Matthew Tkachuk makes surprising admission about his Panthers career, distancing himself from the Flames

Matthew Tkachuk joined the Florida Panthers in 2022 and quickly became an NHL star, winning the Stanley Cup with the franchise currently led by head coach Paul Maurice. The 27-year-old forward recently made a bold admission that downplays his previous team, the Calgary Flames.

Tkachuk played six seasons with the Flames between 2016 and 2022, quickly standing out on the team that selected him with the No. 6 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. From his debut, he made an impact with his physical style, scoring ability, and competitive personality.

Since arriving in Florida, his impact has been so significant that he’s even drawn praise from the legendary Wayne Gretzky, who previously referred to him as “the face of the Florida Panthers.” In that context, Tkachuk reflected on his time with the franchise he joined thanks to general manager Bill Zito.

Tkachuk’s surprising admission about the Panthers

“(Bill Zito) has done a great job, and hopefully we can reward him with a win… He’s been a great GM, and he’s somebody who changed my life bringing me here. So, I’ll always thank him for that,” Tkachuk admitted, according to NHL insider Eric Engels of Sportsnet.

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on before a face off against the New Jersey Devils during the second period at Prudential Center on January 14, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

More statements from Tkachuk

“I think it’s all built on great guys and hard workers, guys that fit really the style of game that we want to play here. Each addition has been great, but you can’t build a great team with bad guys. We don’t have any in there,” Tkachuk also said.

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“We’re so lucky to have some of the best guys in the league, and I always say: nobody works harder, nobody has more fun. Bill Zito has built a great culture in there for us just to come in. I know it made it pretty easy for me to come in just a few years ago, and to just be part of that has been super fun and super easy,” Tkachuk added.