The Stanley Cup Final was a family affair for the Tkachuks, who brought a star-studded group to watch Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers capture a championship on Monday night.
Keith Tkachuk, Matthew’s father, split most of his own NHL career between Winnipeg, Phoenix, and St. Louis, but he looked like any other Panthers fan as Florida battled Edmonton in Game 7. Dressed in a gray Panthers hoodie, the 538-goal scorer watched his ultimate dream come true at Amerant Bank Arena.
Tkachuk was visibly emotional as his son celebrated his first championship, wiping away tears while embracing his wife and son, Brady, who plays for the Senators.
Keith Tkachuk in tears watching Matt win his first Stanley Cup ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0NhBbOMpyB
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 25, 2024
Ottawa LW Brady Tkachuk, who’s yet to even make the playoffs in his six-year career, was also overcome with emotion, covering his face in amazement as his brother finished the job that the Panthers couldn’t a year earlier.
The emotion from Brady Tkachuk for his brother 🥹🥹🥹 #Sens pic.twitter.com/AOFQ2W8KOT
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) June 25, 2024
No one in the NHL is touching the Stanley Cup without winning the Stanley Cup. Getting to hoist the Cup is a moment unlike any other, but watching your son or brother achieve his dream and lift the Cup is evidently just as sweet.
Here’s a look back at Keith Tkachuk’s career and why this moment meant so much to him.
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Did Keith Tkachuk win a Stanley Cup?
Tkachuk enjoyed 18 seasons in the NHL, but he never won a Stanley Cup. The void was at least partially filled on Monday night when Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers captured a championship a year after falling three wins short.
Tkachuk was a terrific offensive player, leading the NHL in goals with the Coyotes in 1996-97 and scoring at least 30 goals in nine different seasons, but playoff success eluded his teams. The Boston University product didn’t even get a chance to play in a Stanley Cup Final, as the deepest he ever went in the playoffs was the Western Conference Final while with the Blues in 2001.
In all, Tkachuk only played 44 career playoff games. That’s the exact number of playoff games Matthew has played in his two seasons with the Panthers, both of which resulted in runs to the Stanley Cup Final.
The elder Tkachuk had 19 career goals and 28 total points across 44 playoff games, with his point-per-game rate lagging behind his regular season average. Nevertheless, he finished with more than 1,000 career points and set the standard for his two standout sons as they embarked on their own hockey journeys.
Keith Tkachuk NHL stats
Years1991-2010Games1,201Points1,065Goals538Assists527Plus/minus+33Shot percentage15.2%
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Tkachuk finished his career with 1,065 points, placing him 73rd all-time. He’s one of 47 players in NHL history to score 500 goals, finishing with 538 to rank 35th all-time.
Both of Tkachuk’s NHL sons still have a long way to go when it comes to reaching their father’s career marks, but Matthew appears to be well on his way in the points category. The Panthers star has 579 points before turning 27, buoyed by a pair of 100-point seasons.
Brady is up to 349 points at just 24, but he has yet to even appear in a playoff game. As the Senators look to finally return to the playoffs next season, watching Brady make his mark on the NHL’s biggest stage could be the next milestone in Keith Tkachuk’s incredible journey as a father.