It’s been just a few months because the Tkachuk brothers final confronted any bodily microphones, however they’ve already sat for 3 interviews on this August afternoon after they be a part of their last Zoom name of the day. Brady, 25, seems to be at a pc in a house workplace, whereas Matthew, 27, holds a cellphone from a front room sofa. Because the dialog begins, the elder Tkachuk cautions that neither are in peak media form.
“We’re rusty, we haven’t completed it in just a few months,” Matthew says. “So, (we) may solely deal with 4 as we speak.”
The brothers quickly discover their gear. They’re laid-back, but nonetheless excited in regards to the mini-junket’s pretext: Matthew, a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers, has landed on the usual cowl of “EA Sports activities NHL 26,” the most recent launch of essentially the most well-known hockey online game ever. Becoming a member of him in a household photograph on the entrance of an early-access “Deluxe Version” are each Brady, the Ottawa Senators’ captain, and their father, former NHLer Keith Tkachuk.
“I believe our 10-year-old selves can be dropping their minds seeing that we’re on a canopy of the NHL sport that we cherished enjoying rising up,” Brady says.
In a sport that typically shies away from selling particular person personalities, Matthew and Brady are rapidly cementing themselves as two of hockey’s preeminent showmen. The “NHL 26” covers are solely the newest examples.
In 2023, they play-fought in a automobile backseat — in full hockey gear, no less — for a Hyundai business. Final 12 months, Matthew starred on the primary season of Prime Video’s “Faceoff: Contained in the NHL,” providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life with the Tkachuk household. This fall, Brady will be a part of him for a second season of the present that, partially, covers Staff USA’s round-robin matchup towards Canada at February’s 4 Nations Face-Off, throughout which each Tkachuks now-famously dropped their gloves as three fights broke out within the first 9 seconds.
Regardless of dropping to Canada within the championship sport, the brothers capitalized on the post-tournament buzz with a number of main media hits. Matthew joined “The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and Brady appeared on podcasts like “Spittin’ Chiclets” and “Pardon My Take.” The duo then served as co-guests on the wildly popular “New Heights” podcast hosted by NFL brothers Travis and Jason Kelce, whose YouTube simulcasts have amassed practically 1 billion views.
Because the Tkachuks set up a extra mainstream presence, it’s pure to attract comparisons to the media-savvy Kelce brothers. Matthew revealed that he and Brady have even been offered with “alternatives the place we may’ve had our personal” podcast collectively, main him to ask Travis and Jason in regards to the manufacturing course of.
“I’ve gotten a bit bit of recommendation by way of the podcast route,” Matthew says. “(However) it’s means too early to know if we’re going to do it or not. … It’s completely different for them now as a result of one in all them isn’t enjoying anymore. In comparison with Brady and I’d do it with (us) each enjoying. So, there’s lots of stuff to juggle round there.
“However possibly at some point.”
Brady Tkachuk, left, celebrates with Matthew Tkachuk after the Panthers clinched the Cup in June towards Edmonton. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI by way of Getty Pictures)
In fact, the Tkachuks gained’t win over everybody. Whether or not it’s Brady slamming defensemen into the top boards for an on-the-rise Senators crew, or Matthew mucking across the web entrance because the Panthers construct a possible dynasty, each possess on-ice types that rub opposing gamers and fan bases alike the fallacious means. And their worldwide notoriety will certainly develop at subsequent 12 months’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, with NHL gamers set to take part for the primary time since 2014.
Not all of their off-ice alternatives will earn common acclaim, both: Lately Matthew was named to President Donald Trump’s “Council on Sports activities, Health and Vitamin” alongside NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Corridor of Famer Wayne Gretzky, amongst others. Philadelphia Eagles operating again Saquon Barkley declined an invitation despite being initially listed in a White House release, whereas Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has additionally expressed confusion at his inclusion. Matthew, for his half, says it’s “a bit too early” to substantiate his participation on the council, declining additional remark to The Athletic.
Regardless, the Tkachuks’ willingness to place themselves on the market and need to succeed in wider audiences are noteworthy for hockey gamers — notably within the U.S., the place the NFL and NBA rule.
“I’m not going to inform a participant that’s not snug doing (extra media),” Matthew stated. “If they only deal with it as a job, like a clock-in and clock-out and simply wish to fear about that, hey, all to you. If that helps you play. Some guys are like that. Each crew has guys like that.
“I believe that if extra guys may do (extra), I believe the higher.”
The Tkachuks additionally see their current surge in appearances as a possibility to develop the sport and be “good function fashions” for “the subsequent era of youngsters,” Brady says.
“I believe any publicity you get that may develop the sport is essential to us,” Matthew provides. “We wish to be guys that depart the sport in a means higher place than it was after we began. Simply the best way the world’s type of trending, the alternatives for gamers are fairly seamless and straightforward for Brady and I. Whereas possibly different guys, they’re not as snug as we’re in it.
“We get pleasure from it. We expect it’s essential to do. Hockey is just not a job to us. It’s by no means felt like a job for us. It’s enjoyable, it’s life, it’s what we’ve grown up in.”
A legacy on full show.
Matthew, Brady, and Keith Tkachuk grace the #NHL26 Deluxe Version cowl.
Pre-order to get 7-day early entry. https://t.co/Vh9fVAH87P pic.twitter.com/3ruyNhw2dZ— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 6, 2025
Regardless of the place the Tkachuks go from right here, on the ice and off, their paths are without end linked. It has been that means since they have been children and had far more free time to play the “EA Sports activities NHL” video video games. They used to spend hours competing on Xbox at dwelling within the St. Louis space, with Brady typically getting the higher of his older brother. “We cherished enjoying after we turned penalties off,” Matthew says. “It was so enjoyable.”
Now, when younger players take a look at the most recent model, they’ll see a picture of Matthew hoisting his second straight Stanley Cup with the Panthers in June — or, within the case of the early-access version, one in all him flanked by Brady and Keith.
“For me, it type of simply captures every thing that I needed in my NHL profession, in two covers,” Matthew says. “I’ve the usual cowl the place it exhibits my dream coming true with the Stanley Cup, and the image is simply, every thing about it, is so particular to me. I nonetheless pinch myself. I can’t imagine it.
“However then I take a look at the deluxe cowl, and that is perhaps extra essential to me, being in the course of my brother and my dad.”
(Prime photograph of Matthew and Brady Tkachuk: AP Photograph / Charles Krupa)
