Brady Tkachuk criticizes Maple Leafs’ lack of response after Auston Matthews’ serious injury

Ottawa Senators captain, Brady Tkachuk, has publicly commented on the injury that ruled Auston Matthews out of the remainder of the 2025-26 NHL season. Ele highlighted the lack of a stronger response from the Toronto Maple Leafs players after the knee-to-knee blow suffered by Matthews against Anaheim Ducks. The incident occurred on March 12, 2026, during a 6-4 Leafs home win at Scotiabank Arena at Toronto.

Matthews suffered a grade 3 tear of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and contusion to the quadriceps of his left leg after contact with defender The referee imposed a major penalty for kneeing and expulsion from the game for Gudas. Matthews needed help leaving the ice, putting little weight on the affected leg, and subsequent tests confirmed the severity of the injury. Maple Leafs announced that the player will be out until the end of the regular season, with a reevaluation scheduled in around two weeks.

Tkachuk expressed respect for the performance of Matthews, who led Team USA to gold at the Jogos Olímpicos of Milano Cortina 2026.

Tkachuk’s comments spark debate in the league

Brady Tkachuk made the statements during his appearance on the Wingmen podcast, presented together with his brother Matthew Tkachuk. Ele stated that, when the captain of a team suffers a blow of this type, the players need to react more assertively. Tkachuk mentioned that he would be upset if he were in Matthews’s position and no one intervened.

The Senators captain reinforced that teams must protect their best players. Ele said that if someone attacks an opponent’s main player, the response should target the opposing team’s best. Tkachuk compared the situation to his own physical stance on the court, known for high penalty minutes over the past few seasons.

Reactions from Maple Leafs players

Toronto Maple Leafs players who were on the court at the time of the incident acknowledged the delay in reacting. Morgan Rielly took responsibility for not intervening more quickly, as he initially did not understand the severity of the blow to Matthews.

William Nylander admitted that he should have entered the play, but only realized the extent of the problem about 15 seconds later. Outros athletes present, such as Easton Cowan and Brandon Carlo, also did not initiate an immediate response, which generated internal and external criticism about the lack of protection for the captain.

Context of injury and impact on Toronto

The injury occurred during a difficult period for the Maple Leafs, who are fighting for position in the Conferência Leste playoffs. Matthews was the team’s main goalscorer and leader, with consistent contributions in goals and assists throughout the season.

Gudas’s hit was classified as a knee-on-knee, common in discussions about safety rules in the NHL. The league conducted a disciplinary hearing, resulting in a five-game suspension for the Ducks defenseman. Matthews will be left out of the remaining 16 games of the Toronto regular phase.

Position of the Senators before the direct confrontation

The Ottawa Senators have been in a good phase since the Olympic break, with a campaign of 6 wins, 1 loss and 2 extensions. The team occupies a position close to the Leste wild-card, four points behind Boston Bruins, with 16 matches to go, most against conference rivals.

The next confrontation between Senators and Maple Leafs is scheduled for Saturday, in a duel that takes on extra contours after Tkachuk’s comments. Ottawa faces Washington Capitals on Wednesday and New York Islanders on Thursday before that game.

Maple Leafs campaign details

Toronto Maple Leafs records 29 wins, 27 losses and 12 overtimes this season. The team has 14 games remaining, starting on Tuesday against New York Islanders, followed by back-to-back games against Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators.

The absence of Matthews forces adjustments in the lineup, with redistribution of responsibilities between the centers and forwards. The team seeks to maintain competitiveness despite the loss of its captain.

Recovery expectation for Matthews

Toronto Maple Leafs reported that Matthews will be re-evaluated in two weeks to update on progress. The expectation is for a complete recovery during the offseason, with no signs of the need for surgery that could compromise the start of the next season.

Matthews has shown resilience through previous injuries and is expected to return fully fit. The injury does not change long-term projections for the 28-year-old.