Matthew Tkachuk, born December 11, 1997, is an American professional hockey forward currently playing for the Florida Panthers in the NHL. Serving as an alternate captain for the team, he won the Stanley Cup in 2024 after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a decisive Game 7. He is the son of NHL legend Keith Tkachuk and the brother of Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.
Matthew Tkachuk was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, while his father was playing for the Phoenix Coyotes. When Matthew was three, the family moved to St. Louis after Keith Tkachuk was traded to the Blues. Matthew played minor hockey with St. Louis Blues-affiliated programs until ninth grade. He then joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Drafted in the fourth round of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection by the London Knights in 2013, Tkachuk first played two seasons with the U.S. National Development Program. While playing on the same line as Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, he recorded 96 points in 65 games during his sophomore year. In the 2015–16 season, he joined the London Knights, scoring 107 points while skating alongside Mitch Marner.
Matthew Tkachuk was selected sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Not long after, he signed his first NHL contract. He became a regular starter in his rookie season. He finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting. In 2017, he became the youngest teenager in Flames franchise history to reach 100 games. The following year, he was named an alternate captain. He went on to set a new career high in points.
In 2022, Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers—along with a conditional fourth-round pick in 2025—in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, and MacKenzie Weegar. Before the trade, he signed an eight-year, $76 million contract. In his debut season with the Panthers, he posted a career-high 109 points. He was named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy. That year, he also led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the 2023–24 season, however, Tkachuk helped his team return to the Final—this time defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. It marked the first Stanley Cup win for any member of the Tkachuk family.
Tkachuk won gold with Team USA at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, and again at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship. He made headlines during the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off when he dropped the gloves at puck drop against Canada during the group stage. His brother Brady followed suit, igniting an intense start to the rivalry matchup.
The surname Tkachuk is of Ukrainian descent, and Matthew also has Irish ancestry. He is engaged to Ellie Connell. While it’s unclear how long they’ve been together, the couple made their first public appearance at the 2023 NHL Awards.
Brad Marchand on the Florida Panthers seems like the most perfect fit. Now, another gritty player on the team, Matthew Tkachuk, has revealed Marchand’s perfect two-word nickname—and it couldn’t be more accurate. It came as ...
This would be AWESOME!
This is adorable!
Brady Tkachuk shares surprising detail!
He didn't waste no time!
This will be one for the ages!
Absolutely love this!
Tension is rising!
Hilarious moment in Panthers-Wild game!
What a hilarious story from a former teammate of 'Walt'