Matthew Tkachuk certainly knows his way around Fort Lauderdale by now. He knows where to bring his parents for seafood, a romantic place to celebrate his anniversary, and the perfect spot for coffee that fuels the talent we’ve all come to love.
Four years after joining the Florida Panthers, the 28-year-old has become as recognizable around town as he is at Amerant Bank Arena. Now entering his 11th NHL season, Tkachuk wants that influence to remain grounded in the standard that helped transform the Panthers into the champions they are.
“I just want to continue being the leader that I am and drag guys along into the fight with me,” Matthew says. “Hopefully, we can get back to playoff hockey and try to achieve our ultimate goal again this year.”
That mission comes with an extraordinary addition. His younger brother, Brady, is now wearing a Panthers sweater, too.
The brothers have represented the United States together at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where winning gold produced a moment Brady expects to remember decades from now. After the clinching goal, they celebrated separately before spotting one another across the ice.
“We made eye contact like, ‘Holy cow, we’re both gold medalists,’” Brady says. “I will never forget that hug.”
Matthew treasures that Olympic triumph, but another shared dream remains. The brothers have imagined winning the Stanley Cup together since childhood, right down to one handing the trophy to the other.
“That would be the greatest thing that’s ever happened to us,” Matthew says. “Olympic gold so far in our careers, for a memory together, is pretty hard to beat, but hopefully the Stanley Cup can top that.”
For Matthew, South Florida became home during his first Panthers season. He arrived in August 2022, helped propel the team to the Stanley Cup Final, and stayed in town celebrating until early July. By then, he had reached a firm conclusion with his now-wife, Ellie.
“I remember looking at her and being like, ‘I never want to leave this place. This is where I want to be forever,’” he says. “This is as good as it gets.”
His local rotation is like a Fort Lauderdale dining guide. Coconuts is mandatory whenever his parents visit. Greek Islands, Runway 84, Elbo Room, Café Europa, Daniel’s, and D’s Sports Bar all earn mentions. At Ann’s Florist & Coffee Bar, he is a regular.
Yet Matthew’s South Florida footprint stretches well beyond restaurants and hockey hardware. He visits local hospitals, supports fan initiatives, and recently teamed with Baptist Health for a Labor Day weekend hockey tournament at the Baptist Health IcePlex. For him, being an active member of the community represents a larger win.
“When I first got traded here, obviously the number one goal was to win a Stanley Cup, but the number two goal, just behind that, was to see the game of hockey grow and be in a better place than when I got here,” Matthew says. “It’s really been cool to see it continue to get better every year.”
Brady enters South Florida ready to contribute while learning the rhythms of a championship organization and observing his brother’s leadership up close. He also plans to identify local causes after previously working with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and a children’s hospital.
“It’s our job and we love to play hockey, but it’s the opportunity to be a role model for the next generation of kids who look up to you,” Brady says. “That’s something that is really important to me and high on the list to do.”
Matthew hopes residents ultimately think of him as someone who cares whether they see him play at the arena, meet him at a fan fest, or spot him grabbing a coffee. His objective is to help make the Panthers a team South Florida loves and the region “the best sports town in the country.”
Brady’s arrival adds another Tkachuk to that pursuit and gives the brothers the opportunity to accomplish their grandest shared dream.
