Matthew Tkachuk didn't appear to enjoy the spotlight of playing in Canada

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Cooper Godin
September 23, 2023 (4:40 PM)

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Matthew Tkachuk's first season with the Florida Panthers went about as good as he could have expected as he helped the team reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1996.

Playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Final brings a lot of attention and pressure, something Tkachuk is no stranger to when playing in a Canadian market, when the spotlight is on you nearly 24/7.

In a recent interview in The Athletic, Tkachuk opened up about the scrutiny that is faced by players in Canadian markets when they don't succeed and was given Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner as examples, who the Panthers defeated in the second round.

"I appreciate the fact that it's tough. Playing in Canada is very different with the spotlight and the history. What I've noticed in the difference between playing in Canada and Florida is the highs and the lows. So I think for them, maybe, and they're unbelievable talents, but unless they win the Stanley Cup, they're basically getting crucified." Tkachuk said.

He went on to add, "And it's not their fault; it's kind of just the way it is. I know that they're mentally tough enough, and I know them well, and they've been able to handle it and have kept getting better and better in their careers in each year."

"But I know, seeing it from afar, nothing against here, but I know I wouldn't want to deal with it on any given day."

The media attention teams in Canada get, like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens for example, is crazy and it feels like every little thing each player does is noted and scrutinized. Meanwhile in Florida, hockey is still growing in popularity after the league expanded there 30 years ago. Other sports such as football, baseball and even soccer get a lot of media attention in the state over hockey, so criticism for the Florida Panthers isn't that common, especially from local media.

For example, if the Panthers miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the general feeling is "oh well, not a big deal", while in Toronto, it's a huge deal and every single thing the organization did that year will be scrutinized and under the spotlight.

Some players are built to play in Canadian markets and can handle the pressure that it comes with, but it doesn't appear that Matthew Tkachuk was able to deal with it anymore, hence why he left the team in 2022 via trade.

Do you think Canadian media is too tough on players? Let us know what you think in the poll below!

POLL
SEPTEMBRE 23 \| 117 ANSWERS Matthew Tkachuk didn't appear to enjoy the spotlight of playing in Canada Do you think media in Canadian markets are too tough on players?
Yes	74	63.2 %
No	24	20.5 %
Depends on the situation (missing playoffs, etc.)	19	16.2 %
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