Matthew Tkachuk fired subtle shot at Leafs before winning Cup

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Matthew Tkachuk fired subtle shot at the Maple Leafs before winning Stanley Cup

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 4:17 PM ET

Matthew Tkachuk is fresh off his Stanley Cup win, but the Panthers star couldn't help but troll Toronto.

Despite the challenge that lay ahead of finishing off another Stanley Cup win, Tkachuk's mind was elsewhere at a recent news conference, as he took the time to seemingly fire a subtle shot at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

When he was asked about what the toughest series thus far in the playoffs has been, Tkachuk once again trolled Toronto, as he stated that beyond the Cup Final, he and his team knew that Round 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning would be their toughest series.

This comes as no surprise given what an enemy Tkachuk has been of the Maple Leafs over the past few years, and while it's unclear if he believes his statement, the Toronto series was clearly much harder, as that went to seven games compared to the Lightning's five games.

Ultimately, this is a player who is built for the big moment, and while his focus remained on Edmonton, Tkachuk once again couldn't resist a shot at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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