The Battle of Ontario has always been one of the NHL’s fiercest rivalries, but Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk offered a rare glimpse of sportsmanship toward his Toronto Maple Leafs counterparts. In a recent interview, Tkachuk reflected on the Senators’ first-round playoff loss to Toronto, pointing out the challenges of facing what he called the Leafs’ “deepest” roster in recent years.
While tensions often run high when these two Atlantic Division rivals meet, Tkachuk’s comments stood out for their unexpected tone. Speaking on Leafs Morning Take, the 25-year-old forward addressed both the intensity of the series and his respect for Toronto’s team makeup.
“They have such a great team,” Tkachuk said. “We knew going into it that’s probably the deepest team that they’ve had in the last couple years. We knew it was going to be a dog fight from the opening puck drop.”
What does Tkachuk think of Auston Matthews?
Beyond his general praise for the Maple Leafs, Tkachuk singled out Toronto captain Auston Matthews for special recognition. Having known Matthews since his mid-teens, Tkachuk spoke highly of his rival’s leadership and composure under pressure.
Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators plays against the Detroit Red Wings. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I’ve known Auston since I was 14 or 15. He’s a really funny guy, great to be around, and it was pretty awesome for me to learn from him as a captain himself; plus he’s one of the best players in the NHL,” Tkachuk said.
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“I was just super impressed with how dialled in he was and how professional and even-keeled he was. It felt like nothing ever bothered him, and he would just go out there and lead by example with his work ethic.” Tkachuk noted that many of Matthews’ contributions go unnoticed but remain essential to Toronto’s success.
A rivalry built on mutual respect
Despite the on-ice battles, both players share history as teammates on the U.S. National Team, where their offensive chemistry has been evident — combining for 22 points in international play. That familiarity has carried over into the NHL, where mutual respect runs deep despite their opposing uniforms.
Tkachuk finished last season with 55 points (29 goals, 26 assists) in 72 games, adding 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in six playoff contests. Matthews, meanwhile, led the Maple Leafs in scoring and remains one of the league’s most dominant forwards.
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With both teams pushing to establish themselves as top contenders in the Atlantic Division, fans can expect the rivalry to remain as competitive as ever. But as Tkachuk’s comments show, the Battle of Ontario is as much about respect as it is about rivalry.
