Matthew Tkachuk had a stern warning for Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic should they try to one-up him after scoring a goal: Be careful or else.
The Toronto Maple Leafs weren't shy about making moves this offseason, with their first move of free agency being to sign unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic to a two-year deal. After missing out on him last summer, the team wasn't going to strike out twice in adding a multiple 20-goal scorer.
Not only that, but by bringing him into the fold it also reunited him with former USNTDP teammate Auston Matthews. The two were a force to be reckoned with prior to making the NHL, and they have a chance to do some serious damage and from the sounds of it, they're playing like it's old times.
Though that rekindled magic may have to be a little subdued at least from a celebration standpoint because it's going to make one player quite peeved - Matthew Tkachuk.
Matthew Tkachuk jokingly threatens Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic over 'Superman' celly
Matthews was asked if the team could see a potential 'Superman' celebration like we've seen in the past with him and Roslovic, and the Maple Leafs captain revealed he received a stern warning from the Panthers forward if he tried it on him:
We called ourselves the Superman line in junior, and he told us that if we pulled that against him, he said he was going to kill one of us [laughing].
Roslovic was also asked on his opinion regarding if he and Matthews would pull off the celebration in front of Tkachuk, and he was a little more reckless with the idea:
Might be, there might be [laughing]. It was during the Cam Newton era, when he was ripping the jersey so, you know it's jokes. But it's great to reminisce about those times.
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It would be understandable why Tkachuk may feel a bit upset being celebrated upon, as he isn't the kind of player who takes too kindly to showboating, but it would add some insult to injury, and we could see a larger chance of it happening should the two teams face in the postseason where intensity is at an all-time high.
Matthew Tkachuk's Kryptonite might be his former teammates
Keeping with the Superman theme a bit, Tkachuk may be jokingly threatening both Matthews and Roslovic but he has to know deep down - they're dangerous. He knows what the two are capable of together, and with Matthew Knies slotting with them (for now), that's a line full of talent who have adequate protection against Tkachuk.
Florida is trying to bounce back after a tough season, and while they added some big names including Brady Tkachuk, they also lost Sergei Bobrovsky, who was the glue in their locker room. They'll have Sasha Barkov back, but things aren't exactly easy in the Atlantic now.
Matthews and Roslovic have the inside edge on Tkachuk and how he operates, they know him on a deeper level. That could lead to a little more back and forth where both men can throw Tkachuk off his game.
When random players do it, he can shake it off. When it's close friends who are wearing and beating you down? That hits different. And to dance on him when he's down? The biggest insult to injury no doubt.
Matthews and Roslovic are gearing up to find some old magic and give the Maple Leafs a dangerous trip on the top line. Though, if they do end up putting a few past the Panthers, maybe a simple fist bump will suffice lest they anger the temperamental Tkachuk.
Should Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic celebrate on Matthew Tkachuk regardless of consequences?
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