Wearing the "C" on the front of your jersey and being a captain of an NHL team is an honor. Since November 2021, Brady Tkachuk has embraced being the captain of the Ottawa Senators.
Tkachuk was the former fourth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft by the Senators. It would take just over three years for Tkachuk to be the captain.
As a captain and competitor, Tkachuk is respected around the NHL. However, one player Tkachuk has personally known for a while is Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. Recently, Tkachuk spoke highly of Matthews of his game and leadership.
Tkachuk and Matthews go way back, both are Team USA teammates
Tkachuk recently made a guest appearance on The Leafs Nation Podcast. While appearing as a guest, Tkachuk was asked to talk about Matthews.
Tkachuk mentioned how he first knew Matthews when he was a teenager at 14 or 15 years old. Today, Tkachuk is 25 years old and Matthews is 27 years old. Each of them will turn one year older in September.
Both Tkachuk and Matthews have similar backgrounds with having Arizona roots. Matthews grew up in Arizona, while Tkachuk was born in Scottsdale. Tkachuk also mentioned how funny and a great guy Matthews is to be around.
This past February, Tkachuk got to learn from Matthews. Both Tkachuk and Matthews were teammates for Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Matthews served as Team USA's captain during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Despite being on rival teams, Tkachuk gave high respect and praise for Matthews .
"It was pretty awesome for me to be able to learn from him, and him as a captain, and what makes kind of him himself," Tkachuk said about Matthews. "And, of course, one of the best players in the NHL."
Tkachuk was impressed with Matthews being dialed in and being professional. Tkachuk also mentioned how "nothing bothers" Matthews, and Tkachuk also called himself "very lucky" to learn from Matthews.
Matthews also gave Tkachuk high praise during 2025 playoffs. After the Maple Leafs eliminated the Senators in the first round, the two embraced during the handshake line. Matthews told Tkachuk on the handshake line that he's a great competitor and leader for the Senators.
In February 2026, the two captains will be eager to hunt redemption together. Tkachuk, Matthews and Team USA fell in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship to Canada. Both Tkachuk and Matthews will be on Team USA's roster for the Winter Olympics. Tkachuk and Matthews were two of the first six players announced to Team USA's roster.
Despite being rivals for two Canadian teams, both Tkachuk and Matthews each have grown to not only know each other well, but to have respect for one another with being captains and competitive players.
Fans in the Battle of Ontario hope that 2025 won't be the first and only time that Tkachuk and Matthews will face each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 2025 was the first time since 2004 that the Senators and Maple Leafs clashed in the playoffs.