The Tkachuk brothers say they would have handled the situation between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks last week differently if they were on the ice.
Speaking on their podcast, Wingmen, Brady Tkachuk said, “I’d be pissed” if he were lying on the ice hurt and none of his teammates went after the player who hit him.
Added Matthew Tkachuk: “Me and Brady would not have lasted that game if we were on the Leafs.”
The incident in question happened last Thursday when Ducks captain Radko Gudas clipped Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit. Matthews has since been ruled out for the season with an MCL injury, while Gudas was given a game misconduct and later a five-game suspension for the hit.
Two debates have dominated hockey circles in the days since: the Maple Leafs players’ lack of response on the ice in the immediate aftermath of the hit and the relatively light suspension handed to Gudas, who has been suspended previously.
It’s that first point that the Tkachuk brothers zeroed in on during the latest episode of their podcast.
After first clarifying that not all clean hits need a response, Matthew Tkachuk said if a hit injures a teammate “that’s where guys on Toronto need to be like, this isn’t going to fly and we’re not going to wait until next game.”
“Screw the point,” he continued, in reference to the standings. “Like it’s more important in a game like that to stick up for a guy than to actually win, especially when you’re that far out of playoffs.”
Brady Tkachuk agreed with his brother.
“It’s more important… to show everyone that nobody gets taken advantage of on our team,” he added. “We’re arm (in) arm, like, we’re together every step of the way.”
