Latest news with #4NationsFace-Off
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk turn rivalry into brotherhood after Stanley Cup win
Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk turn rivalry into brotherhood after Stanley Cup win (Image Source: Getty Images) After the Florida Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup, something happened on the ice that fans did not expect. It wasn't just about the trophy or the goals. What stood out was a surprising and touching moment between two players who were once fierce rivals. Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk shared a hug that made fans emotional. But how did these two go from rivals to teammates—and now brothers? Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk share emotional moment after Panthers' Stanley Cup win On Monday, June 17, 2025, the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup again after beating their opponent in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Right after the final buzzer, Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk hugged on the ice in front of fans and cameras. It wasn't just a quick hug. It was full of real emotion. Matthew Tkachuk said, 'Love you f***ing brother,' and Marchand answered, 'Love you too, baby.' The moment was shared by B/R Open Ice on X, and fans quickly started reacting to it. Marchand and Tkachuk didn't always get along. Their battles on the ice were intense for years. But everything started to change after they played together at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. They began to understand each other more, and their bond started to grow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Tkachuk had said during the tournament, 'It's our time right now,' and Marchand later fired back after winning for Team Canada, joking, 'Sometimes when you shoot your mouth off in the media, it bites you. ' Marchand joined the Panthers in a trade from the Boston Bruins in March 2025. Since then, their friendship has grown even more. 'It's been unreal having him in,' Tkachuk told reporters. 'He brings that winning feeling. We may not be the fastest or the strongest team, but we're deep and experienced.' Fans react to Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk's new friendship on and off the ice NHL fans were surprised by how close Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk have become. One fan wrote, 'The spin and hug looks like something out of a movie.' Others shared that it's amazing to see tough players drop their past fights and support each other after winning something big. Also Read: Brad Marchand's $156679.74 Bar Night And Misspelled Tattoo Spark Fresh Internet Mockery From Bruins Fans Florida's head coach Paul Maurice also praised Marchand's impact. After the Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2, he said, 'There's a Brad Marchand effect in the room.' Maurice explained how players like Anton Lundell have picked up that same fire. Their connection is now a symbol of how rivals can become teammates—and even family—when united by a dream. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Edmonton Journal
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Flames ‘continuing to plug away' on contract negotiations with Dan Vladar, says Conroy
Article content Second-string goalie Dan Vladar was emphatic in his end-of-season interview about his desire to stick around the Saddledome, while the Flames seemed similarly keen on continuing with their current twine-minding tandem. But two months later, and less than two weeks before Vladar would become an unrestricted free agent, there's been no news of a contract extension for the 27-year-old from the Czech Republic, raising the possibility that rising star Dustin Wolf might have a different sidekick when the puck drops on the 2025-26 campaign. Article content 'We're talking to his representation and seeing where his mindset is at,' Flames general manager Craig Conroy told Postmedia on Thursday when asked for an update on negotiations with Vladar. 'We're open, just like he was open to a contract. But both sides have to come to terms with that. We're just continuing to plug away at that one.' Vladar is at the tail-end of a two-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of US$2.2 million. Coming off the heaviest workload of his NHL career, and after finishing the season on a 6-1-1 run, it's safe to assume that he's looking for at least a slight raise. The Flames have plenty of salary-cap wiggle room, but teams are often hesitant to be allocating too much loot to their backup puck-stopper. Vladar and Wolf split starts last fall, but the youngster emerged through the winter as the obvious workhorse in Calgary. Wolf, en route to his runner-up finish in the Calder Trophy race, was tapped for 76 per cent of the crease time in the second half of the season. Article content In 30 appearances, Vladar posted a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. It did not go unnoticed by teammates and staff that he was handed a lot of tough assignments, including the second half of any back-to-back sets. 'We talk about Wolfie a lot and the season he did have, but I think a big reason why he had such a good year was the way Dan was, too,' said Flames head coach Ryan Huska on locker clean-out day. 'We had a great tandem. You look at our team and that was probably the strength of our team this year — those two guys in net gave us a chance to win every night, and it was rare when one of them had an off-night. 'When you're planning ahead, you know you have one area covered. For me as a coach, I know we're going to be good in net.' The big question is, have those plans changed since mid-April, when their backup stressed he would 'love to be back' for a fifth season with the Flames? Article content Is Vladar, who really seemed to find his groove after the 4 Nations Face-Off and continued to roll with a sparkling .950 save percentage in his four appearances at the world championship tournament, now wondering if another organization might view him as a potential starter or a platoon possibility? Is he hoping for more playing time so he can showcase himself for a chance to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Is it simply a matter of finding some middle ground on term and dollar figure? If Vladar does opt to test the market when free agency opens on July 1, he will be one of the most appealing options available, a guy who can offer a blend of experience and upside. If the Flames need to go another route, the pickings are somewhat slim. Beyond Vladar, the list of soon-to-be UFAs in the crease is headlined by Jake Allen, Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, who just lifted the Stanley Cup as the No. 2 for the Florida Panthers. Article content The Flames have also been mentioned as potential suitor for Ivan Prosvetov, who is looking to return from the KHL. Also factoring in this conversation is whether there is internal belief that Devin Cooley can be part of the big-league plan. Cooley's contract upgrades to a one-way for this coming season, but there may be some second-guessing after his rollercoaster campaign with the Wranglers — a superb start that netted an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic and then a miserable finishing stretch. Cooley, who turned 28 last month, will certainly be among those keeping close tabs on Vladar's situation. While there's still time to get a deal done, the Flames might need a backup backup plan. Latest National Stories
Calgary Herald
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Flames ‘continuing to plug away' on contract negotiations with Dan Vladar, says Conroy
Article content Article content Is Vladar, who really seemed to find his groove after the 4 Nations Face-Off and continued to roll with a sparkling .950 save percentage in his four appearances at the world championship tournament, now wondering if another organization might view him as a potential starter or a platoon possibility? Article content Is he hoping for more playing time so he can showcase himself for a chance to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Article content Is it simply a matter of finding some middle ground on term and dollar figure? Article content If Vladar does opt to test the market when free agency opens on July 1, he will be one of the most appealing options available, a guy who can offer a blend of experience and upside. Article content If the Flames need to go another route, the pickings are somewhat slim. Beyond Vladar, the list of soon-to-be UFAs in the crease is headlined by Jake Allen, Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, who just lifted the Stanley Cup as the No. 2 for the Florida Panthers. Article content Article content The Flames have also been mentioned as potential suitor for Ivan Prosvetov, who is looking to return from the KHL. Article content Also factoring in this conversation is whether there is internal belief that Devin Cooley can be part of the big-league plan. Cooley's contract upgrades to a one-way for this coming season, but there may be some second-guessing after his rollercoaster campaign with the Wranglers — a superb start that netted an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic and then a miserable finishing stretch. Article content
Edmonton Journal
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Another season for the Edmonton Oilers, another loss to the champions
Article content The year before that, the Vegas Golden Knights dispatched the Oilers in six games in the second round on their way to their franchise's inaugural title. And in 2022, the Colorado Avalanche swept the Oilers right out of the Western Conference Final before capturing the Cup. It's been a long line of having a front-row seat to champion-caliber runway strutting. 'We don't need to look very far at what it takes to win or what it feels like to play against a winning team,' said Connor McDavid. 'As you said, we've done it four years in a row now. The Oilers captain has a leg up on his teammates this season, however, after tasting victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, where he scored the gold-medal goal over Team USA in the final of the best-on-best tournament. 'Hockey at the 4 Nations was the best hockey I've ever been a part of for that level,' McDavid said. 'And a close second would be that Florida team that we just played.
Hamilton Spectator
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Hockey rides into offseason with full-on buzz, a threepeat bid and Olympics ahead
The 4 Nations Face-Off in February was meant to provide a taste of international competition a year before the Winter Olympics because it had been nearly a decade since the NHL's top players were able to represent their countries in the same tournament. Instead, the pace and quality of games captivated sellout crowds , with millions tuning in to watch. In the immediate aftermath of his team beating the U.S. i n the final in overtime, Canada general manager Doug Armstrong met up with American counterpart Bill Guerin in the hallway, shook hands and had a message that was bigger than one game. 'He said it best: Hockey was the big winner,' Guerin recalled. 'Obviously Canada won that championship, but the sport of hockey, the game, was the big winner.' Hockey is seeing a surge in popularity and buzz, fed by the 4 Nations tournament, Alex Ovechkin's stirring run to the NHL career goals record and the Florida Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup champions to set up a threepeat bid next season. Up next are the draft and free agency, with Mitch Marner and playoff MVP Sam Bennett among the top players available, and anticipation is building for the NHL's return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. 'For all of us, I think we're just really proud of being a part of this bigger picture and growing the game and getting it more on the forefront,' Guerin said. 'The game's never been in a better spot.' 4 NATIONS SUCCESS The NHL and NHLPA wanted to stage a World Cup but plans were pushed back until this year with a pared-down version involving the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland. Commissioner Gary Bettman referred to it as an appetizer, and no one knew exactly what to expect. 'We all went in hoping it was going to be a great event,' Armstrong said, 'and it ended up being better than anyone could have expected.' Canada's star-studded power play of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Sam Reinhart connecting on a tic-tac-toe passing goal less than a minute into the opening game against Sweden served notice that the play would be at the highest level. The U.S. and Canada had three fights in the first nine seconds, and geopolitical cross-border tensions with crowds booing anthems and more put the 4 Nations in an unexpected spotlight. Fans were riveted. The final became one of the hottest tickets in Boston sports history, and more than 9 million watched in the U.S. and nearly 11 million in Canada. Not bad for a tournament that never happened before and may never happen again. THE GR8 CHASE Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals took center stage as he chased down Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 goals, a feat that had long seemed unapproachable. Despite missing more than a month earlier in the season because of a broken left leg , he was in striking distance by late March. Still scoring at an absurd pace at 39 years old, Ovechkin went on a tear and tied the mark at home on a Friday night that became a celebration of his career. Two days later, he got No. 895 in New York against the Islanders, with Gretzky, Bettman, his mother, wife, children and more there to congratulate him. '(It is) the biggest accomplishment that the world of hockey has seen a very long time,' longtime teammate T.J. Oshie said. 'This record is going to be here for a while.' Ovechkin, now at 897 goals , is set to play his 21st NHL season and add to his total. PANTHERS REPEAT Florida had the 11th-most points out of the 16 teams that reached the playoffs and started each round on the road. Didn't matter. The Panthers got through Tampa Bay in five games, Toronto in seven and Carolina in six to reach the final for a third consecutive year. They then beat McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in six to go back-to-back. 'Everybody wrote us off from the start of the playoffs,' veteran winger Brad Marchand said after becoming a two-time champion . 'They had everybody beating us in every round. We just had that fire. We knew we had something special.' Matthew Tkachuk, whose arrival in the summer of 2022 along with coach Paul Maurice coincided with Florida becoming an NHL powerhouse, went as far as to use the 'D' word. 'We've got to be a dynasty now,' Tkachuk said. 'Three years in a row finals, two championships. This is a special group.' Retired goaltender Cory Schneider called the Panthers 'one of the best teams I think I've seen in my lifetime.' 'They're the epitome of depth, skill, structure,' said Schneider, who worked the final as an NHL Network analyst. 'A lot of teams have good players. but it takes the attention to detail and the sacrifice to do it all the time. Teams want to play easy hockey sometimes and get their chances, but Florida does that while also committing to playing a complete brand of team hockey.' BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Oilers as a slight favourite to win next season's championship over the Panthers. The NHL hasn't had a three-peat since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980-83. DRAFT AND FREE AGENCY The league is having its first in-person, de-centralized draft in Los Angeles on June 27-28. The New York Islanders, after winning the draft lottery , have the first pick, and new general manager Mathieu Darche could pick defenseman Matthew Schaefer, an inspirational story off the ice. With the salary cap getting the first of several big jumps thanks to record attendance and revenue (increases to $95.5 million this summer), player movement could be fast and furious. Free agency opens July 1, and teams in markets from New York and Toronto to Los Angeles, Anaheim and Utah have cap space to use. MILAN-CORTINA OLYMPICS The 12 countries taking part — Russia is banned — have already unveiled the first six players on their Olympic rosters. The International Ice Hockey Federation has released the schedule of games, with the men's tournament starting Feb. 11. 'When you're growing up when you're watching as a kid, it's Stanley Cup finals and it's Team Canada,' said Reinhart, who scored four goals in Florida's Cup-clinching game the day after getting named to Canada's roster. 'Those are the two things that you dream about playing for. To have that opportunity is pretty exciting.' The NHL went to five consecutive Games from 1998-2014, then skipped 2018 and pulled out in 2022, leaving teams those years without any active league players. Milan-Cortina will be the first Olympics for players like McDavid, MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel. 'Getting another opportunity to bring generations that have a Sidney Crosby and a Connor McDavid together to play internationally, it's just great for the fans and great for hockey,' Armstrong said. 'Players are so excited to be part of this. ... It's neck and neck with the Stanley Cup right now of wanting to win that event.' Tkachuk was named to the U.S. team along with brother Brady. With the two becoming household names for new fans after the fight-filled 4 Nations, it feels a little like hockey is in its Tkachuk era. Italy is the next stop on their journey. '4 Nations was good, and hopefully Olympics will be great, as well,' said Matthew after becoming a two-time Cup champion. 'I feel I've been the luckiest guy in hockey.' ___ AP NHL:
