Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk didn't hold back when discussing the lack of response from the Toronto Maple Leafs after a hit sidelined Auston Matthews for the season. Speaking on "Wingmen," a podcast hosted by the Tkachuk brothers, Brady expressed his surprise at the Leafs' reaction, or lack thereof, following the incident.
"If your captain gets taken out like that, you gotta have a way better response," Tkachuk stated. "I know how I'd feel if I got hit like that and nobody really jumped in there. I'd be pretty pissed."
Matthews was sidelined with a Grade 3 MCL tear after Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas delivered a knee-on-knee hit during the second period. The NHL handed Gudas a five-game suspension for the dangerous play.
Despite the severity of the hit, none of Matthews' teammates immediately confronted Gudas, a point that Tkachuk found surprising. "Even if he takes a bump, it's like - if you go after our best players, we're going after your best players," he added, emphasizing the unwritten rules of protecting star players.
Tkachuk and Matthews have shared the ice as teammates for Team USA, even clinching a gold medal together at the Olympics, which adds a layer of personal connection to Tkachuk's comments.
"I feel for him. I know he'd stick up for guys if that was the other way around, and at least get in there," Tkachuk remarked, highlighting the mutual respect and camaraderie that often exists between players at this level.