It looks like Brady Tkachuk is going to finally be making his first playoff appearance with the Senators scheduled to play the Maple Leafs this weekend! That’s right, the 2018 fourth draft pick turned captain is getting ready to lead his team into the Playoffs after an 8-year drought. The Senators last entered the Playoffs in 2017. Leading up to this big moment, everyone has a lot to say, especially considering Tkachuk has missed the last seven games with the Senators due to an upper-body injury he sustained in March. The pressing question, all things considered— especially rest, is if the captain will be able to make an impact in the playoffs?
Well, on a recent interview with The Leafs Nation, according to Mike Rupp, who scored the second goal of the winning game with the Devils in the 2003 Stanley Cup final, Tkachuk will do more than just make an impact. “We know Brady’s going to have a crazy-ass moment in the series. We know that. I think that’s just who he is—and he’s been waiting years to get to the playoffs. He’s going to try to be in bully mode, and you just hope the referees keep things under control,” Rupp said, adding that he was “really intrigued to see how they (referees) handle Brady Tkachuk in this series.”
Rupp’s predictions, however, do not seem to resonate with Maple Leaf fans who have vastly different expectations of Brady’s performance this weekend. Some even went so far as to accuse Rupp of some baseless pot stirring, and taking digs at his game, “Rupp is a known Leafs hater. The guy lived on a lucky game in which he got called up and scored two goals, and that’s all he did. His career was over before it began. I take anything he says with a grain of salt.” One fan commented under a clip of Rupp hyping up Brady on X.
“I don’t know if any team has something to offset Brady Tkachuk, but Toronto doesn’t.” – @Rupper17
Will the Maple Leafs be able to minimize the impact of Brady Tkachuk in Round 1? @LGRed | @MichaelDelZotto | #LeafsForever | #GoSensGo | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/1ftBM4BwUC
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) April 16, 2025
But could Rupp really be that far off? Was he, perchance, thinking of the other Tkachuk brother?
Brady Tkachuk vs. Matthew Tkachuk: playing styles & the playoffs possibilities
Though the Tkachuk brothers both grew up watching and learning from their father, former Winnipeg Jets first-round draft pick Keith Tkachuk, they do have somewhat different playing styles. Matthew, along with Sam Bennett, has completely transformed the Florida Panthers. The team has gained a ‘bad boy’ reputation for its aggressive playing style, however it is calculated, sharp and one step ahead, with Matthew often drawing more penalty minutes than he gives, however, like Brady, Matthew has been on rest due to injury, so the nature is his comeback is TBD.
Brady Tkachuk, prior to his injury, was an extremely passionate player, often scoring the most hits on the team, but also the most goals this season. Understandably, after his injury, things have been uncertain, as he’s missed 8 games this season, but the Senators are looking up, as Ottawa’s GM Steve Staois predicted he’d make it back for game 1 of the playoffs.
Matthew is also expected to make it back in time for the playoffs. If both brothers live up to their family name and pull their teams through game 1, then there is a very likely possibility that they will have to face each other in round two. At this point, we’ll be able to tell the differences in their playing styles, and either Mike Rupp or the fans may have to do a double-take.
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