Matthew Tkachuk, never one to miss an opportunity to poke fun at his foes, has done it again. While discourse on social media about Tkachuk’s endless histrionics and sharp jabs at opponents may be divided, the winger has found an unlikely ally in the United States Government, and it’s none other than the FBI Director, Kash Patel.
In the wake of the USA’s 5-1 win over Germany, Tkachuk’s reaction towards the opponent team’s captain, Leon Draisaitl, was in questionable taste. Patel, however, would disagree.
Kash Patel Thoroughly Amused by Matthew Tkachuk’s Snarky Comment on Leon Draisaitl
After Team USA’s 6-3 win over Team Denmark, which felt like a consolation prize at best, Brady Tkachuk assured his teammates that they would peak and channel their best form when the time came. Against Germany, it looked like the time had finally arrived.
Tkachuk and company trounced their foes at the Milano Santagiulia IHO Arena, clinching a quarterfinal berth to take their win streak forward in Italy.
Matthew Tkachuk, never the one to worry about consequences on social media and always ready to speak his mind, did not hesitate to launch a scathing insult in the direction of Team Germany’s captain, Leon Draisaitl.
“Always the bridesmaid, eh, Leon? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” Tkachuk chirped at the Edmonton Oilers superstar. Luckily, a hot mic was at hand to capture the moment.
As contentious as the remark was, Patel found it in himself to appreciate it. The FBI Director tagged Tkachuk on social media and lauded him for the provocative statement. “Epic Chirp, all time BEAUTY @TKACHUKycheese_,” Patel shared on X.
ALSO READ: Matthew Tkachuk Mercilessly Mocks Oilers Star Leon Draisaitl in Team USA’s 5-1 Win Vs. Germany
It goes without saying that the remark will not be uniformly appreciated, and debate is bound to ensue. But despite everything, the Tkachuks, for all their antics, bring an element of fun and entertainment to the ice.
After the game, Tkachuk admitted he had a plan to tackle Draisaitl.
“Some guys you got to play harder than most, physically and maybe after the whistle sometimes, too,” Tkachuk told the New York Post.
“But I thought our line, I thought [Eichel] especially, did an unbelievable job of giving him and their line nothing tonight. So sometimes you gotta play both parts of the game.”
The Florida Panthers star lavished more praise on Eichel, noting that the Vegas Golden Knights’ main man did a great job during the whistle of playing Draisaitl hard. “That was something talked about going in, that we got to be hard on him, and [Stützle], some of these guys over here, some high-end talent. Thought we did a great job,” Tkachuk said.
After a dominant 5-1 victory over Germany, competition for Team USA is inevitably going to get tougher. The team has sufficient downtime to rest, recover, and return stronger to take on what could be the most formidable challenge at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The winner of the No. 7 Sweden vs. No. 10 Latvia matchup will take on the United States in the quarterfinals.
