Matthew Tkachuk has some new jewelry since the last time he took the Stanley Cup to the ӣƵ Children’s Hospital.
On his right hand, he wore the championship ring earned by winning the 2024 Stanley Cup.
“I got this one last year,” Tkachuk said, then looked at the wedding ring on his left hand, “and I got this one on Saturday.”
It’s been quite a week for the ӣƵ native and current Panthers forward.
Brentwood firefighter Chris Cosmas tries on Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk’s 2024 NHL championship ring on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the Brentwood fire station.
Tkachuk got married Saturday in ӣƵ to his now wife Ellie and followed that up by having his day with the Stanley Cup on Monday. The first stop was Children’s Hospital, just like it was last year.
“When I was told my day was today the 21st, the first thing we decided and what we wanted to do was bring it here to the Children’s Hospital,” Tkachuk said. “We’re doing that first. Normally, they say save the best for last, but I think when it comes down to this, the best part of my day is the first stop. Seeing the kids, seeing their faces. It just brightens up their day.
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“I think the rest of us don’t really truly understand what they’re going through, and there’s probably some really hard tough days for them, but if I can have one minute of their day that makes it an incredible experience for them, that’s what it’s all about.”
In the last year-plus, Tkachuk has had plenty to celebrate.
The Panthers won the first Cup in franchise history last year and repeated as champs last month. In between, Tkachuk and brother Brady became household names thanks to a raucous 4 Nations Face-Off, and then both brothers were named to the 2026 United States Olympic team. Then came his wedding Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton and bringing the Cup back to ӣƵ on Monday.
ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk, center, holds the Stanley Cup as Luke Radetic, left, takes a drink on Monday, July 21, 2025, at OB Clark's. Tkachuk celebrated his second consecutive NHL championship by bringing the Cup to the local pub. Both Radetic and Tommy Espenchied, right, played Triple AAA hockey with Tkachuk.
How did the emotions feel Saturday vs. winning back-to-back Cups?
“She’s right behind you, so it’s obviously the best day,” Tkachuk said with a smile. “No, it was absolutely incredible Saturday. I say we’ve been planning it for over a year, but Ellie was mainly doing all of the planning. She did such an incredible job and truly made it such a special night. It was the talk of town, and it was just such a great night for us. She did such an incredible job, and the whole weekend that led into it was awesome. Cherry on top was Saturday.”
The proximity of Tkachuk’s day with the Cup and his wedding allowed for many family members to stick around to enjoy the day with him. After the stop at Children’s Hospital, Tkachuk took the Cup to the Brentwood Police Department, the Brentwood Fire Department and OB Clark’s, among other locations.
“It’s a very similar itinerary for myself this year,” Tkachuk said. “Just really looking forward to it. When you know what’s coming and the reactions you’re going to get, it just makes it so special. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to be coming in contact with this baby today. It’s what it’s all about. I’m just really excited to share it with family and friends.”
Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk poses with the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, in a holding cell at the Brentwood police station as part of his day with the cup. Tkachuk, who won back-to back NHL championships, shared the Stanley Cup with first responders as part of his day with the cup.
In the spring, it wasn’t even clear whether Tkachuk would be healthy enough to play in the postseason for the Panthers. He missed the final 25 games of the regular season after an injury suffered in the 4 Nations Face-Off but played in all 23 playoff games, including scoring the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the Final vs. Edmonton.
After the series, Tkachuk revealed he played through a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia injury on the same side.
“Looking back on it, if we would have not finished the job, it would have been so upsetting and wouldn’t have made anything worth it,” Tkachuk said. “When you think about going through and playing for it all. Even if you lose in the Finals, you didn’t accomplish anything. I think for us to finish the job, it made it all worth it, made that 2 1/2 months of just getting myself OK enough to play in the playoffs.
“Those were some really tough days. Still feeling a little of the effects even in the summer during some of the rehab I’m going through now. Winning the Cup makes it all worth it. Me standing here, touching it, kissing it, it’s just all worth it.”
In 2023, when the Panthers lost to Vegas in the Cup Final, Tkachuk played Game 4 through a broken sternum before he was ruled out for Game 5 against the Golden Knights.
When the Panthers open the season in the fall, they’ll have a chance to be the first team since the 1980-83 Islanders to win three straight Cups. Those Islanders won four in a row, and since then, seven clubs have won back-to-back Cups without a third straight.
This summer, Florida brought back all three of their key unrestricted free agents, re-signing Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad to length extensions.
“I really haven’t allowed myself to think too much about next year yet, but incredible July 1 or around that free agency time for us to be able to bring everybody back, or mainly everybody back,” Tkachuk said. “The greatest ask that you can have as a team is experience. Our team has it. We’re going to go in next year and try to be a playoff team to start, and then when we get there, see what happens.”
Florida Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk fist-bumps patient Colt Gates, 18, while sharing the Stanley Cup with patients on Monday, July 21, 2025, at ӣƵ Children's Hospital.
Photos: Matthew Tkachuk brings Stanley Cup back to ӣƵ for second year in a row
Server Lisa Peterson is caught off guard as Florida Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk carries the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, into the kitchen at OB Clark's in Brentwood. Tkachuk, who won back-to back NHL championships, visited the area where he grew up for one day with the Stanley Cup.
Former ӣƵ Blues player Keith Tkachuk, left, sits with his son, Florida Panthers forward Matthew, and the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, at OB Clark's in Brentwood. Matthew Tkachuk, who won back-to back NHL championships, shared the Stanley Cup with family, friends and fans at the local pub.
ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk, center, holds the Stanley Cup as Luke Radetic, left, takes a drink on Monday, July 21, 2025, at OB Clark's. Tkachuk celebrated his second consecutive NHL championship by bringing the Cup to the local pub. Both Radetic and Tommy Espenchied, right, played Triple AAA hockey with Tkachuk.
Fans and family members watch as Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk celebrates winning his second consecutive NHL championship with the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, outside OB Clark’s in Brentwood.
Florida Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk carries the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, into OB Clark's in Brentwood. Tkachuk, who won back-to back NHL championships, shared the Stanley Cup with family, friends and fans at the local pub.
Newly married Ellie Tkachuk snaps a photo as her husband, Florida Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk, poses for a photo with police officers with the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, in a jail cell at the Brentwood police station.
Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk poses with the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, in a holding cell at the Brentwood police station as part of his day with the cup. Tkachuk, who won back-to back NHL championships, shared the Stanley Cup with first responders as part of his day with the cup.
Brentwood firefighter Chris Cosmas tries on Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk’s 2024 NHL championship ring on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the Brentwood fire station.
Florida Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk fist-bumps patient Colt Gates, 18, while sharing the Stanley Cup with patients on Monday, July 21, 2025, at ӣƵ Children's Hospital.
Patient Owen Decard, 11, smiles as he poses for a photo with Florida Panthers forward and ӣƵ native Matthew Tkachuk, who shared the Stanley Cup on Monday, July 21, 2025, with patients at ӣƵ Children's Hospital. With the Panthers winning the Stanley Cup in back to back seasons, Tkachuck started his day with the cup at the hospital.
Post-Dispatch beat reporter Matthew DeFranks joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss the flurry of Blues activity in the trade market, free agency and the NHL Draft.
