logical trade candidates are forwards Evan Rodrigues and one of either Jesper Boqvist or Dmitry Kulikov. Rodrigues has a cap hit of $3 million each of the next two seasons, Boqvist $1.5 million each of the next two seasons, and Kulikov $1.15 million each of the next three seasons. Rodrigues has played a key role for Florida the past two seasons but doesn't necessarily have a defined role. He is the player coach Paul Maurice has moved up and down the lineup to fill whatever gap is needed, a Swiss Army Knife of sorts. Boqvist is in a similar spot. He primarily played in the bottom six during the season but showed he can rise to the occasion in the playoffs when needed, filling in on the top line twice when Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart each missed time with injury. Kulikov has been a standout on Florida's third defense pairing. The other players on the roster without no movement clauses, in descending order of cap hit for next season, are center Anton Lundell ($5 million), forward Eetu Luostarinen ($3 million), defenseman Niko Mikkola ($2.5 million), forward A.J. Greer ($850,000), defenseman Uvis Balinskis ($850,000), forward Jonah Gadjovich ($775,000), Petry ($775,000), Nosek ($775,000) and Samoskevich ($775,000). Lundell, Luostarinen and Mikkola are seen as part of Florida's core, and the six making less than $1 million apiece wouldn't offset the cap enough to justify moving them. The possibility of trading Rodrigues and Boqvist — or making any other deals of that sort — likely won't become serious conversations until the Panthers have clarity on Tkachuk's status. If Tkachuk starts on LTIR, then Florida can carry both Rodrigues and Boqvist and have $5.775 million to work with until Tkachuk returns. However, should both Rodrigues and Boqvist be dealt, that would put Florida exactly $775,000 under the cap — just enough money to add a player making the league minimum to the roster and be cap compliant.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Star NHL forward Matthew Tkachuk could miss months with a serious injury despite a heroic playoff run
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (Credit: Getty Images) A time when the Florida Panthers were celebrating their historic Stanley Cup win, things weren't as joyful behind the scenes for Matthew Tkachuk. The NHL star forward, who played every playoff game, reportedly did so while battling a completely torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia, both on the same side. The 27-year-old had admitted during media rounds that his condition was severe. Head coach Paul Maurice even called his physical state a 'mess.' Now, according to insider Nick Kypreos, the damage might require corrective surgery, which could sideline Tkachuk until the Christmas break. Surgery would mean a major blow to the Panthers' start If surgery becomes unavoidable, Tkachuk could miss nearly half the regular season. That would be a massive loss for the Panthers, who heavily depend on his gritty two-way play, leadership, and scoring. He tied for the team lead in postseason points this year, recording 23 in 23 games alongside Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart. Long-term injured reserve could offer cap relief There might be one silver lining in this difficult situation. If Tkachuk is ruled out for an extended period, the Florida Panthers could place him on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). That would help them manage salary cap concerns at the start of the 2025–26 NHL season. Still, that relief won't make up for his absence on the ice. The Panthers' roster will need to step up in his place if they hope to stay competitive in the first few months. Panthers betting on full recovery over short-term gain While it's tempting to push for an early return, the organization understands that Matthew Tkachuk at 100 percent is far more valuable than a hobbled version early in the season. After back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers know just how long and grueling an NHL campaign can be. Matthew Tkachuk's off-season has taken an unexpected turn. From skating through brutal injuries in the playoffs to now facing months of recovery, this is a tough break for the Panther and a harsh reminder of what players often endure in pursuit of the Stanley Cup. Also Read: NHL trade rumors: Flames' Rasmus Andersson linked to potential trade for Stars' $31 million winger in wild proposal Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Mathew Tkachuk injury fallout: Panthers face major setback as star may need surgery and miss 2026 opener
Matthew Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers' impactful forward, might need surgery for a perpetual lower-body injury. Despite his significant contributions to the Panthers' recent Stanley Cup victory, this injury could keep him off the ice until around the Christmas break for the 2026 NHL season. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Matthew Tkachuk's injury mishandling could cost Panthers their dynasty dreams in 2026 season Matthew Tkachuk, a truly tenacious player, typically displays an incredible will to perform. His heroic comeback in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, where he scored a vital late equalizer after a concussion protocol, solidified his reputation. However, even for such a buoyant athlete, some physical ailments demand more than just tenacity. The latter part of the 2024-25 NHL regular season saw "Chucky" stranded with an injury from February's 4 Nations Face-Off. Despite this, with the issue lingering throughout their Stanley Cup triumph, he bravely returned for the playoffs. Now, a more permanent solution is compulsory. An update on July 15 from NHL Rumour Report, shared on X, indicates a lengthy absence. Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos was cited: 'There's a possibility that Matthew Tkachuk's injury may need corrective surgery which could keep him out through the Christmas break.' Mathew Tkachuk opened up about his injuries This possibility wasn't entirely unsought by Tkachuk, who, after the Cup win, phrased: 'I've got to go through some steps here and then see if I need surgery or not. It's going to take a few weeks to determine if I need it. It's probably 50-50, right now. I don't know if it'll be a normal summer or not.' The odds have apparently shifted against him. Yet, this break is truly deserved. Despite playing through pain, Tkachuk still managed 57 points in 52 regular-season games and added 23 points in 23 playoff matches. Coach Paul Maurice applauded his playoff performance, uttering, 'I think the last three games he's played have been the best of the playoffs by far.' Tkachuk even scored in the Panthers' 5-1 Game 6 victory to clinch the Cup. Now, it's time for his body to heal. Also Read: Eventually, Tkachuk's recovery timeline will determine his accessibility and impact as the Florida Panthers aim for another championship run in the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season.
