Matthew Tkachuk played really aggressively against Leon Draisaitl in the Olympic match between the USA and Germany yesterday, and both players are now sharing their thoughts about what happened.
During the game, Matthew was picked up on a microphone, making a comment to Draisaitl that he was “always the bridesmaid, never the bride. ” This was about how Draisaitl’s teams finished second in the last two Stanley Cup Finals. It was a personal jab that everyone in hockey heard.
Leon Draisaitl shares his thoughts on Tkachuk’s comment during the Olympics.
Moreover, a longer video has come out showing what Tkachuk said to Draisaitl. Tkachuk suggested that if Draisaitl had performed better personally, his teams might have had better outcomes.
Always the bridesmaid, Leon, never the bride.
Matthew Tkachuk was hurling chirps to Leon Draisaitl in the U.S. vs. Germany hockey game today 🗣️🫣 pic.twitter.com/hhvpE0B4DD
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 16, 2026
If you had been a little better, you could have had a shot. It has hurt all your teams!
– Matthew Tkachuk
Today, Draisaitl spoke to Ryan Rishaug from TSN, and he didn’t say much about what happened.
RISHAUG: Did Tkachuk’s comments affect you differently at the Olympics?
DRAISAITL: No.
RISHAUG: It’s the same as usual?
DRAISAITL: Yep.
However, Draisaitl gave a more detailed answer in a recent interview in Germany. He seems to really not care much about Tkachuk’s comments.
Yeah, that’s just how he plays, and he thinks he’s good at it. It doesn’t bother me, but the media makes it seem bigger than it really is. I have nothing else to say, those comments don’t really matter to me.
– Leon Draisaitl
not gonna translate it word for word so my german oomfs don’t come for me but leon’s basically saying MT thinks he’s good at chirping, but it doesn’t really affect him; it’s the media that makes it bigger than it is; and most importantly: he doesn’t really care pic.twitter.com/InmLjxLXqi
— maya (@confusedhockey) February 16, 2026
Draisaitl did try to confront Tkachuk on the ice in response to the comments, but when he approached, Matthew just backed away and skated off. Draisaitl found this pretty funny, which was shown on the broadcast.
At these Olympics, Draisaitl has been very serious and doesn’t let Tkachuk get to him. He prefers to let his skills on the ice speak for themselves.
Leon Draisaitl went to line up Matthew Tkachuk… but he turtled 😭
So Drai just laughed in his face 💀 pic.twitter.com/FTByW7kDEG
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 15, 2026
The Oilers and Panthers will face each other again this season on March 19th, where hopefully, this rivalry will heat up again.
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