Florida’s representative Matthew Tkachuk for All-Star Game said that he can’t wait to show off his new town to his peers on being announced as representative of the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
NHL All-Star will be housed near Fort Lauderdale which is near where Tkachuk lives and will be making his second appearance. The first time he was in an All-Star game was in 2020 in his hometown of St. Louis.
At that time, he wore St. Louis Cardinals’ Yadier Molina jersey in the skills competition and also bought suits for his family. Hoping that the appearance comes in the place he expects to call it home for foreseeable future. “I’m the lucky guy who gets to show off his town,” Tkachuk said.
Ottawa Senators captain and his brother Brady will also be his teammate as part of Team Atlantic. Brady shall ride shotgun hopefully while Matthew likes to cruise around Fort Lauderdale in a golf cart custom.
“This will be my second one so being able to represent my team in the host city, and show off this amazing place, will be awesome. Hopefully, we’ll get some other guys on the team as well. Being my first year here, it’s very exciting.”
“I am looking forward to having lots of people in town, people close to me. That’s what is important. It’s not the skills or the game itself; it’s the whole week. Having everyone here and I will be able to show off my new home and make everyone else jealous of where I live.” He said as he signed an eight-year deal with the Panthers of Calgary Flames in July.
NHL on Thursday announced a player from each team as a participant at the All-Star in which Matthew Tkachuk is the only player from Florida at the All-Star on Feb 3-4.
participate.
Matthew, a 25-year-old player is one of the obvious choices of the NHL in the All-Star event which carries numerous events throughout the game and is one of the most skilled competitions at FLA live Arena. He is to represent Panthers this year.
He has been hyped and stood up to the level with 20 goals and 47 points in 36 games career with the Panthers from Florida after being part of a deal in which Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar went to Calgary.
“I was a little surprised when I heard about (the trade) just like everyone else,” Radko Gudas said Thursday. “But I thought for our team, the way we exited the playoffs last year, that it was a clear message to our group that we were going to change the way we played. We’re going to be grittier, play some hard-nosed hockey. He is up to that challenge so I was excited to get going with him. He has been a good addition.”
Added coach Paul Maurice: “When Barkov and Lundell go out of your lineup, you ask the skill guys to produce numbers and he has just done it. I still think this guy has another level. … His overall game and he is a smart and at (25), he is only going to get better. You have to remind yourself there is an upside to this guy — and there will be 10 years of upside. This guy’s a player.”
It was not expected Tkachuk to make it up to the All-Star team when he came to Florida. He further says that after the disappointing season with Florida, the Panthers on the other hand shall be in a better spot for him as the game comes around.
