Tkachuk Brothers BLAST Maple Leafs For Not Defending Matthews After Gudas Hit
The latest to weigh in on the Auston Matthews/Radko Gudas affair are none other than the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew & Brady. Trust us when we say that if they watched as their team's best player was taken out with a dirty hit like that, they would not have been standing around doing nothing.
But don't take our word for it. Here they are on their latest Wingmen podcast, basically ripping Matthews' Toronto Maple Leafs teammates for not sticking up for their captain:
“If you go after our best players, we're going after your best players.”
— Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk (@Wingmenpod) March 16, 2026
Matthew and Brady give their take on Radko Gudas’ hit on Auston Matthews. pic.twitter.com/O7p4dIBYxs
That was a perfect opportunity to stand up for your captain, and... Just didn't see it.—Brady Tkachuk on the Leafs
Keep in mind that the Tkachuk brothers are now 'brothers in arms', so to speak, with Matthews, after going through the wars together at the Olympics last month with the Leafs' captain (who also acted as the Team USA captain) on their way to a Gold Medal.
"Your captain gets taken out like that, I mean, you gotta have a way better response," said Brady Tkachuk. "I know how I'd feel if I got hit like that and nobody jumped in there, I'd be pretty pissed."
"It's like an unwritten rule," Matthew added, "if your captain or best player on the team (gets hit like that)... you're going after somebody!"
"Even if he takes a bump," said Brady, "If you go after our best players, we're going after your best players.”
The two added that they really feel for Matthews, who will be out for the rest of the season with a torn MCL from the knee-on-knee hit leveled by Gudas.
"I don't understand... The team's that far out of the playoffs, all you need is an excuse to go stick up for your teammate," added Matthew.
Neither of the Tkachuk brothers' teams are currently in position to go to the playoffs this season, either, as Matthew's Panthers, the two-time defending Cup champs, sit one point back of the Leafs, and 11 points out of a Wild Card spot. Brady's Senators are just three points back of a playoff spot.
View the whole podcast here:
