Double Tkachuk trouble: Panthers turn media day into a show

This year’s NHL media days felt like an internal hockey competition. And we shouldn’t ignore it.

Who had the best quote? Who created the biggest buzz? Who gave social media something to talk about before the season even started?

The Florida Panthers certainly did their part.

With all the excitement surrounding the team and a very busy offseason, it’s hard to say what’s louder. The Panthers are healthy again. They brought back some familiar faces. And now they have not one, but two Tkachuks. More importantly, this team seems ready for the regular season again.

“I’m excited about the regular season this year,” head coach Paul Maurice said during his media-day press conference. “I haven’t said that for three or four years.”

It makes sense. He didn’t have time for it.  Florida spent three straight seasons reaching the Stanley Cup Final and won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025. Then came last season…No playoffs.

Now, there is no Cup to defend, so the hunt starts again. 

Marchand isn't ready

First, the bad news. General manager Bill Zito said during his media-day press conference that Brad Marchand will miss the start of the season as he recovers from offseason surgery.

The good news is the Panthers don’t expect him to be out for long. Marchand has been quite busy anyway. The veteran took over photography duties during the media day.

 Before that, he fulfilled his hockey dad tasks. Last weekend, Marchand traveled to Jacksonville for a youth tournament his daughter played in. While there, he met many fans and youth hockey players, including a Tampa-area 8-year-old Emma. The NHL veteran complimented her physical game. He told her she reminded him of himself because she already plays so rough at her age.

Imagine that? You’re eight years old and getting a scouting report from Brad Marchand himself.

He is quite a rink rat, too, and regularly interacts with Jr. Panthers around the state.

Florida, of course, would rather see him back on the ice.

Zito said during media day that the Panthers will be careful with the 38-year-old forward. They expect him to return early in the season.

But at least the captain is ready to go. 

Barkov is back

And that may matter more than any player Florida added this offseason. Barkov missed the 2025-2026 NHL campaign, and the Panthers felt his absence in every shift.

Maurice didn’t need a long explanation when reporters asked about his captain.

“He makes you a better coach,” Maurice said.

Barkov didn’t make any dramatic declarations during his own media-day press conference. That’s not exactly his style. He said he felt great. 

But while Florida gets its captain back, another storyline was impossible to ignore.

There are officially two Tkachuks in town. And it already sounds like double trouble for all of their opponents. 

Welcome to the Tkachuk show

Hosting a podcast together wasn’t enough.  Matthew and Brady Tkachuk will play together on the same NHL team for the first time. 

Over the summer, Florida acquired Brady from the Ottawa Senators in one of the biggest offseason moves.

For Brady, the reality didn’t hit immediately.

During his media-day press conference, he said the move finally felt real as he flew to South Florida.

Now he gets to share an NHL locker room with his older brother. And apparently, everyone else feels the vibe.

“They’re like a constant show,” Ekblad said during his media-day interview.

One thing the hockey world may have to wait for is both brothers on the same line.

Maurice was asked about putting Matthew and Brady together with Sam Bennett. His response?

“They’ll be in jail before the puck drops.”

That might have been the quote of Panthers media day.

The Cats already know how to make opponents uncomfortable. They forecheck. They hit hard and often. They chirp. They get under the skin. Now, add another Tkachuk.

And if anyone wondered whether Florida planned to change its identity, Matthew had an answer for that, too. He promised “no shortage of Panthers-style hockey.” No explanation needed.

And while the Panthers created plenty of buzz in Fort Lauderdale, their in-state rivals created some of their own.

Meanwhile, the Bolts had something to say

The Tampa Bay Lightning got their spotlight after Nikita Kucherov’s quote spread across social media.

During the Bolts press conference, Kucherov was asked how the game has changed since he entered the league. He confirmed that hockey got faster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it got better. To be exact, he said:

“The game is faster … but very dumb. Low IQ,” Kucherov said adding that he means it "in a hockey way."

Those words might be catchy and clickable for fans and journalists, but he’ll surely get an earful when he faces the Florida Panthers.

An unofficial king of hockey trash talks and NHL chirping, Matthew Tkachuk, won’t let it go away easily.

And should we remind the Bolts that they’ll have to face double Tkachuk pressure now?

Get your popcorn ready.

Two of the Sunshine State’s hottest hockey rivals will meet twice next week in the preseason:

Thursday, Sept. 24: Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m ET

Saturday, Sept. 26: Lightning at Panthers, 6 p.m ET

Here comes hockey

Media day gives us jokes, pictures, viral quotes, and plenty of social media content.

Then everyone must play.

And Florida still has questions to answer: Marchand will miss the beginning of the season; Barkov is returning after missing last year; Brady Tkachuk has to adjust to a new organization after spending his entire NHL career in Ottawa. The Panthers also have a new look in net after Sergei Bobrovsky’s departure. Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid are now part of that picture.

But those concerns didn’t define Panthers media day. The players looked excited and ready to get going.

A reset.

No Stanley Cup Final hangover. No title defense. No need to talk about saving energy for another long playoff run.

Just hockey.

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