Keith Tkachuk roasts Panthers: 'They're a soft team'
NHL legend Keith Tkachuk didn't hold back about his son Matthew's Florida Panthers.
"I'm a little disappointed in the Panthers," Keith told TSN 1050 on Wednesday morning ahead of Florida's 3-2 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. "They're a soft team and they're getting everything they deserve right now."
Even after securing two massive points on Wednesday, the Panthers are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents' Trophy. Florida sits a point back of Pittsburgh for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Penguins have a game in hand. The Cats have a 36% chance of making the postseason, per MoneyPuck.
Matthew's play is far from a reason why, as he paces the club with 97 points in 72 games in his first season with the Panthers after an offseason trade from the Calgary Flames. But the lack of team success still bothers Matthew, Keith says.
"(Matthew is) pretty devastated right now where they're at," Keith said. "But they're still hanging on, they still have a chance, and it's up to them to get their butts going and start playing like a team that should be a lot better than what they're showing right now."
Keith is much more pleased with the effort he sees from his youngest son's team: Brady's Ottawa Senators.
"I know I sound like a frustrated person, but I know every time I come and watch Ottawa they might not be the most talented team, but they're going to play hard," Keith said. "And Florida maybe could take a page out of their book."
Although the Senators' chances of making the playoffs are a slim 1.5%, they've played meaningful games down the stretch, which has been a big step in the team's rebuild. Brady, Ottawa's captain, has put together a career year with 77 points in 74 games.
Keith amassed 538 goals and 527 assists in 1,201 games during his 18-year NHL career between the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers, and St. Louis Blues. He currently works as the Blues' director of recruitment.