Being a captain in the NHL is a high honor. Since November 2021, Brady Tkachuk has held the honor of being the captain of the Ottawa Senators. Sens fans' love for Tkachuk doesn't go without notice with the fans chanting "Brady" loud at Canadian Tire Centre.
Recently, Tkachuk was announced as one of the first six players announced for Team USA's roster for the 2026 Olympics. Being an Olympian is a high honor for any athlete to represent their country.
NHL players will compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 in 2026. Team USA will need a captain for the event, and Tkachuk has a case to be the team's captain over a player some might expect to be the captain.
Tkachuk has case to be captain over Matthews at 2026 Olympics
This past February, the NHL brought back best on best play between countries for the first time since 2016 with the 4 Nations Face-Off. Tkachuk represented Team USA, but was not the team's captain. Team USA's captain at the 4 Nations Face-Off was Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews.
Some might not have seen it as a shock that Matthews was Team USA's captain with the success he's had in Toronto. However, 2025's play can have reason why Tkachuk should be Team USA's captain at the 2026 Olympics over Matthews.
Tkachuk was arguably Team USA's MVP in the 4 Nations Face-Off with being tied for first on the team in goals with three. Tkachuk made an immediate impact by scoring Team USA's first goal of the 4 Nations Face-Off against Finland. The next game against Canada, Tkachuk got the hockey world's attention.
Three seconds into Team USA's game against Canada in an electric atmosphere, Tkachuk sent the Montreal crowd at Bell Centre into a frenzy by dropping the gloves with Sam Bennett. Tkachuk helped bring even more electricity after his brother Matthew got into a fight earlier with Brandon Hagel.
THIS IS MADNESS 🤯
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 16, 2025
BRADY TKACHUK AND SAM BENNETT GO AT IT 😤 pic.twitter.com/GsBLjQONgs
Tkachuk then would get injured after he crashed into the net against Sweden. There was some concern if Tkachuk wouldn't play in the championship game against Canada, but he did and made an impact with scoring a goal in the championship game despite Team USA losing.
International play in February from Tkachuk was helpful for him to have a case to be Team USA's next captain over Matthews, and it also picked up during the 2025 playoffs where the two faced off against each other.
Despite the Senators losing to the Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, Tkachuk was arguably better than Matthews in the series. Even with having no playoff experience, Tkachuk recorded seven points in the series. Although Matthews had seven points in the series as well, Tkachuk not only had more goals than Matthews, but led his team in goals and points unlike Matthews.
Team USA will have a solid team with Tkachuk on the team. However, Tkachuk's play in 2025 can help him have a case to be Team USA's captain at the 2026 Olympics.